Most sports medicine fellows spend time on the sidelines of football games or in the locker rooms of basketball teams. But at the ҹɫÊÓƵ School of Medicine (UNR Med), some are gaining clinical experience in an entirely different setting — the professional rodeo arena.
Daniel “Jake” Harrington, M.D., and William “Bo” Cates, M.D., both fellows in the school’s Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, recently participated in medical coverage at several rodeo events, including the , as part of their clinical training.
“Covering the rodeo is actually built into our fellowship curriculum,” Dr. Harrington said. “We work with Dr. Travis Kieckbusch, an orthopedic surgeon who’s been doing this for years. I helped at a bull riding event earlier this year — it was my first time at a rodeo, so it was a completely new experience.”
Dr. Cates and Dr. Islas at the Reno Rodeo.The rotation provides fellows exposure to a sport that presents different types of injuries, athletes and treatment environments than more traditional sports.
“It’s a unique set of athletes in a unique sport,” Dr. Cates reflected. “When I was applying to programs, the rodeo coverage was one of the things that made UNR Med stand out. A lot of people don’t get that kind of experience.”
Arthur “Tony” Islas, M.D., MPH, FAWM, director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program, echoed Dr. Cates, mentioning that “the Reno Rodeo is a great event for the program, as it allows the fellows to work with a completely different athletic population, which really adds to their education.”
Different injuries, different communication
The clinical environment in rodeo differs significantly from what fellows encounter in mainstream sports. The mechanisms of injury and physical demands are unique, and athletes often operate independently without the structure of a team or coaching staff.
“You see injuries you don’t typically manage in sports like football or basketball,” Dr. Harrington mentioned. “It requires a different clinical mindset.”
Because rodeo athletes often decide for themselves whether to compete, fellows must adjust how they communicate and advise them.
“With these athletes, it’s up to them whether they go back out there,” Dr. Cates said. “Our job is to give them the best medical information possible and help them think through their options.”
Safety and teamwork
Fellows prepare by reviewing literature on common rodeo-related injuries and working with experienced medical teams. But the arena setting still requires a high level of situational awareness.
“You can’t just run onto the field like you would during a football game,” Dr. Cates said. “There might be bulls moving or animals being corralled. You have to stay alert and be mindful of the environment.”
Harrington mentioned the teamwork among medical professionals at rodeo events was a key part of the experience.
“Everyone knew their role,” he said. “Doctors, EMTs, athletic trainers — it was a very cohesive team. There was no ego, just professionalism and communication.”
Adapting to the sport
Dr. Cates, a former football and baseball player, said treating rodeo athletes meant learning new biomechanics and understanding how their bodies move under unique stress.
“I’ve never ridden broncos or bulls, so I had to ask a lot of questions,” he said. “That helped me better understand their injuries and how to tailor treatment.”
Both fellows said the experience helped them grow as clinicians and better prepare for a career in sports medicine.
“It reinforced how important it is to stay flexible and athlete-centered in our approach,” Harrington said. “It’s one of the most valuable parts of the program.”
Dr. Cates agreed.
“You don’t see this in every fellowship,” he said. “It’s an opportunity I’ll remember and learn from going forward.”
