Sports Medicine

ROP Grades: 11-12 CSU/UC: “d”

Highly Recommend: Biology

This course explores human anatomy and physiology and lays the foundation for further study of these sciences. Students learn how systems of the body function and interact through physical activity. Students taking this class may be eligible for an after-school sports medicine practicum with the school’s athletic teams.

Advanced Sports Medicine

ROP Grades: 12 CSU/UC: Not approved

Pre Req: Completion of Sports Medicine year one

This class provides a framework of advanced skills for understanding functional anatomy and kinesiology, building on the concepts learned in Sports Medicine. The lecture/lab format focuses on clinical hands-on applications of theory and knowledge, including evaluation, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Internship opportunities are available at after-school athletic events and working with other health care professionals. Schools: ALL

Stitching Labs

Field Trips with Learning Labs

On The Field Experience

Reflecting back on high school, Sports Medicine with Ms Pon was my favorite class by far. It consisted of a good balance of informative and real-life lessons. The free time Ms Pon would give, helped us angsty teens unwind and explore our passions, whether it be directly related to Sports Medicine or not. Ms Pon retains an attitude and style that makes it easy for students to talk to her openly about anything. My current career ambitions involving Sports Science and Player Development would have not been as clear if not for the Sports Medicine class properly setting my expectations for the field in higher education. I originally applied to college pursuing a degree in Athletic Training, after getting AT exposure that was required for the course. Although I have since switched my major to Health & Kinesiology Studies, I highly recommend Ms Pon as a teacher and mentor for any student aspiring to be an Athletic Trainer.

-Zach Cheng

DV Class of 2016

Baylor University Class of 2020

Sports Medicine at DVHS was truly a great experience! I was able to not only learn a lot about medicine that no other class teaches but also work with my peers on a variety of hands-on projects. Additionally, the opportunity to volunteer in the school athletic clinic was something I really enjoyed and learned a lot from. From athletic training to nursing and even biomedical engineering, Sports Medicine is the go-to class to dive into the medical field and prep for any medically related career path. As an added bonus, Ms. Pon is one of the best teachers out there!

-Kamalesh Ananthakrishnan

Class of 2018

It’s easy to find classes that teach you material that can be tested with unfilled blanks and multiple choices. It’s much harder to find classes whose structure and instructional style reinforce both basic knowledge and practical application of valuable skills. For that reason, Sports Med is one of a kind. The experiences I gained in class and in clinic are ones that continue to inform the confidence I have in my ability to perform basic life support, the ways I interact with patients, and my understanding of anatomy as it relates to injury prevention. The fun memories and amazing friendships I've gained are evidence of why taking Sports Med with Ms. Pon is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

Rithvik Ramesh ℅ 2018

B.A. Candidate in Anthropology | Class of 2022

Washington University in St. Louis

My name is Michaela Lopez, and I’m a first-year athletic training graduate student at Cal State Fullerton. I graduated from Chapman University last Spring with a BS in Kinesiology. Before all that, I was a two-sport student-athlete at DVHS, graduating in 2016. I always wished I had taken sports medicine during my time at DV but couldn’t fit it into my schedule. Luckily, being an athlete exposed me to athletic training and life in the clinic, fostering a great relationship with Ms. Pon. After finding my passion for anatomy and deciding to major in kinesiology, Ms. Pon allowed me to come back to assist her in the DV clinic during the summer of 2018. Not only did this experience further expose me to a career as an athletic trainer, but it also inspired me to pursue a career in teaching someday. As an athlete and as a person, I’m grateful to have had such a positive relationship with Ms. Pon and the athletic training program at DVHS.

I was her athlete, now she is a mentor, and soon we will be colleagues. Thanks for everything, Ms. Pon!

– Michaela Lopez ℅ 2016

Sports Medicine is a great class to take if you want to get an introduction into athletic training or the healthcare field in general. In my opinion, it sets itself apart from other high school classes because of its practicality. The class teaches students about common sports injuries as well as first aid and emergency management skills. Students have the opportunity to intern afterschool at the campus clinic, go on field trips, and learn about a variety of healthcare careers.

I was a student in both Beginner and Advanced Sports Medicine and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I loved the class because of the sense of community and the engaging medical content. As someone who was interested in a healthcare career it was intriguing to learn about the human body and just plain cool to learn skills like CPR, wound care, and suturing to name a few.

I also got highly involved interning in the clinical setting with the athletic trainer. Heading to the clinic afterschool and helping treat injured athletes became part of my weekly routine. Whether I was at the clinic, a football game, or a wrestling tournament, it was meaningful to play a part in helping athletes recover from their injuries (not to mention the sports med team always got the best view in the game). I learned how to implement first aid skills, think on my feet, stay calm in stressful situations, and communicate clearly.

Overall, the Sports Medicine program gave me valuable insight into the healthcare field and a toolbox of practical skills that I will surely use in my future academic and work careers. I highly recommend that any student interested in healthcare after high school take advantage of this class and everything that comes with it.

- Raymond Fernandez, Class of 2020