81. Following Your Passion with Sports Medicine Physician Shelley Street Callender

Introducing Shelley Street Callender

Today I’m talking to sports medicine physician Dr. Shelley Street Callender about following your passion.

Shelley is a team physician and Chief of Sports Medicine and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at Mercer University. She is also the Medical Director of Sports Medicine and Concussion at Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center.

Her Career Jouney

Shelly earned her MD from SUNY Upstate Medical University. She then completed her residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Wayne State University in Detroit. While there, she first became involved with a high school girl’s basketball team which grew into serving as the team physician for the entire school. 

Despite taking on the role of team physician, Shelley didn’t initially think her med-peds background was right for a sports medicine fellowship. With a little encouragement, she completed her fellowship at Henry Ford Health Systems, also in Detroit, and found that sports med came naturally to her.

After initially working with her same residency program in Detroit, she was then recruited to Mercer University to be a team physician. Shelley moved to Georgia and walked into an athletic department in the process of expanding and discovered a new set of challenges.

Following Your Passion

Shelley is always looking for the balance between wanting to take on everything that comes her way with the time she spends with her family. Growing has meant learning to say no to some of the opportunities that don’t speak to her as much as others. Shelley has learned that following your passions is the best way to guarantee that you’ll do a good job. 

Inside this episode:

  • Her father had the foresight for his children to reach high in their careers, which gave Shelley the encouragement she needed to pursue a pathway she hadn’t seen another Black woman take.
  • Shelly followed her love of internal medicine and pediatrics in a combined med-ped residency program. 
  • As a resident, she worked with a local high school basketball team. That organically evolved into serving as the team physician for the whole school. This was only possible because her residency director was committed to serving the community. 
  • After a sports med fellowship, Shelley was hired back by her residency. She found a supportive and collaborative environment as a new faculty member that allowed her to grow a sports medicine department from the ground up.
  • She found a community of peers within her chosen field. The first time going to an AMSSM felt like coming home for Shelley and she considers it a huge honor to now serve as a board member.
  • Moving to a new job brings a different set of challenges. Shelley’s transition to Mercer forced her to learn the ins and outs of a new workplace.
  • She’s always balancing wanting to take on more while considering her family’s needs.
  • Shelley finds joy in watching others succeed and knowing she may have had a hand in making it happen.
  • Shelley’s advice: following your passion is the best way to guarantee you’ll do a good job.

Resources

Related Posts