Alumni career insights: Q&A with Frederick Workman, DO, ’96
Posted: October 6, 2026
Dr. Frederick Workman (back row, left) with Team USA athletes and trainers.
Dr. Workman serves as regional medical director for Rural Physicians Group and chief hospitalist at Sterling Regional Medical Center in Colorado. He is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Rocky Vista University School of Medicine, where he received the 2023 Educator of the Year award for the Northern Colorado Family Practice Residency. Additionally, he has been a team physician for U.S. Figure Skating for more than 25 years. At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan, Italy, Dr. Workman represented Team USA Figure Skating, which brought home a combined four medals.
Education
Medical school: ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM)
Rotating internship: Mt. Sinai Medical Center East, Richmond Heights, Ohio
Residency: Internal medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Fellowship: Sports medicine, University of Toledo, The Northwest Center for Sports Medicine
Q: How did you become a team physician for Olympic figure skaters?
A: I’ve had a passion for sports for quite some time, playing them, watching them, and coaching. When the opportunity came to do a sports medicine fellowship after I graduated from internal medicine residency, I seized it. I was fortunate to be assigned to work as the head team doc for professional hockey and a Division I university. My mentor and the program director is a highly respected figure skating physician who played an important role in introducing me to the sport’s medical community and giving me the opportunity to travel with the athletes.
Q: What is the most rewarding – and the most challenging – part of caring for elite athletes?
A: It’s about forming relationships and helping the athletes to perform at their highest level. We work as a team behind the team, and we do our best to prepare them. Then, we sit back and watch everything unfold – the emotions, the ups and downs, and unrealized goals. But, even when we do our best, athletics can lead to disappointment. They don’t always achieve the goal, but it helps us prepare for the next challenge in the sport and in life.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger professional self?
A: Be sure to enjoy the process and bring your family into your work as much as you can. Your family will enjoy being part of the experience, regardless of the costs or inconvenience, and you will have the chance to make lasting memories.
Q: What experiences or skills should recent alumni or students who are pursuing internal medicine or sports medicine prioritize right now?
A: Say yes to opportunities as they arise, whether that means giving a lecture, publishing an article, covering a team, or volunteering at an event. Each experience will help you discover what you enjoy, what you don’t, and where you want to focus your time and expertise. Also, get as much experience in osteopathic manipulative medicine as possible. These skills will give you an advantage, regardless of your professional goals. Being a DO from ATSU-KCOM has broadened my skillset and given me more tools to care for patients and athletes.