Current Concepts in Football Sideline Management 2026
June 11, 2026 / 2:00 - 7:30pm / Baker Athletics Complex
Join us on Thursday, June 11th for a comprehensive review of cutting-edge concepts and techniques for managing football athletes on the sidelines, followed by a social reception featuring food, drinks & giveaways.
Experts from Columbia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will cover a wide range of topics, including covid-related cardiac conditions, concussion management, overuse injuries, and emergency action plans. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, emergency medical service providers, and physicians who care for football athletes are encouraged to attend.
There is no cost to attend this event. Credit hours available for ATs. Reserve your spot today.
Course Directors
Thomas S. Bottiglieri, DO
- Chief Sports Medicine Physician, Columbia Athletics
Thomas S. Bottiglieri, DO, is a sports medicine physician specializing in the management of orthopedic injuries and disorders impacting athletes at all skill levels from adolescents to seniors. In addition to treating the full spectrum of muscle, bone, tendon, and joint injuries, Dr. Bottiglieri is a nationally recognized expert in the field of concussion care. His practice stresses shared decision-making with patients and their families and uses the latest medical technology, evidence-based sports medicine, and a compassionate, patient-centered approach.
As a former competitive athlete who sustained a career-ending injury, Dr. Bottiglieri has a personal connection with athletes and knows the benefits that athletics can provide. His practice tracks sports injuries in community organizations, school-based athletics, as well as professional and elite sports to better understand risk factors and appropriate treatment for athletic injuries. His practice stresses proper prevention and management strategies in order to minimize the physical and emotional toll of an athletic injury.
Dr. Bottiglieri is a regular contributor to local educational initiatives and an invited speaker at national medical conferences on the diagnosis and management of concussions, as well as the use of biologics in sport medicine. His ongoing research includes a large concussion registry, work on the autonomic nervous system in athletic brain injury, rehabilitation of post-concussion syndrome, and evaluating best-practices for the use of biologics in the treatment of athletic injuries and arthritis. Dr. Bottiglieri's practice is on the front line of advanced methods for joint preservation and soft-tissue treatment, including diagnostic ultrasound imaging and guided injection procedures designed to improve outcomes for routine cortisone injections, hyaluronic acid derivatives, and platelet-rich-plasma (PRP).
In addition to his academic and clinical work, Dr. Bottiglieri is a venue medical officer for the New York City Football Club, and is Head Team physician for the Alliance University Warriors and New Jersey Hitmen. He also serves as the medical director for numerous high schools in Bergen County, Passaic County, and New York City.
As the Director of Wellbeing for the Department of Orthopedics at Columbia, and Chairman of the committee for organizational culture, Dr Bottiglieri is keenly aware of the high demands and stressors on professionals. His approach to the overall mental and physical health of athletes transcends sport and applies to his work in optimizing performance while balancing stress at work. A healthy work-life balance, attention to mental health, and improving group dynamics for a supportive and thriving work environment are priorities in this domain.
Dr. Bottiglieri lives in Staten Island with his wife and four children. A strong believer in sport as medicine, he maintains an active lifestyle through martial arts, yoga, and exercise with his family.
Andrea J. Murphy, MS, ATC, CPT, OPA-C
- Orthopedic Physician Assistant & Clinical Practice Manager
Andrea has been working alongside Thomas S. Bottiglieri, D.O. since 2012. Her role as Physician Extender and Practice Manager includes assessing the patient’s needs, coordinating care, patient counseling and education, practice improvement strategies, in addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operations of Dr. Bottiglieri’s practice. She has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with minors in Sports Nutrition, Psychology, and Business Administration. She then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. While working on her Masters, she completed internships at the high school and college levels, in a work hardening program, and in the clinic setting.
Andrea is a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer holding licenses in both New York and New Jersey. She has also obtained her Orthopedic-PA certification through NBCOPA as well as her phlebotomy certification through NHA. Prior to her decision to pursue her current path, she had nearly 10 years of experience in the medical field, working as a Pharmacy Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant in the home health setting. Andrea was born and raised in Central Wisconsin and currently resides in northern New Jersey. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children, doing hot yoga, biking along the Hudson River, cooking, and traveling. She has always had a passion for health and helping others.
Chad Mineo, MS, ATC, LAT
- Physician Extender, Athletic Trainer, Research Project Manager
Chad Mineo is a licensed, board-certified athletic trainer with extensive experience in sports medicine, concussion management, and clinical research coordination. He has been working alongside Dr. Bottiglieri since 2019. Chad plays a critical role in patient care, treatment planning, and clinical research initiatives, particularly in the areas of musculoskeletal injuries and concussion protocols.
Chad earned his Master of Science in Athletic Training from Seton Hall University, and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Prior to pursuing a career in Athletic Training, he had nearly five years of experience as a personal trainer and physical therapy technician. Chad’s background includes a diverse range of clinical experiences across high schools and NCAA athletic programs, where he developed and implemented rehabilitation programs, conducted injury evaluations, and collaborated on emergency response and return-to-play protocols.
Chad is dedicated to integrating clinical practice with research to enhance health outcomes for patients. He continually advances his expertise in orthopedic care, injury prevention, and patient-centered rehabilitation. As a former competitive athlete, Chad strongly believes in the principle that movement is medicine. He maintains an active lifestyle through regular exercise, tennis, cycling, and traveling.
Course Description & Objectives
This course is designed to educate all who participate in football injury recovery, such as certified athletic trainers, physical therapists, emergency medical service providers, and physicians by offering a comprehensive review of cutting-edge concepts and techniques for managing football athletes on the sidelines. Lectures providing keys to success alongside hands-on and on-field demonstration sessions will be essential in preparing course participants to:
- Improve assessment and stabilization techniques for downed players, both prone and supine
- Utilize proven updated methods in face-mask and helmet removal
- Confidently implement the most current concepts in evaluation and management of suspected concussion on the sidelines
- Diagnose and efficiently treat common foot, ankle, shoulder, and spine injuries on the gridiron
- Be prepared for sideline emergencies according
- Implement a thorough orthopedic sideline exam
Accreditation Information
ATC Credit Designation Statement
The Center for Shoulder, Elbow & Sports Medicine is recognized by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education for Certified Athletic Trainers. BOC Approved Provider Number: P8611. This program is eligible for a maximum of 5 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Physical Therapy Credit Designation Statement
No PT credits are offered for this course.
Course Faculty
Michael Saulle, DO
- Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Michael Saulle is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center and the Medical Director for Sports Medicine – Westchester Division. He is a dual board-certified physician in Sports Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He specializes in non-operative Spine and Sports Medicine with a particular interest in minimally invasive image-guided procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. He uses fluoroscopy and musculoskeletal ultrasound to provide real-time diagnosis and precise delivery of medications. His clinical interests also include regenerative treatments, such as platelet rich plasma injections. His goal is to restore proper movement and optimize quality of life through a comprehensive treatment plan including personalized therapy prescriptions, nutrition, exercise, medications, injections and education.
Dr. Saulle received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he studied Health Sciences. He received his medical degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship at North Shore LIJ Hospital in Internal Medicine. He subsequently completed his residency training program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New York-Presbyterian-Columbia and Cornell, where he served as Chief Resident. He went on to complete a bi-campus fellowship in interventional Spine and Sports Medicine at New York-Presbyterian - Columbia and Cornell.
Prior to his start at Columbia, Dr. Saulle worked as an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College where he served as Associate site Director for the Cornell Sports Medicine Fellowship. He was awarded the Faculty Teacher of the Year Award for his dedication to the education and mentorship of medical trainees of both Columbia and Cornell. Dr. Saulle is a New York Magazine SuperDoctors Rising Star in Sports Medicine (2019, 2020). He lectures to audiences at the local, national and international level and is an author of multiple journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Saulle is a current member of multiple academies and acts as a peer reviewer for the PM&R Journal and the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has cared for many recreational and professional athletes, and has been a team physician for high school, college and professional sports teams.
Dr. Saulle has participated in competitive sports for over twenty years and uses his personal experiences with injury to provide a unique comprehensive perspective on recovery and rehabilitation. He believes patient education is the cornerstone to successful treatment and ensures each patient understands their condition, treatment options and lifestyle modifications to optimize health and well-being. Dr. Saulle hails from Yonkers New York and enjoys a variety of sports, music, cooking and backpacking.
Sonia Tolani, MD
- Cardiologist, Associate Professor of Medicine
Dr. Tolani received her medical degree with honors from New York University School of Medicine. She completed her internship, medical residency and her fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. As part of her cardiology fellowship, Dr. Tolani spent several years studying the interplay of cholesterol and inflammation and how this interaction impacts atherosclerosis. Her research has been published in core journals including Atherosclerosis, Journal of Clinical Investigation and Journal of Immunology.
Dr. Tolani is part of the ColumbiaDoctors Hypertension Center and she is the co-Director of the Columbia Women's Heart Center, a unique program focusing on providing state of the art treatment and preventative care to women of all ages. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Tolani is also working on developing digital tools to better educate health care providers about heart disease in women and to improve heart disease awareness in women globally.
Dr. Tolani's areas of expertise include consultative cardiology, preventative medicine and women's heart disease including the treatment of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Echocardiography.
Morgan A. Busko, MD
- Assistant Professor of Primary Care Sports Medicine (in Medicine and in Orthopaedic Surgery) at the Columbia University Medical Center
