Sports Pharmacy Network Education
Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program
Build practical expertise at the intersection of pharmacotherapy, athlete health, nutrition, anti-doping, performance, and sports medicine.
12 Expert-Led Lectures
•
4 Core Modules
•
On-Demand Learning
12
Expert-Led Lectures
04
Focused Modules
360°
View of Athlete Care
100%
Performance Focused
BEYOND TRADITIONAL PHARMACY
Learn where medication expertise meets human performance.
Athletes present unique clinical challenges. Medication selection, dietary supplements, hydration, recovery, anti-doping regulations, mental health, injury management, biomarkers, and performance data can all intersect in a single patient.
The Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program brings these areas together through an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to help healthcare professionals think more comprehensively about athlete care.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING
“
The variety of lecturers and topics is a real strength. I particularly liked how broad the programme is — moving from sports pharmacy practice and anti-doping through nutrition, supplements, wearables, laboratory testing, psychology, pain/injury management, emergency medicines and antidepressants.
It gives a much wider view of where pharmacists can contribute within sport rather than focusing solely on anti-doping.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING
“
The course layout is clean, organized, and very easy to follow. Moving between sections and revisiting topics is quick and seamless, and I was especially impressed by how smoothly the platform supports translation.
The robust language options make the certificate feel like a truly accessible learning opportunity for students and professionals around the world.
EXCLUSIVE 2027 COHORT EXPERIENCE
ENROLL BY FEB 15
Take Your Learning
Beyond the Screen.
Your certificate experience doesn't have to end with online lectures. Enroll by February 15, 2027 for the opportunity to connect in person with fellow learners and sports pharmacy professionals.
Thursday, April 15, 2027
The day before the Sports Pharmacy Summit
SportPharm Florida Office
Exclusive in-person cohort gathering
Learn. Connect. Build Your Network.
Meet peers and professionals who share your passion for sports pharmacy.
Don't Just Take the Course.
Join the Community.
Turn your online learning into real-world connections ahead of the Summit. Meet like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and become part of a growing community shaping the future of sports pharmacy.
Enroll by February 15 to QualifyIn-person participation is optional. Additional event details will be shared with eligible enrollees.
COURSE CURRICULUM
Explore every lecture.
Select a lecture to see what you'll learn and meet the expert leading the session.
01
MODULE ONE
Sports Pharmacy Essentials
3 Lectures
01
FOUNDATIONS
Sports Pharmacy Practice
Brandon Welch, PharmD
Sports Pharmacy Practice
Brandon Welch, PharmD
Lecture Overview
An introduction to the rapidly expanding field of clinical sports pharmacy and the pharmacist's role in optimizing the health, safety, and performance of athletes. Explore medication management, supplements, interdisciplinary collaboration, anti-doping, chronic disease management, adaptive sports, research, and emerging career opportunities.
What You'll Learn
- Define the practice of clinical sports pharmacy.
- Describe the pharmacist's role on the sports medicine team.
- Identify medication and supplement considerations in athletes.
- Evaluate safety and regulatory risks in sport-related pharmacotherapy.
- Recognize emerging trends shaping sports pharmacy.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Brandon Welch, PharmD
President of SportPharm Inc. and Founder of the Sports Pharmacy Network. Dr. Welch has experience in clinical sports pharmacy and has worked with professional and collegiate sports organizations.
02
ANTI-DOPING
Clean Sport and Anti-Doping
Nilhan Uzman, Pharm., MSc.
Clean Sport and Anti-Doping
Nilhan Uzman, Pharm., MSc.
Lecture Overview
Examine the principles, policies, and clinical responsibilities involved in protecting clean sport. Topics include WADA, anti-doping rule violations, prohibited substances, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, supplements, medication management, and modern drug testing procedures.
What You'll Learn
- Explain clean sport principles and the WADA Code.
- Navigate the WADA Prohibited List.
- Understand Therapeutic Use Exemptions and medication management.
- Evaluate medications and supplements using anti-doping resources.
- Recognize modern drug-testing approaches.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Nilhan Uzman, Pharm., MSc.
Sports pharmacist, IOC Qualified Sports Pharmacist, and consultant to national and international sports federations with expertise in athlete safety, supplements, injury prevention, and anti-doping.
03
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Branding and Marketing
Jessie Tobin, MA, BA
Branding and Marketing
Jessie Tobin, MA, BA
Lecture Overview
Learn how strong branding, strategic positioning, consistent messaging, and audience-focused communication can build professional credibility and help grow a sports pharmacy practice or organization.
What You'll Learn
- Identify the core components of a strong brand.
- Assess brand positioning and messaging.
- Differentiate branding from marketing.
- Select effective communication channels.
- Create an actionable marketing improvement.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Jessie Tobin, MA, BA
Director of Marketing and Communications for SportPharm and Marketing Manager for the Sports Pharmacy Network, specializing in branding, digital marketing, communications, and audience engagement.
02
MODULE TWO
Medications, Nutrition, and Supplements
3 Lectures
04
MEDICATIONS
Medication Impacts on Performance
Jessica Beal-Stahl, PharmD
Medication Impacts on Performance
Jessica Beal-Stahl, PharmD
Lecture Overview
Explore how commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medications affect athletic performance, recovery, and overall health. Using a systems-based approach, examine medication effects on exercise capacity, thermoregulation, hydration, body composition, and injury risk while optimizing treatment decisions that support athlete health and success.
What You'll Learn
- Identify medication classes that influence athletic performance across multiple physiologic systems.
- Assess medication regimens for performance-impairing adverse effects and training considerations.
- Analyze interconnected medication effects on performance, recovery, and injury risk.
- Apply athlete-centered medication selection, timing, and counseling strategies while considering anti-doping implications.
- Recognize athletes' unique physiologic characteristics that require individualized medication management.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Jessica Beal-Stahl, PharmD
Clinical sports pharmacist and founder of The Athlete's Pharmacist specializing in female athlete health, medication optimization, and recovery.
05
SPORTS NUTRITION
Sports Nutrition and Hydration
Sean Casey, RD, CSCS
Sports Nutrition and Hydration
Sean Casey, RD, CSCS
Lecture Overview
Explore evidence-based strategies for fueling athletic performance through nutrition and hydration, including energy availability, macronutrients, micronutrients, hydration assessment, recovery, and pre-, intra-, and post-exercise fueling.
What You'll Learn
- Develop evidence-informed fueling strategies.
- Evaluate energy and macronutrient requirements.
- Assess hydration status and individualize hydration plans.
- Identify micronutrient concerns in athletes.
- Build practical exercise fueling recommendations.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Sean Casey, RD, CSCS
Registered dietitian, movement specialist, health coach, and Chief Science Officer of the Sports Pharmacy Network with more than 20 years of experience in performance and nutrition.
06
ERGOGENIC AIDS
Performance Enhancing Supplements
Korey Van Wyk, MS, CSCS, Pn2
Performance Enhancing Supplements
Korey Van Wyk, MS, CSCS, Pn2
Lecture Overview
Take an evidence-based look at common performance supplements, including creatine, caffeine, beta-alanine, and dietary nitrates, with practical discussion of dosing, timing, safety, product quality, third-party certification, and drug-supplement interactions.
What You'll Learn
- Understand dietary supplement regulation under DSHEA.
- Compare major performance-enhancing supplements.
- Apply evidence-based dosing and timing strategies.
- Assess product quality and third-party certifications.
- Identify contraindications and drug-supplement interactions.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Korey Van Wyk, MS, CSCS, Pn2
Exercise science and nutrition educator, editor, instructor, medical reviewer, and interdisciplinary conference presenter.
03
MODULE THREE
Performance, Assessment & Monitoring
3 Lectures
07
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Understanding Wearable Data
Mike T. Nelson, PhD, CSCS, CISSN
Understanding Wearable Data
Mike T. Nelson, PhD, CSCS, CISSN
Lecture Overview
Learn how to interpret wearable-derived metrics such as heart rate, HRV, respiratory rate, and other physiological markers while understanding device accuracy, limitations, context, trends, and their appropriate place in athlete care.
What You'll Learn
- Separate trend-monitoring metrics from clinical metrics.
- Evaluate wearable accuracy and limitations.
- Interpret data in the context of recovery, illness, and stress.
- Compare wearable technologies and biomarkers.
- Responsibly integrate wearable data into athlete assessment.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Mike T. Nelson, PhD, CSCS, CISSN
Exercise physiologist, educator, and performance coach whose expertise spans metabolic flexibility, recovery, performance physiology, biomechanics, and wearable technology.
08
BIOMARKERS
Performance-Based Lab Testing: Bridging Biomarkers and Performance
Pratik Patel, MS, RD, CSCS
Performance-Based Lab Testing: Bridging Biomarkers and Performance
Pratik Patel, MS, RD, CSCS
Lecture Overview
Explore how bloodwork, VO₂max, lactate testing, HRV, heart-rate recovery, wearable metrics, and field testing can be combined to assess athlete readiness and uncover performance limitations.
What You'll Learn
- Connect physiological systems with performance and recovery.
- Interpret biomarkers through a performance framework.
- Combine lab data with field-based performance measures.
- Design individualized monitoring strategies.
- Develop evidence-based interventions within professional scope.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Pratik Patel, MS, RD, CSCS
Health and performance coach and advisor with more than two decades of experience, including work in elite professional and collegiate sport.
09
PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY
Sport & Performance Psychology
Muhammad Deen, MS
Sport & Performance Psychology
Muhammad Deen, MS
Lecture Overview
Explore the foundations of sport and performance psychology and the mental skills that support peak performance. Learn practical strategies involving self-talk, visualization, arousal regulation, goal setting, and concentration to help athletes build confidence, manage pressure, and perform at their best.
What You'll Learn
- Understand the fundamental principles of sport and performance psychology and their application to athletic performance.
- Describe the five core mental skills—self-talk, visualization, arousal regulation, meaningful goal setting, and focal concentration— and their role in optimizing performance.
- Differentiate effective psychological strategies that promote confidence, resilience, focus, and performance under pressure.
- Apply evidence-based sport psychology techniques to enhance performance, manage competitive stress, and improve athlete well-being.
- Integrate sport and performance psychology principles into everyday training, competition, and clinical practice to support long-term athletic success.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Muhammad Deen, MS
Sport and performance psychology consultant with experience supporting athletes from developmental through Olympic levels. Muhammad has worked across 17 sports and led an Olympic performance program for the Tokyo 2021 Games, while also applying performance psychology principles in corporate and other high-performance settings.
04
MODULE FOUR
Select Clinical Topics
3 Lectures
10
SPORTS MEDICINE
Pain Management and Injuries
Brandon K. Welch, PharmD
Pain Management and Injuries
Brandon K. Welch, PharmD
Lecture Overview
Review common sports injuries from initial inflammation through rehabilitation and return to play, including injury pathophysiology, healing, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management, and emerging regenerative therapies.
What You'll Learn
- Classify common sports injuries.
- Understand musculoskeletal injury and tissue healing.
- Evaluate sprains, strains, fractures, contusions, and concussions.
- Compare pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management.
- Evaluate emerging orthobiologic therapies.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Brandon K. Welch, PharmD
Founder of the Sports Pharmacy Network and President of SportPharm, with professional interests including anti-doping, precision medicine, sports nutrition, and athlete medication management.
11
SIDELINE CARE
Emergency Medications in Athletes
Katie Evenson, MSAT, LAT, ATC
Emergency Medications in Athletes
Katie Evenson, MSAT, LAT, ATC
Lecture Overview
Apply emergency pharmacology to realistic athletic scenarios, including glucose, glucagon, naloxone, aspirin, oxygen, epinephrine, albuterol, and nitroglycerin while considering interdisciplinary roles and anti-doping requirements.
What You'll Learn
- Review indications and routes for common emergency medications.
- Identify medications typically available in athletic settings.
- Collaborate effectively with athletic trainers.
- Apply emergency pharmacology to sideline cases.
- Evaluate WADA TUE considerations in emergencies.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Katie Evenson, MSAT, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer at Oceanside Collegiate Academy with experience across football, volleyball, and high-school athletic settings.
12
MENTAL HEALTH
A Sports Pharmacist's Guide to Antidepressants
Alexis Shook, PharmD
A Sports Pharmacist's Guide to Antidepressants
Alexis Shook, PharmD
Lecture Overview
Explore antidepressant pharmacology through an athlete-focused lens, including SSRIs, SNRIs, alternative therapies, adverse effects, clinical pearls, medication selection, counseling, and athlete-specific patient cases.
What You'll Learn
- Review mechanisms and adverse effects of SSRIs and SNRIs.
- Differentiate commonly used antidepressants.
- Identify patient-specific considerations for therapy selection.
- Recognize adverse effects particularly relevant to athletes.
- Apply pharmacotherapy principles to athlete-specific cases.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Alexis Shook, PharmD
Alexis Shook, PharmD is a Clinical Primary Care Ambulatory Care Pharmacist with Novant Health and Assistant Adjunct Professor for the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She attended undergraduate studies at UNC–Chapel Hill and pharmacy school at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Alexis completed both the PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy Residency Program and Community-based Mental Health Fellowship through UNC at the Campus Health site before remaining in a full-time position. Her clinical interests include mental health, asthma, sports medicine, and contraception.
BUILT DIFFERENT
Sports medicine is interdisciplinary.
Your education should be too.
01
Evidence Meets Application
Move beyond memorizing concepts and learn how evidence translates into decisions affecting real athletes.
02
Think Beyond Medication
Develop a broader understanding of nutrition, supplementation, recovery, injury management, monitoring, and human performance.
03
Learn From the Team
Gain perspective from pharmacists, dietitians, performance professionals, athletic trainers, and other experts working across sport.
04
Protect Athlete Health
Better understand supplement safety, medication risk, anti-doping regulations, emergency care, and athlete-specific considerations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have questions about the certificate?
Learn more about the program, who it's designed for, what makes it different, and how it can support your development in sports pharmacy.
What distinguishes the SPN certificate from other sports pharmacy certificate programs?
The Sports Pharmacy Network Certificate Program was intentionally designed to be multidisciplinary, practical, and highly applied. Rather than looking at athlete care from a pharmacy-only perspective, the program brings together professionals working across sports pharmacy, sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, performance science, anti-doping, athletic training, and sport and performance psychology.
The goal is to help participants understand not only the medication-related considerations involved in athlete care, but also how nutrition, supplements, performance testing, wearable data, recovery, mental performance, injury management, and anti-doping considerations can intersect in real-world practice.
The program also includes professional development and marketing content designed to help participants understand how sports-focused services can be positioned, developed, and grown.
How does the SPN certificate differ from the IOC Diploma?
The SPN certificate is designed to be practical and clinically focused rather than heavily academic. It is intended for professionals who want to develop knowledge they can begin applying in clinical practice, consulting, athlete education, or other roles supporting athlete health and performance.
A formal diploma program may involve a greater level of academic study and time commitment. The SPN certificate provides a more accessible pathway for professionals seeking focused education in sports pharmacy and athlete care while continuing their existing professional responsibilities.
Is this an introductory program, or does it prepare pharmacists to begin practicing in sports pharmacy?
Both. The program establishes the foundational knowledge needed to understand sports pharmacy while also introducing the clinical, operational, and professional considerations involved in developing sports-focused pharmacy services.
Participants explore medication management, supplements, anti-doping, nutrition, performance monitoring, injury care, mental health, emergency medications, and other areas relevant to working with athletes.
The certificate is intended to help participants build a strong foundation from which they can continue developing their experience, professional network, and practice in this emerging area of pharmacy.
How is the certificate program structured?
The Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program includes 12 expert-led lectures across four focused modules:
- Sports Pharmacy Essentials
- Nutrition & Supplements
- Performance, Assessment & Monitoring
- Select Clinical Topics
The program is delivered through on-demand learning, allowing participants to progress through the curriculum around their professional schedules.
Does the program include mentorship or networking opportunities?
One of the benefits of learning through the Sports Pharmacy Network is access to a growing professional community of sports pharmacists and other sports medicine professionals.
SPN may help facilitate professional connections, networking, and mentorship opportunities with individuals working in the field where appropriate. This includes professionals who have developed sports-focused pharmacy services and experience supporting athletes, sports medicine professionals, and organizations.
Our broader goal is for the certificate to serve as a starting point for continued professional development and connection within sports pharmacy and sports medicine — not simply a collection of online lectures.
Is the certificate valuable for experienced pharmacists or healthcare professionals?
Yes. Participants who already have substantial clinical, pharmacy, nutrition, or sports medicine experience may find particular value in areas that extend beyond traditional healthcare training.
Topics such as sports pharmacology, anti-doping, metabolic and physiologic testing, wearable and performance data, supplement evaluation, interdisciplinary athlete care, and the development and marketing of sports-focused services can provide additional perspectives even for experienced professionals.
Who is the Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program designed for?
The program is designed for professionals and students interested in athlete health, medication safety, performance, and sports medicine, including:
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy students
- Athletic trainers
- Dietitians
- Sports medicine professionals
- Allied healthcare professionals
Whether you already work with athletes or are exploring sports pharmacy for the first time, the curriculum provides a multidisciplinary framework for understanding modern athlete care.
Are there any discounts available for the certificate?
Yes. Sports Pharmacy Network annual members receive 15% off enrollment in the Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program.
We also offer bulk enrollment options for student groups, universities, healthcare organizations, athletic departments, and other organizations. Contact hello@sportsrxnetwork.com to discuss bulk enrollment and available discounts.
MEMBER BENEFIT
Annual members save 15% on the course.
Sports Pharmacy Network annual members receive 15% off enrollment in the Sports Pharmacy Certificate Program, along with access to additional member benefits, resources, and opportunities throughout the year.
15% OFF
Join Today
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WHO IT'S FOR
Built for professionals who care about athlete performance.
Whether you're already working with athletes or exploring the field, this program provides a multidisciplinary foundation for understanding modern sports pharmacy practice.
Enroll Today →01 Pharmacists
02 Pharmacy Students
03 Athletic Trainers
04 Dietitians
05 Sports Medicine Professionals
06 Allied Healthcare Professionals
LEARN • CONNECT • GROW
The future of athlete care is interdisciplinary.
Expand your knowledge. Strengthen your clinical perspective. Take the next step in your sports pharmacy journey.
Enroll in the Certificate Program →