While female surgeons are underrepresented in orthopedic and spine care overall, they are also underrepresented in the world of professional athletics.
Here are seven female surgeons who provide care for major sports teams:
Nancy Gritter, MD, is a North Carolina-based internal medicine physician who has been the Panthers' lead physician since 2018.
Leigh Ann Curl, MD, has been an orthopedic surgeon with the Baltimore Ravens since 1998, when she became the first female physician in the league. She works as the chief of orthopedics at MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore.
Kelly McInnis, DO, is director of the Mass General Brigham Women’s Sports Injury and Performance Clinic in Boston and serves as a team physician for the New England Patriots.
Holly Benjamin, MD, a sports medicine and nonsurgical musculoskeletal injury specialist at the University of Chicago, is head team physician for the Chicago Sky. She is also a medical officer for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, U.S. Soccer and USA Triathlon.
Ashley Austin, MD, a sports medicine specialist at New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery, provides care for the New York Liberty.
Gabby Ode, MD, an orthopedic and sports medicine specialist at HSS, provides care for the New York Liberty. She specializes in shoulder arthroscopy and complex open shoulder surgery.
Holly Johnson, MD, is an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at HSS and treats the Liberty and the New York Rangers. She focuses on minimally invasive bunion correction, sports-related injuries and repairs, Achilles tendon tears, foot and ankle traumatic injuries, deformities, and arthritis, with a focus on arthroscopic and minimally invasive techniques.