Sara has always loved expressing herself through music. From dancing and singing unintelligible sounds as a toddler to performing piano concertos with a chamber orchestra, she fully believes in the power of music and movement to transform the world around us. She was enraptured by watching gymnastics and ice skating on TV at a young age, although her career at imitating the skills was short-lived (she learned that it was challenging to do a front handspring vault without the actual apparatus).
Born and raised in Michigan, she grew up cheering for the University of Michigan athletics. After she moved to Salt Lake City for a family medicine residency, she fell in love with the mountains and all of Utah’s natural beauty.
When she moved to Boston for fellowship, she quickly realized how important natural beauty had been, and she started compulsively exercising more than before in addition to restricting her food intake further. During the first few months of the fellowship, she finally recognized that she started meeting the criteria for anorexia nervosa six years before – the culmination of 20 years of disordered eating. She embarked on multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment and now considers herself a recovering anorexic. She has treated many patients for eating disorders and relative energy deficiency with her combination of evidence-based medicine and hard-earned personal experience.
She has worked with both US Figure Skating and USA Gymnastics to provide medical coverage at marquee events such as the 2022 USAG National Championships and the 2023 ISU Four Continents Championships. She also travels with Team USA, including a trip to Bergamo, Italy where she quickly pivoted after her largest medical bag was delayed by the airlines for most of the competition. Her favorite memories of working with Team USA are the moments when the athletes are comfortable enough to let their authentic personalities shine through the competitive mindset.
Education:
- BS in Honors Mathematics, minor in French & Francophone Studies, The University of Michigan, 2012
- BSE in Biomedical Engineering, The University of Michigan, 2012
- MS in Bioinformatics, The University of Michigan, 2016
- MD, The University of Michigan, 2018
- Family Medicine Residency, The University of Utah, 2021 – Chief Resident, 2020-2021
- Sports Medicine Fellowship, Boston Children’s Hospital, 2022
Board Certifications:
- American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), 2021-2031
- Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine (CAQSM) from ABFM, 2022-2032
Honors & Awards:
- AMSSM Foundation Resident Scholarship Award, 2021
- UAFP Resident Leadership Award, 2021
- AFMRD Resident Award for Scholarship, 2021
Organizations Worked With:
Elite/Professional:
- International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix, Challenger, and Championship Series
- FISU World University Games
- US Figure Skating
- USA Gymnastics
- USA Archery
- FIS Nordic Ski Racing
- Boston Ballet
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Sankofa Danzafro
- Boston Marathon
- National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Utah Royals
- National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), Boston Pride
Collegiate:
- University of Utah: Gymnastics, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer
- Pac12 Gymnastics Championships, NCAA Regionals
- University of Michigan: Gymnastics
- Boston Conservatory/Berklee College of Music
- Northeastern University: Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball, Track & Field
- Emmanuel College
- Salt Lake Community College
High School:
- Jordan High School
- Brighton High School
Member of: AAFP, ACSM, AMSSM, IAEDP, IADMS, MEDA, PAMA
Publications:
“It’s not about the food: Recognizing and Treating Eating Disorders.” UAFP CME & Ski 2024.
“Why Health at Every Size Matters.” UAFP Fall/Winter 2023 Journal.
“Red Flags: When to Send Your Gymnast to a Medical Professional.” Webinar for USA Gymnastics, Aug 31, 2021.
“Speaking Pianist.” Webinar for Boston Children’s Hospital Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Feb 14, 2022.
“Money Matters for Students & Residents.” Webinar for Utah Academy of Family Physicians (UAFP) Pathways to Practice, Oct 2, 2021.
“How to Manage a “Crash” in Your Gym.” Webinar for USA Gymnastics, Sep 27, 2022.
“Where Vision and Life Converge – The Challenge and the Success.” In-person and virtual panel discussion with Utah Opera Company and Lassonde Studios at the University of Utah, Mar 23, 2023.