Leigh Curl

Last updated

Leigh Curl (born 1963) is an orthopedic surgeon who was the first female team physician in the National Football League (NFL). [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Born in 1963 Leigh Ann Curl was the second of six children. [2] As a child she excelled in sports and was known as the tomboy of her Pittsburgh neighborhood in Pennsylvania. [2] Women in sports was atypical for a young girl at that time but her parents were highly supportive of her athletic interests. Her mother, who grew up playing basketball, was an especially big source of inspiration and would sometimes surprise her by taking her to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates. Devastatingly for Curl, her mother died from a cerebral aneurysm during her freshman year of high school when Curl was only 14 years old. [2] This was an especially difficult time for Curl who attributes her interests in sports and more specifically her teammates and coaches to getting her through that difficult time in her life. [3]

Athletics at University of Connecticut

Curl excelled both academically and athletically and was accepted to the University of Connecticut on a basketball scholarship. [3] She had an affinity for the sciences and studied biology, chemistry and physiology before graduating summa cum laude in 1985 as class valedictorian. She was also a four-year starter for the University of Connecticut Women’s basketball team and served as team captain for two years. In her senior year she was named to the all conference second team. [4] In addition she is also recognized as one of the all-time leaders in points and rebounds at the University of Connecticut. [3]

Career

Although it was not firmly a part of her plan, Curl applied to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine after strong encouragement from her academic professors. She was accepted and completed her doctorate of medicine in 1989 and went on to complete her internship and residency at Johns Hopkins University as well. [5] From there her decision to go into Orthopedic Medicine was predestined. Even today women are few and far between in the field of orthopedics and in fact out of 120 medical students in her class she was the only woman to go into orthopedics. Her decision often came into question by skeptics who undermined her capabilities as a woman. She was often asked if she was physically able of doing the work or if she was concerned about being able to get married and have a family. However she never gave anyone room to question her and championed on confidently to complete a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery in 1995 from Cornell University.

During the yearlong fellowship she worked as a team physician for the New York Mets, [6] St. John’s University and NYC public schools and recreation program. Following her fellowship she became an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at the University of Maryland Medical System. During this time (1997-2002) she also served as the head team physician for the University of Maryland Terrapins and was a volunteer physician for Johns Hopkins University and also for both the USA Women’s Rugby and basketball teams. [7]

It was also during her time at the University of Maryland that Dr. Curl became acquainted with the Baltimore Ravens. She was recruited to be the head team Physician for the University of Maryland by a colleague and orthopedic surgeon she met in New York during her fellowship. She also happened to be the head team physician for the Ravens and later after she had left her position she was offered a job with the team. [8] It was also during her first year as team physician that the Ravens went to the Super Bowl. As a team physician, Dr. Curl is responsible for players who get injured during games or practices. She makes quick assessments of injured players out on the field to decide on a course of action. In addition she also performs any surgeries that a player might need. Although this is the highlight of her career she spends the majority of her time seeing patients and teaching medical students and residents. In addition she has also taken a special interest in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries of the knee and conducts research that investigates the reason that these injuries are four to six times more common in female versus male athletes. [3]

Honors and awards

Dr. Curl was inducted into the GTE Academic Hall of Fame in 1998 and is also a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. In addition she was also recognized for her undergraduate accomplishments at the University of Connecticut as a two time recipient of the Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete of the year. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthopedic surgery</span> Branch of surgery concerned with the musculoskeletal system

Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Steadman</span> Pioneering American orthopedic surgeon (1937–2023)

J. Richard Steadman was an American orthopedic surgeon and founder of The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI) located in Vail, Colorado. Steadman revolutionized orthopedic surgery. For a time, he was a clinical professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, but was known for his work in the area of microfracture surgery, and for treating injured sports stars from around the world. In January 2014, he announced his retirement from his surgical practice.

Mark Stephen Adickes is an orthopedic surgeon and a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins. Adickes was an All-American offensive lineman at Baylor University and later attended George Mason University and Harvard University Medical School. He is ESPN's NFL injury analyst and is the chief of sports medicine for Baylor College of Medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Andrews (physician)</span> American orthopedic surgeon

James Andrews is retired American orthopedic surgeon. He is a surgeon for knee, elbow, and shoulder injuries and is a specialist in repairing damaged ligaments. Practicing in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Andrews has become one of the best-known and most popular orthopedic surgeons and has performed on many high-profile athletes. He also is the team doctor for the Tampa Bay Rays, Auburn Tigers, and Washington Commanders.

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) promotes sports medicine education, research, communication, and fellowship and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Formed in 1972 as a forum for education and research with 100 members, the AOSSM today has to more than 2,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthopaedic sports medicine</span>

Orthopedic Sports Medicine is a subspecialty of orthopedic medicine and sports medicine. The word orthopaedic derives from "ortho" which is the Greek root for "straight" and "pais" which is the Greek root for child. During the early history of orthopaedic medicine, orthopaedists used braces, among other things, to make a child "straight."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg Carr</span> American football player and physician (born 1962)

Gregg Kevin Carr is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1988. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers, earning consensus All-American honors in 1984. He was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL draft. After his football career, he became an orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. John Francis Sarwark is Martha Washington Foundation Professor of Pediatric Orthopedics at Lurie Children's Hospital; Former Head, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Lurie Children's Hospital; and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

Scott Spann is an American orthopaedic surgeon, medical device inventor, former world-class swimmer and recovered quadriplegic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarek Omar Souryal</span>

Tarek Omar Souryal is an orthopedic surgeon in the field of sports medicine, known for his research on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He currently practices in Dallas, Texas, at Texas Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Group. He was previously the Head Physician for the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team and also served as the President of the NBA Physicians Association. He hosted a weekly radio show Inside Sports Medicine heard in the Dallas area. Souryal also provides medical advice and support to underprivileged high school athletes through his Texas Sports Medicine Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert F. LaPrade</span>

Robert F. LaPrade is a knee surgeon, practicing at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Edina, Minnesota. He is a specialist in treating posterolateral knee injuries. He has received the 2013 OREF Clinical Research Award for his research in improving outcomes for these injuries, and is the author of a textbook on the subject.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liebe Sokol Diamond</span> American pediatric orthopedic surgeon

Liebe Sokol Diamond was an American pediatric orthopedic surgeon and an inductee of the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.

Joshua A. Siegel is an American orthopedic surgeon and director of sports medicine. He is known for engaging arthroscopic surgical techniques in treating professional athletes and sports teams. He has been listed as Top Doctor six times by New Hampshire magazine. He is listed among the "59 Orthopaedic Surgeons Recommended by Healthcare Leaders". He is also listed among the "125 Knee Surgeons and Specialists to Know".

Claudia L. Thomas is the first female African-American orthopedic surgeon in the United States. She attended Medical School at Johns Hopkins University. She was the first African-American and woman to be admitted to the Yale Medical Program in orthopedics. She strives to increase the number of minority students in medical school and to help decrease racial bias in the healthcare industry. While in her undergrad at Vassar College she helped form the Students' Afro-American Society (SAS), whose members pushed for the creation of a Black Studies program at the college. She has overcome kidney failure which was exacerbated by a hurricane and is a cancer survivor.

Edward G McFarland is the Wayne H. Lewis Professor of Shoulder Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He specializes in the treatment of the shoulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Valderrabano</span> Swiss orthopedic surgeon

Victor Valderrabano is a Swiss orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist specializing in sports traumatology, osteoarthritis surgery and reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity.

Ricky Wayne Wright is an American orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He was the Jerome J. Gilden Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine before becoming the Dan Spengler, M.D., Chair in Orthopaedics at Vanderbilt University.

Matthew Joseph Matava is an American orthopedic surgeon. Matava is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Physical Therapy, the head team physician for the Washington University Bears athletic teams, as well as a team physician for the St. Louis Blues. He is also the president of the National Football League (NFL) Physician Society.

Brian J. Cole is an American orthopedic surgeon, professor and chairman of the department of orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and the chairman of surgery at Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. He is the managing partner of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, a top-ranked orthopaedic department in the United States. He is a sports medicine clinician-scientist specializing in shoulder, elbow, and knee injuries and has an interest in arthroscopy, cartilage restoration, and the use of OrthoBiologics. He is well known for his work with professional and university sports teams, working as the head team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Dogs, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, and DePaul University and co-team physician for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Fire. He frequently treats professional athletes and is asked for second opinions by his colleagues to help with the care of high-profile athletes from virtually every sport both nationally and internationally.

Constance R. Chu is an American professor of orthopaedic surgery at Stanford Medicine. She also directs the Joint Preservation Center and leads the Sports Medicine program at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.

References

  1. ↑ Pitts, Jonathan (November 13, 2010). "Pioneering Ravens doctor at the top of her game". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Biography - Dr. Leigh Ann Curl". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Leigh Ann Curl". Changing the Face of Medicine. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "2024 25 WBB Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). University of Connecticut Athletics. p. 127. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Leigh A. Curl MD". health.usnews.com. Retrieved 18 Nov 2024. She received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  6. ↑ "The Tech of Sports: Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, Head Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens – NFLPS". 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2024-11-19. has also served as team physician for the University of Maryland Terrapins, the New York Mets,
  7. ↑ "The Tech of Sports: Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, Head Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens – NFLPS". 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2024-11-19. has also served as team physician for the University of Maryland Terrapins,
  8. ↑ "The Tech of Sports: Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, Head Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens – NFLPS". 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2024-11-19. As part of the MedStar Sports Medicine team, Dr. Curl is the head orthopaedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.