Katherine J Coyner, MD, MBA Orthopaedic Surgeon
Specializing in Sports Medicine
Katherine J Coyner, MD, MBA, is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at UCONN Health.
Dr. Coyner is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and holds an additional Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and is part of the UCONN Sports Medicine Program. She is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Orthopaedic Association’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Dr. Coyner earned her M.D. from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine. She completed her residency in orthopaedic surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., and performed a fellowship in sports medicine at Duke University Medical Center. During her time at Duke, she served as a team physician for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the football team, and the women’s soccer team.
As part of the UCONN’s Musculoskeletal Institute and Sports Medicine Program, Dr. Coyner provides advanced treatment and surgical options for patients with a wide range of sports-related injuries and conditions of the shoulder, hip, and knee. She is also a UCONN team physician providing coverage at numerous collegiate sporting events.
Prior to coming to UCONN she spent 6 years at UT Southwestern Medical Center and was the Assistant Team Orthopaedic Surgeon to the NHL and Head Team Physician for two local high schools, and she provided the official medical coverage for Denver Broncos Pro-Bowl cornerback Chris Harris’ Underdog Football Skills Academy. Dr. Coyner was previously the Assistant Team Physician to a minor-league baseball team and a semi-pro women’s contact football team.
A Lifelong Passion
Dr. Coyner’s interest in sports medicine began in college, when she was the starting point guard for the University of Massachusetts basketball team. At UMass, she was the second player ever to score 1,000 points and total more than 500 assists in her career – and the only woman to reach that goal. She also holds top-10 rankings in 30 different areas for accomplishments throughout her basketball career and within individual seasons.
Dr. Coyner’s successful basketball career helped guide her to the field of sports medicine. After earning her M.D. from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and performing an orthopaedic surgery residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, she was selected for the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, a position that merged her two biggest passions in life: basketball and medicine. At Duke, Dr. Coyner served as a team physician for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the football team, and the women’s soccer team.
The pressure and team spirit of sports prepared her to excel at orthopaedic surgery, and she loves getting athletes back onto the field.
"It’s instant gratification to experience them doing well and returning to their level of play," she says.
Paving the Way
Dr. Coyner is also passionate about paving the way for women in the world of sports medicine. In the United States, fewer than 7 percent of orthopaedic surgeons are women, and in Connecticut, she’s one of only a few female sports medicine physicians.
But breaking down barriers is nothing new for Dr. Coyner. She was the first female in the orthopaedic surgery residency program at William Beaumont Hospital. And in 2013, she brought the Perry Initiative, which is a free, one-day, hands-on experience for high school and college-aged women to expose females to more male dominated fields such as engineering and Orthopaedic Surgery. Students hear from women leaders in these fields and get to try it for themselves by performing mock orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanics experiments. In 2015, Dr. Coyner was invited to be member of the Perry Initiative Advisory Board and appointed Treasurer in 2016. And she is extremely excited to bring the Perry Initiative to UCONN for both high school students and medical students.
"Click here for more info on the Perry Initiative"
Compassionate Care
Dr. Coyner’s love of both sports and medicine combine to make her a highly compassionate doctor who offers patient-centered care.
One of the most common sports injuries that Dr. Coyner sees is ACL tears a condition that occurs up to eight times more often in female athletes.
"As a former college athlete, I saw a lot of my teammates affected by this," she says. "To be able to help them get back to play is very important. And I actually had an ACL tear myself and had surgery. So I’ve experienced the whole spectrum of treatment, from having a teammate tear her ACL and be out for a season, to being able to treat patients and getting them back to the field, and also experiencing it personally," she says.
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Katherine J Coyner, MD, MBA In the News
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First comes the pop, then comes the pain. For those who play or watch sports, the sound and sight of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a too-common experience.
How to navigate fitness after 50
As bodies change with age, reaction and healing times can start to really slow you down. So, it’s important for older adults to adjust their routine, but not nix exercise entirely.
Strengthening Core, Leg Muscles Can Reduce Risk of ACL Tears
First comes the pop, then comes the pain. For those who play or watch sports, the sound and sight of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a too-common experience.
How to Stay Active Forever
During 30 years of running and cycling I'd never suffered a serious injury. Then, last year, at age 52, I decided to enter a half-marathon. I bought new running shoes, doubled my mileage and, within a week, severely strained my Achilles tendon. I lost the entry fee, a month of training and my swagger. It was a valuable lesson.
Q & A With Katherine J. Coyner, MD
Knee
Shoulder
Dr. Coyner's Videos
Dr. Coyner discuss shoulder injuries
Dr Coyner Understands Your Goals
Dr Coyner's Approach to Patients
When to See a Doctor
Sports Medicine: More Than Sports
Dr Coyner Gets Athletes
Dealing with Shoulder Pain
Advance Cartilage Restoration