FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 5, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA – Dr. Karen Sutton has been named Chief Medical Officer for the Federation of International Lacrosse, it was announced today, only weeks before the 2018 World Championships in Netanya, Israel.
Sutton has been US Lacrosse’s Team Physician for the U.S. Women’s National Team as well as a member of its highly-regarded Sport Science & Safety Committee. She also has served as team physician for the 2017 U.S. Women’s World Cup team. She has been a leader both internationally and nationally providing player safety policy, injury prevention, and best practices and development for the sport of Lacrosse and its athletes.
“It’s with distinct pleasure we’re able to welcome Dr. Sutton as the Chief Medical Officer for our organization,” said FIL President Sue Redfern. “Dr. Sutton brings both on-field experience as an athlete and in-depth medical knowledge to the position. Combined with her background in the medical development area of our sport, she is an ideal fit.”
Sutton was an NCAA Division I athlete for Duke University before she entered the medical field. She was Duke’s team captain for three years, Regional All-American, Academic All-American, and led her team to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
“I am truly excited to welcome Dr Sutton as the FIL’s first Chief Medical Officer, said Don Blacklock, FIL Technical Director. Karen brings such enthusiasm, a love for lacrosse and a passion for sports medicine. I am quite certain Karen will provide the necessary leadership to assist the FIL and its members in increasing our standards in sport related health issues, player safety and Anti-Doping.”
Dr. Sutton remarked about her appointment, “I look forward to working with the Federation of International Lacrosse and countries throughout the world to bring an exceptionally high and consistent standard of health and safety to our sport. The role of Chief Medical Officer will allow a collaboration of information on lacrosse injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and injury management to be disseminated globally. In establishing the CMO role, the FIL continues to display a level of organization consistent with the International Olympic Committee standards.
Personally, as a former player and current National Team Physician, I hope to continue giving back to the game of lacrosse, as it taught me teamwork, perseverance, leadership and a love of sports!”
About Dr. Sutton
A national authority on sports injuries and prevention, Dr. Sutton has worked with various national news outlets including NBCSN and ESPNU.She has made substantial contributions to research, publishing over 30 publications and giving over 80 presentations on topics from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to treating the female athlete to shoulder issues in breast cancer. Dr. Sutton is also an elected member of the American Orthopedic Association, acknowledging scholarship in orthopedic surgery. She serves on multiple committees on the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine. She is an editor of leading orthopedic journals, including The American Journal of Sports Medicine, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.
Dr. Sutton began her academic career at Duke University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, graduating with distinction. She earned her medical degree at University of Maryland. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Yale University School of Medicine followed by fellowships in sports medicine at Massachusetts GeneralHospital/Harvard School of Medicine and pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine. She was an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Yale University.
