When Rachel Frank, MD, associate professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, performs surgery on a patient with a knee injury, it’s more than professional. It’s personal.
Frank played goalkeeper on the University of Illinois women’s soccer team for four years, and the rigors exacted a painful toll. She underwent seven surgeries on the same knee, including during medical school at Northwestern University.
“I learned what it means to be on the patient side of things and how challenging that can be, particularly if your whole life revolves around soccer or any sport, as mine did,” said Frank, who practices as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at CU Sports Medicine. She is also team physician for the Colorado Rapids and assists the medical teams for CU athletics and U.S. Soccer.
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“When you’re in the OR, you are not only treating the person in front of you, but each surgery allows you an opportunity to learn how to make it better and stimulates new research ideas to try to improve upon what we’re already doing,” Frank said. “That really motivated me to want to become an orthopedic surgeon.”
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As the Women’s World Cup kicks off amid a troubling rash of ACL ruptures to star players, the spotlight is shining on ACL tears, treatment and recovery. In the following Q&A, Frank talks about the current standard of care for ACL reconstruction, the importance of injury prevention programs, and promising new surgical approaches and biologic treatments.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.