Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Advancing Orthopaedics and Championing Women’s Sports Medicine with Dr. Kiera Kingston
Release Date: July 29, 2025
In this engaging episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Scott Becker sits down with Dr. Kiera Kingston, a distinguished physician leader specializing in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Kingston shares her extensive background, her passion for women's sports medicine, insights on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, and her perspectives on addressing access challenges within the medical field.
1. Dr. Kingston’s Professional Journey and Current Focus
Dr. Kingston begins by outlining her impressive credentials, including dual fellowship training in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery. She highlights her experience at Endeavor Healthcare, recognized as one of Illinois’s busiest orthopedic practices, and her fellowship at the renowned Hospital for Special Surgery. Additionally, her time at Brigham and Women's Hospital within the Harvard system underscores her commitment to excellence in musculoskeletal care.
Notable Quote:
“I always thought that there was a ton of crossover between sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery and an opportunity to really use this skill set from my sports fellowship to become a leader in ankle arthroscopy, cartilage instability, and more sporty foot and ankle.” (00:59)
Dr. Kingston emphasizes her current focus on building a dedicated women’s sports medicine center. Drawing from her background as a collegiate ice hockey player, she is passionate about supporting female athletes and fostering their participation in sports to enhance life skills and confidence.
2. Championing Women’s Sports Medicine and Female Athlete Care
A significant portion of the conversation centers on Dr. Kingston’s initiative to establish an all-female women’s sports medicine team at Endeavor Healthcare. She discusses the holistic approach her team is adopting, integrating subspecialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, bone health, endocrinology, and rheumatology to provide comprehensive care for female patients across various life stages.
Notable Quote:
“We are really hoping to provide sort of care for all of our female patients, everything from adolescents to sort of perimenopausal care.” (02:45)
Dr. Kingston underscores the importance of addressing specific medical needs in female athletes, such as reds (likely a transcription error, possibly referring to a specific condition), stress fractures, and stress reactions. By offering nutritional support and psychological services, her team aims to create a supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges faced by female athletes.
3. Advice for Young Women in Medicine
Scott Becker poses a heartfelt question regarding advice for a young woman physician navigating her career path. Dr. Kingston passionately advocates for greater inclusivity and representation of women in traditionally male-dominated specialties like orthopedic surgery.
Notable Quote:
“Only about 10% of the applicants into residency programs [in orthopedic surgery] are women. We need to do better. We need to do a better job being inclusive of medical students, recruiting from all walks of life.” (06:42)
She highlights the importance of mentorship and representation, noting that seeing women in leadership roles can inspire and encourage female medical students to pursue surgical specialties. Dr. Kingston shares her own experience of being one of few women in her residency class, emphasizing the value of camaraderie and support among peers.
4. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
The discussion shifts to the burgeoning role of AI in healthcare, exploring both its potential benefits and risks. Dr. Kingston acknowledges AI as a powerful tool that can alleviate the administrative burdens on physicians, such as documentation, thereby reducing burnout and increasing patient interaction time.
Notable Quote:
“AI can minimize the burden of documentation for physicians... and hopefully allows us to see more patients in the day.” (10:52)
However, she also cautions against over-reliance on AI, citing studies where radiologists became dependent on AI models, which sometimes led to diminished confidence and skill degradation when the AI failed to identify certain anomalies.
Notable Quote:
“There is a threat of almost unlearning the skills and the knowledge that we have acquired over our many, many years of training...” (13:30)
Dr. Kingston advocates for a balanced approach, where AI serves as an augmentative tool rather than a replacement, ensuring that medical professionals retain their expertise and critical thinking abilities.
5. Addressing Access Challenges in the Healthcare System
Scott Becker raises concerns about the shortage of specialists and the barriers patients face in accessing specialized care. Dr. Kingston agrees, recognizing the complexity of the issue and the absence of a singular solution.
Notable Quote:
“If there was, we probably already would, have a solution to access and equity in our health care system.” (15:02)
She suggests several strategies to improve access, including:
- Telehealth: Expanding remote consultations to reach patients with transportation or mobility limitations.
- Prescription Delivery: Utilizing home delivery services to ensure continuity of care.
- Healthcare Workforce Expansion: Increasing the number of medical school slots and residency programs to produce more physicians and specialists.
- Early Engagement: Initiatives to inspire high school and college students to pursue careers in medicine, particularly in underserved specialties.
Dr. Kingston also emphasizes the importance of mentorship programs to guide aspiring physicians, especially women, into specialized fields.
6. Insights on Orthopedic Injuries and Recovery
The conversation takes a personal turn as Scott Becker inquires about Achilles tendon injuries, a common concern among athletes. Dr. Kingston provides an optimistic outlook on recovery post-Achilles repair, highlighting the effectiveness of modern surgical techniques and dedicated physical therapy.
Notable Quote:
“Patients do well after Achilles repairs... it takes up to a year to really feel like they're getting their calf strength and muscle bulk back.” (19:22)
She underscores the critical role of patient dedication to physical therapy, attributing successful recoveries to consistent rehabilitation efforts rather than innate athletic ability.
Notable Quote:
“So long as people are dedicated to that process, doing their physical therapy two to three times a week, doing their exercises daily, they have the motivation and the Willpower, they'll do well.” (20:54)
7. Future Initiatives and Closing Thoughts
In the final segment, Dr. Kingston reiterates her excitement about building a robust sports medicine practice in the Chicagoland area, inspired by successful programs at institutions like HSS and the Harvard system. Her vision includes creating a sustainable women’s sports medicine center that serves the community for decades to come.
Notable Quote:
“I think this is an incredible opportunity for us to sort of leverage our experience in those programs to sort of recreate one here in the Chicagoland area...” (22:15)
Scott Becker closes the episode with heartfelt appreciation, acknowledging Dr. Kingston’s contributions to the field and her personable approach.
Conclusion
This episode of Becker’s Healthcare Podcast offers a comprehensive look into the advancements in orthopedic and sports medicine, particularly focusing on empowering women in sports. Dr. Kiera Kingston’s insights shed light on the critical intersections of clinical excellence, technological innovation, and the ongoing efforts to enhance access and equity in healthcare. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on nurturing the next generation of female physicians, the balanced integration of AI in medical practice, and strategies to overcome systemic challenges in the healthcare landscape.