Dr. Karen Sutton is a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon from Yale University School of Medicine where she was an Associate Professor. She specializes in sports medicine with surgical expertise in arthroscopy of the shoulder, knee and hip. Dr. Sutton officially joined HSS as an attending on November 1, 2017.

As the Head Team Physician for United States Women’s Lacrosse, Dr. Sutton is responsible for providing care for the National Team athletes.  She was elected to the Sports, Science and Safety Committee for United States Lacrosse where she advises the Board of U.S Lacrosse on injury prevention and management.  She also serves as Team Physician for Yale University Athletics, Albertus Magnus College and the professional Women’s Tennis Association.  During her fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine, she assisted in the orthopedic care of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins and the New England Revolution.

Dr. Sutton’s passion for sports medicine stems from her years playing lacrosse at Duke University where she was Team Captain for 3 years, Regional All-American, Academic All-American, and led her team to the Final Four.  She is dedicated to caring for athletes.

Dr. Sutton is 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.  She has made substantial contributions to research, publishing over 30 publications and giving over 70 presentations on topics from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to treating the female athlete to shoulder issues in breast cancer.

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 General Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine and pediatric sports medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine.