Joanne Borg-Stein is a physician from Massachusetts General Brigham healthcare system.
She is associate professor and Chief of Sports Medicine for the Harvard Department of PM&R. She recently presented her research at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation assembly, looking at understanding the structure, biomechanics and injury patterns of the shoulder.
OPN: What drove you to choose physical medicine as a career – and rehabilitation in particular?
JBS: Between the 1st and 2nd years of medical school, I spent the summer in the PM&R department of my medical school. I was drawn to the holistic, comprehensive, functionally oriented approach of the field in general. My strong personal interest in sports, anatomy, and fitness informed and influenced my choice of subspecialization in Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine.
OPN: It is clear that the healthcare industry has been greatly impacted by the pandemic, what has been the greatest impact for you within your research and industry?
JBS: During the pandemic, fitness patterns, sports participation, exercise transformed. Health clubs closed. Some People became sedentary and overweight and missed the social aspects of sport and fitness. This led to exacerbation of many underlying musculoskeletal conditions.
On the other end of the spectrum, some took up distance outdoor sports such as running, cycling, hiking and did these to extremes that they were not physically prepared for.
All of these impacted our approach and injury pattern.
In addition, early on, we were challenged to create a treatment program for survivors of COVID with long-term sequelae.
OPN: What’s the best part of your job?
JBS: Taking care of patients, and connecting with them and their family members over many years. I also enjoy solving clinically complex cases and giving patients and their loved ones hope.
OPN: … and the worst?
JBS: The administrative burdens of practice take away from its inherent pleasure. There is little satisfaction in filling out paperwork or obtaining prior authorizations.
OPN: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
JBS: Starting and growing the Harvard/Spaulding PM&R Sports and Musculoskeletal division. The joy of mentorship is profound, and this has been my major contribution to our specialty. I was the first member of our Sports Medicine division, and now we have 26 faculty members, all of whom are wonderful.
OPN: You recently spoke at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation assembly about understanding the opportunities and limitations to available treatment and rehabilitation options for the shoulder. Could you tell us more about your research and findings.
JBS: I have been using regenerative techniques for shoulder and other musculoskeletal issues, and have been impressed with the results. I am engaged in ongoing efforts to build our research program to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of these treatments, and to expand our evidence base.