At Coastal Orthopedics, excellence in patient care goes hand-in-hand with a passion for community and personal wellness. Dr. Sara Simmons, board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and wrist surgery, brings more than just surgical expertise to the practice — she brings the heart of an athlete and the spirit of a teammate.
With an extensive rowing background, she’s also traveled further down the Olympic road than most of us. Dr. Simmons was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Rowing Team and as a lightweight women’s rower, she went to two world championships in 1995 and 1996.
Dr. Simmons remembers her experience with pride, but also, candid honesty.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” said Dr. Simmons. “The training camps, the hours of training and the cutting weight. Some people are better suited for that. One of my boatmates made it as a spare in the 2000 Olympics. My stint with rowing was two national team tours.”
Though her competitive rowing days are now behind her, Dr. Simmons remains connected to the sport by volunteering her medical expertise on a regular basis at Nathan Benderson Park (NBP), a recreational destination offering a wide range of activities, including world-class rowing events.
Most recently, she was invited to be the on-site physician for the B1G TEN Women’s Rowing Invitational Regatta at NBP. As one of the premier cross-conference rowing events in the country, the event is in its 5th year and remains the nation’s premier regular-season regattas at the NCAA level.
Held April 18-19, 2025, Dr. Simmons was the only doctor at the event, but worked alongside athletic nurses and trainers to evaluate student athletes, provide basic life support if necessary and stabilize individuals, should it have been needed.
Her dedication to both medicine and athletics traces back to her academic roots. Dr. Simmons received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Harvard University and worked under the Massachusetts Arthritis Foundation in the Orthopedic gene therapy lab for the Harvard Center for Molecular Orthopaedics. She also completed an internship in general surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
When she’s not in the operating room restoring mobility and relieving pain, you might find her gliding across the water, still embracing the discipline, focus and resilience that has always defined her approach to both rowing and wellness.
