SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 10, 2021) – The UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery is pleased to announce that Coleen Sabatini, MD, MPH has been appointed as the Vice Chair of Health Equity and Academic Affairs.
“There is much work to be done to increase access to high-quality musculoskeletal care for all people -- both locally and globally” said Dr. Sabatini, who is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and a champion of global health and health equity at UCSF. “Inequities exist in so many facets of our society and healthcare systems that impact the quality of life for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. I am honored to be given this opportunity to lead the Department’s efforts to address musculoskeletal health disparities with the goal of improving the musculoskeletal health of all people, particularly those from vulnerable populations,” Dr. Sabatini added.
"At UCSF, we strive to promote justice, equity, and diversity,” said Dr. Thomas P. Vail, chair of the Department. “We recognize that educational excellence and diversity are linked, and Dr. Sabatini will support the further development of our community that is culturally competent, socially responsible and appreciative of global perspectives."
About Dr. Coleen Sabatini
(Photo: Courtesy of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals)
Dr. Coleen Sabatini is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, who is dedicated to caring for children with musculoskeletal problems both domestically and abroad. Her clinical areas of focus include treating clubfoot and other foot deformities, limb deformities, infection, and fractures. She currently directs the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital’s clubfoot clinic as well as its dance medicine program.
Her research interests include health equity, global health, ways to prevent and treat traumatic injuries in young people, and improving access to orthopaedic care for children who live in areas with limited resources.
Dr. Sabatini trains visiting orthopaedic surgeons on techniques in providing care to pediatric patients at the annual UCSF IGOT SMART Course in San Francisco (Photo: Courtesy of UCSF Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology)
Dr. Sabatini also leads a pediatric orthopaedic research program in Uganda, for which she serves as the Principal Investigator on multiple projects focused on neglected surgical conditions. She is also co-director of the UCSF Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA) – a program that has the mission is to improve access to quality surgical care in low-resource settings through education and research.
Dr. Sabatini has been involved for more than 15 years in organizations and efforts to increase diversity within orthopaedic surgery. She also belongs to several professional organizations, which include the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS), Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is currently chair of the AAOS International Committee, serves on the Board of Directors of POSNA and JRGOS, and is leading the Diversity Task Force for POSNA.
“Dr. Sabatini will bring a wealth of passion and experience in health equity both locally and globally to her new role in order to advance our efforts to improve musculoskeletal health for all patients and communities,” Dr. Vail added.
Dr. Sabatini earned her medical degree at Harvard Medical School and her master’s degree in public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed her residency in orthopedic surgery through the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, and later completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She joined the faculty at UCSF in 2010.
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