From courtside to bedside: WNBA team physician forges her own path in sports medicine

Guided by a lifelong passion for service and healing, Frazier Keitt, DO, has built a dynamic career where osteopathic medicine and athletics meet. As team physician for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Atlanta Dream and for Morehouse College athletics, Dr. Keitt approaches each challenge with purpose and precision. Her work blends holistic care with athletic performance, helping patients and athletes alike recover, rebuild and return stronger than before.

Below is an edited Q&A.

What inspired you to become an osteopathic physician?

Being in service to others has always been my passion. When I was a child, I would always be in the “helper crew,” aiding my classmates with their responsibilities or helping another child in need. As I grew into my teenage years, my inspiration to become a doctor was enhanced by the medical television drama series “ER.” It was that show and my inherent desire to be of service, to contribute to the healing of others, that led to me knowing this career path would be deeply rewarding.

Osteopathic medicine came into play as I studied biomedical science at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. A recruiter from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) came to my university to discuss the osteopathic medical profession and, from her enthusiasm about treating the underserved, serving in the community and using osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) to aid in healing, I knew that this specific path towards my medical aspirations was for me. It would solidify my journey to becoming the best physician I could be.

Your training includes board certification in internal medicine and a sports medicine certification. There are many ways to pursue sports medicine, but it’s less common to do so after training in internal medicine. What challenges did you face, and what was your journey to sports medicine like?

You are correct; it is a road less traveled. I initially chose internal medicine because, as a rotating medical student in a community hospital in South Carolina, a surgeon with whom I rotated told me that to be a great surgeon, you had to have an internal medicine eye to be able to pick up on the right pathology that leads you to the right procedure. He inspired me to investigate further, and from a follow-up rotation with the internal medicine group, I realized the internists were indeed some of the smartest people I had encountered, especially my physician mentor, Robin Garrell, MD.

I also knew being in a specialty that afforded me many different learning opportunities would certainly aid in my quest to be a solid sports medicine physician. While in in medical school, I was also aware that the head team physician for the women’s basketball team at Virginia Tech was an internist, so I was sold on the pathway.

The challenge that came with being an internist while looking for and matriculating to a sports medicine fellowship was being able to fit in, especially since many of the fellowship programs that I qualified for were through family medicine, a significantly heavy outpatient specialty that I was not used to. Once I was accepted to a family medicine run fellowship program, the major obstacle was learning how to treat conditions via an outpatient lens. I was so used to sending patients to the hospital and seeing them at their sickest point; therefore, I had to think on a different level to help these patients who just needed checkups most of the time.

How has your osteopathic training in the musculoskeletal system helped you with patient care and diagnostics?

While I do not use OMM in my practice, I believe the training that osteopathic physicians receive regarding the musculoskeletal (MSK) system is invaluable for what I do. It really does help me to have a deeper understanding of MSK pain, and with that I feel I can identify and treat the ailment correctly.

You have been able to work with athletes from high school all the way to the WNBA Atlanta Dream basketball team. Can you tell us about your experience helping athletes with their sports-related conditions?

Assisting in the care of athletes is certainly rewarding, but it can be trying at times. They are some of the best patients because they focus on the rehab plan quickly and push to get back to the field or the court. It can be difficult in that, sometimes, they push themselves too hard to get to the goal, which can come with setbacks.

I work with a multidisciplinary team, which is wonderful because we have a care approach that is very well-rounded. From diagnosis and treatment to nutrition, we ensure that we have all of our “i’s dotted and t’s crossed” so that our athletes feel supported and confident while we are working to get them back to their sport. Nothing is perfect and we have our regressions in progress, but nevertheless, we do what is necessary to get them back to what they love.

In what ways have you been able to help with healthcare literacy and promoting equitable care in sports?

I have participated in research regarding health disparities in sports medicine for ACL tears and concussions, as well as worked on a bibliographic study showcasing the disparities within orthopedic surgery across subspecialties. I also am continuously educating my patients in the clinic about their conditions and the treatment surrounding these problems. It is so important to me that, before they leave the office, they thoroughly understand what the issue is and how we intend to mitigate or solve it.

Within non-operative sports medicine, one of the key issues we come across is that many of these MSK complaints are chronic, so symptom management is the only “name of the game.” Getting patients to understand that something is not going to necessarily go away is difficult, so I try to emphasize that with whatever the treatment plan, I will work to get them more good days than bad; if they get something better than that, awesome! Many patients are amenable to this, and they are happy to work toward this goal. I think if the understanding is there from the beginning, both the “buy in” and the outcomes are better. I promote a similar approach for health literacy on my YouTube channel as well.

What advice can you give to DOs in training who want to pursue sports medicine?

I would advise to just continue. I love the St. Jerome saying, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.” The road to and through medicine isn’t easy and neither is subspecializing, but if you have a passion for not only athletes but also musculoskeletal care, then sports medicine is for you.

Most of us take care of the community; sports coverage is the bonus piece. Focus on learning all you can and refining your skill set, as most fellowships are only one year. Work to find a position that feeds your desires and goals within the sports medicine community while ensuring it also fits your needs as a person and as a provider.

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