Keeping Women Active and Healthy

Written by Steven Blackburn

Women seeking to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, regardless of age and athletic aptitude, can benefit from the combined expertise of the specialties that make up the Women’s Center for Motion and Performance. It is a new center of excellence at UConn Health that’s renowned for its specialized care of women with musculoskeletal conditions.

These coordinated services help each patient overcome her unique challenges, preserve motion, enhance performance and achieve their health goals during a time when there are less than two dozen establishments that provide such programs in the entirety of the U.S.

The Women’s Center for Motion and Performance streamlines the patient experience by triaging patients to ensure they are seeing the right providers, and those providers closely collaborate. Co-directors Katherine J. Coyner, M.D., MBA, and Allison M. Schafer, D.O., receive patient referrals from the center’s nurse navigator, Kayla Callanan.

“The triage part of the process is very important because Kayla can make preliminary assessments of which of us doctors these patients need to see and puts that on our radar when she assigns them to us. So, when we have that first appointment with them, we can provide more expedited, tailored care,” says Dr. Coyner, who performs orthopedic surgery. “Kayla makes sure our patients feel engaged and empowered to obtain the health they desire.”

Connecting Patients with the Right Providers and Reducing Wait Times

To demonstrate how triaging helps UConn Health provide what too many institutions can’t give their patients, Dr. Coyner explained how her team’s treatment of hip dysplasia has greatly improved under the Women’s Center for Motion and Performance care model. “Women with hip dysplasia don’t usually need surgery at first. But before we got Kayla, they would usually get scheduled to see me because of my area of expertise when they should be seeing Dr. Schafer for ultrasound-guided injections and musculoskeletal ultrasound,” says Dr. Coyner.

Although there are many acute injuries that require more immediate surgical intervention, many musculoskeletal conditions do not. As Dr. Schafer notes, such conditions are often treated in isolation from other medical conditions. “But what is becoming more and more evident in the literature is the strong link between pain perception and mental health,” she says. “We are aiming to address this in routine screening for mental health conditions and expedited referral to psychology should we identify issues that will prohibit recovery.”

In addition, many conditions are related to nutrition, whether it be a patient being underweight or overweight. UConn Health now has the resources to better help support women with their nutrition and lifestyle.

When such referrals occur, patients can usually see these other providers sooner rather than later, reducing wait times between consultations considerably.

“We in surgery historically didn’t refer patients to someone like a nutritionist or anyone in sports psychology,” adds Dr. Coyner. “But now we are. The center is making us think in broader terms beyond surgery to deliver better care.”

Why a Focus on Women Matters

The center’s name highlights that this triaged system serves patients who identify as women. Dr. Coyner explains, “We strive to provide healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of women, acknowledging the differences in anatomical structure and physical demands between genders.”

Drs. Coyner and Schafer, both women and former college athletes, deliver tailored care that aligns with the center’s mission to embrace and promote diversity in musculoskeletal care.,

Additionally, Callanan, the nurse navigator and a former bedside nurse, brings valuable experience from her 18 years as a gymnast, having dealt with similar injuries to those the center now specializes in treating.

“It had always been our desire to give back to those within the female community who want to stay active and create an environment where they feel supported,” says Dr. Coyner. “With the group that we’ve assembled, we really can accommodate all patients and have a comfort level that patients are going to feel well supported here.”

An Array of Medical Disciplines and Specialties 

A significant amount of effort went into identifying and integrating the right providers at UConn Health into the center, an initiative that wouldn’t have been possible if those involved weren’t passionate about it. “Our goal for the center has always been to provide comprehensive, collaborative care across multiple specialties in women’s musculoskeletal health,” says Dr. Schafer. “We’ve partnered with physical therapy, neurology, internal medicine, endocrinology, lifestyle medicine, and psychology. Together, we offer a well-rounded approach to support women in achieving optimal health.

“What’s great is that we’re all truly working together,” Dr. Schafer says. “Rather than patients feeling like they see one doctor while another is unaware of their care, we’ve created a collaborative system that delivers a seamless, cohesive care plan for our patients.”

Providing the Same Specialized Care for All Women Beyond the Huskies

The center’s current programming is essentially an extension of the specialized, tailored services that Drs. Coyner and Schafer already have been providing for UConn student-athletes as part of the Orthopedics & Sports Medicine program (spotlighted in Seasons Magazines’ Summer 2023 issue). But they emphasize that these services are also available to any women who want to resume an active lifestyle and benefit from these specialized exercises and prescriptions.

“Understanding our patients’ needs and goals takes time, but it allows us to develop specialized treatment plans that truly fit their situation. In some cases, they don’t need full physical therapy, but rather tailored exercise prescriptions they can do at home,” says Dr. Schafer. “Even if their knee or shoulder pain is mild, we focus on addressing their concerns to help them feel confident about returning to activity.”

While the center treats both athletes and non-athletes, its strong connection to the Orthopedics & Sports Medicine program fosters a unique sense of community. “Patients love knowing they’re part of the same system as well-known athletes and receiving care from the same providers,” says Dr. Coyner. “It’s about women empowering women, sharing the same journey and supporting one another. That sense of connection and strength is incredibly powerful.”

Empowering Women Outside of a Clinic Setting

As a growing center of excellence in New England, the center has been focused on expanding its reach across the region. Recently, they participated in the UConn Health Half Marathon, bringing along a large sign that read, “I Am Active Because…” Women in the marathon were encouraged to write their own answers, creating a powerful collage of shared motivation. This inspiring display now hangs in Callanan’s office. “Our goal is to empower women to prioritize their health and explore personalized care options together,” says Dr. Coyner. “That sign was a way of reflecting that message.”

The Women’s Center for Motion and Performance has expanded its approach to care while deepening its commitment to helping women achieve their health goals.

“Your journey to better health starts with a single step, and we invite you to explore the personalized care we offer, Dr. Coyner says. “Together, we can support you in reaching your full potential and making your well-being a top priority.”

Steven Blackburn is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of journalism experience in various fields, including U.S. education and Connecticut community interest stories. He lives in Winsted.