Dr. Jessica Hart is an orthopedic surgeon – one of just seven percent of all female orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. She has also been deeply familiar with the complexities of the human body for most of her life, as a competitive gymnast through college while studying pre-med, and then rigorously training to become a doctor specializing as an orthopedic surgeon in sports medicine.

With Dr. Hart, you not only get a well-trained physician and surgeon, you also get a confident, warm, energetic presence to cheer you on through your ailment or procedure. Her commitment to her patients is of the highest importance: “Putting patients first is at the core of my care philosophy. They come to see me when something is affecting their quality of life, and they take time from work and life responsibilities to come see me. I try to be available and provide the best care I can,” she says.

What’s great about her job is, well, everything. Dr. Hart loves getting to see patients of all ages – from caring for injured student athletes (she’s helped players get back in the game by providing sideline care for professional, college, and high school teams) to performing surgery and giving people life back with options like shoulder replacements. “It’s happy medicine,” she says with a smile. “I get to help make a difference in my patients’ quality of life.”

Fitness and enjoying life to the fullest with her husband are central in Dr. Hart’s life outside of work. She’s an accomplished marathon runner who continues to run with her lively lab puppy, and she’s always looking for fun ways to be active.