BACKGROUND
Kathryn (Kate) Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM is a sports medicine physician and endocrinologist, Medical Director of the Female Athlete Program in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children's Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her interests include female athletes, rowing injuries, endocrinology, relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), optimizing performance and health in athletes with diabetes, exercise-associated hyponatremia, and exercise and bone health. Dr. Ackerman has authored/co-authored over 100 articles and book chapters related to sports medicine, endocrinology, rowing, bone health, and female athletes, including position statements with the International Olympic Committee.
EDUCATION
Dr. Ackerman received her BA in Government and Biology from Cornell University. She then received her Medical Doctorate from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Additionally, she received her MPH from Harvard School of Public Health.
EXPERTISE
Dr. Ackerman's interests in clinical care and education involve merging disciplines of sports medicine and endocrinology, while advancing the science and understanding of these interwoven specialties. Dr. Ackerman is a former national team lightweight rower. She has multiple National Championships titles and still competes with her teammates for life as a masters athlete. Dr. Ackerman also serves as chair of the US Rowing Medical and Sports Science Commission, member of the World Rowing Medical Commission, is a member of the Wu Tsai Female Human Performance Alliance National Leadership Council, and is the Founder and Director of the Female Athlete Conference, held biennially at Boston Children's Hospital.