Elizabeth Gardner

Elizabeth Gardner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine, where she specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the knee, shoulder, and other joints. She serves as Head Team Physician for Yale Athletics and provides care at Yale Medicine and the West Haven VA Hospital. Dr. Gardner is also the medical director for the Southern Connecticut State University Masters in Athletic Training program and a Fellow of Davenport College, where she advises undergraduate students.

• MD, Emory University School of Medicine (2007)
• Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital (2012)
• Fellowship, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, University of Michigan (2013)
• BA, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University (2001)

Dr. Gardner's research and clinical interests center on sports injury prevention, ACL reconstruction outcomes, epidemiology of orthopaedic injuries, and gender equity in orthopaedics. She emphasizes non-surgical and preventive strategies to keep athletes and active individuals healthy. Her work bridges clinical care, surgical innovation, and population-level injury analysis.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on ACL and meniscal pathologies, injury patterns in diverse populations (including athletes and smartphone users), and the role of rehabilitation and telemedicine. She frequently investigates risk factors for revision surgery and long-term joint health, using large-scale data and biomechanical assessments to inform best practices.

• 2024 ‘Top Doctors’ List by Yale Medicine
• 2025 ‘Top Doctors’ List by Yale Medicine
• Research All Star, Avant-garde Health (2025)

Dr. Gardner actively mentors students and residents, advises undergraduates at Yale, and collaborates with frequent co-authors such as Jonathan Grauer, Jay Moran, and Christopher Schneble. She has secured research recognition and funding through institutional and clinical partnerships. Her work with high school and college coaches aims to disseminate injury prevention strategies broadly.

She is a key member of the Yale Orthopaedics team, contributing to clinical programs including the ACL Injury Treatment Program, Cartilage Repair & Restoration Program, and Sports Medicine SportSafe Program. Her dual background as a former varsity athlete and orthopaedic surgeon uniquely informs her holistic approach to patient care and injury prevention.