Nemours Children’s Health takes pride in spotlighting the remarkable individuals who go beyond their roles as physicians. Dr. Sarah R. Gibson, a Pediatric Sports Medicine Physician in the Department of Orthopedics at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida exemplifies this dedication not only through her expertise but also through her hobbies outside of medicine.
Dr. Gibson’s journey to becoming a physician was shaped by a blend of passions and interests. “I always had an interest in medicine,” says Dr. Gibson, “Particularly human health and physiology, but I had a lot of other varied interests as well. I enjoyed playing sports and I also had an interest in sports journalism. Prior to medical school, I would spend my winters taking premed classes and my summers dabbling in sports journalism. I was on the Kentucky Derby staff, helping run the media center during Derby week, helping ABC Sports and NBC Sports with coverage of horse racing’s other Triple Crown races, writing for a magazine, helping with the television coverage of Wimbledon and being a summer intern for Churchill Downs and Woodbine Racetrack. I ultimately chose a career in medicine, feeling that it was a more rewarding path for me where I could directly help others, but I have always found being involved in big sporting events to be a lot of fun.”
Her path led her to Nemours Children’s when her family relocated to the Orlando area. Joining as the third physician in the orthopedics department at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Dr. Gibson has been an integral part of the Nemours team for over a decade. What drew her to Nemours and continues to inspire her is the team’s dedication to providing exceptional care. “Nemours is a special place where the main goal and unifying factor among all the staff is a commitment to providing excellent care for children,” says Dr. Gibson. “Lifelong learning, teamwork and a desire to continuously improve are other key objectives that really set Nemours apart.”
Beyond her medical endeavors, Dr. Gibson finds joy in a variety of hobbies and activities. A lover of travel, tennis, and horseback riding, she cherishes every moment spent with her family. Although, Dr. Gibson expresses that spare time is a luxury she often finds scarce between work and caring for her two young children.
One might be surprised to learn of the connections between Dr. Gibson’s hobbies and her career. “Having helped NBC Sports with several Sunday Night Football games gives me instant credibility with a lot of the young football players I treat in clinic,” says Dr. Gibson. “I have also helped an on-air talent who dislocated their kneecap prior to a telecast once too! Additionally, Nemours is one of the medical providers for the United States Tennis Association and I was once interviewed by the Tennis Channel about our Wellness Program for the top US junior tennis players, and I felt like all of my work on the other side of the camera helped prepare me for that experience!”
In addition, Dr. Gibson has many significant achievements in sports broadcasting worth celebrating. Notably, she takes immense pride in actually producing one of the segments that airs on NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby each year, titled “Riders Up.” It’s aired just before the jockeys go to the paddock to mount their horses for the race. “I have my own set and team that runs the camera, lights, and audio while I interview the jockeys participating in the race,” says Dr. Gibson. “As a young girl hoping to be a physician and attend the Derby just once in my lifetime, I can say that my hobby has helped me exceed what I had imagined was possible. It has also shown me that you don’t necessarily have to drop one dream for another, and I hope I can inspire others to keep pursuing their passions, too — even if they have to put some dreams ‘on pause’ during certain times in their lives.” Dr. Gibson serves as a reminder that dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to explore diverse interests can lead to extraordinary outcomes, both personally and professionally.
