Eileen A Crawford, MD, FAAOS, FAOA
Harold W and Helen L Gehring Early Career Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Residency Director
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Available to mentor

Eileen A Crawford, MD, FAAOS, FAOA
Clinical Associate Professor
  • About
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • About

    Dr. Crawford feels privileged to use her knowledge, skills, and experience to help patients recover from injury and pain to return to the activities that bring them happiness and fulfillment.

    She is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty board-certification in Sports Medicine. She completed her fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at the University of Michigan and, after practicing as a community-based orthopaedic surgeon in Delaware, returned to Michigan Medicine as faculty in 2017. She developed a niche in pediatric sports medicine within the division of sports medicine.

    Dr. Crawford is a graduate of Princeton University, where she was a national champion in Women’s Lightweight Rowing. This experience allows her to understand the goals of the competitive athlete in recovering from injury. She understands that patients have varying needs during this recovery process, so she believes that one of her most important tasks is to listen to her patients’ concerns and develop a strategy that works well for each individual. She is a team physician for the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University athletic teams, and she has volunteered as a team medical provider for the US Rowing Team.

    In addition to patient care, Dr. Crawford serves as associate residency program director, a role in which she helps lead the education and training of future orthopaedic surgeons. She also works to shape the future of her profession by serving as chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

    Dr. Crawford currently lives with her family, including her three young daughters, in her husband’s hometown of Chelsea. She cares for patients at Mott Children’s Hospital, Medsport Domino’s Farms, and Brighton Center for Specialty Care.

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
    Research Overview

    Patellar instability
    Osteochondritis dissecans
    Pediatric athletic injuries involving the shoulder and knee
    Healthcare disparities in Orthopaedic Surgery
    Diversity and gender-related issues in Orthopaedic Surgery training

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Engineered Microenvironmental Cues from Fiber-Reinforced Hydrogel Composites Drive Tenogenesis and Aligned Collagen Deposition.
      Kent RN, Jewett ME, Buck TP, Said M, Hold LA, Crawford EA, Killian ML, Abraham AC, Huang AH, Baker BM. Adv Healthc Mater, 2024 Jul; 13 (19): e2400529 DOI:10.1002/adhm.202400529
      PMID: 38441411
    • Presentation
      Healthcare Disparities In The Young, Athletic Population
      Crawford E. 2024 May 16;
    • Journal Article
      Return to Sports Rates in Pediatric Patients After Bilateral Versus Unilateral Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.
      Klueh MP, Swany LM, Troost JP, Crawford EA. Am J Sports Med, 2024 May; 52 (6): 1527 - 1534. DOI:10.1177/03635465241240154
      PMID: 38600806
    • Journal Article
      Return to Sports Rates in Pediatric Patients After Bilateral Versus Unilateral Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction
      Klueh MP, Swany LM, Troost JP, Crawford E. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024 May 1;
    • Journal Article
      Imaging of soccer injuries in adolescent female athletes.
      Babler F, Gaetke-Udager K, Crawford EA, Yablon CM. Skeletal Radiol, 2024 Mar 13; DOI:10.1007/s00256-024-04629-z
      PMID: 38478081
    • Presentation
      Orthopaedic Surgery: Perspective from Sports Medicine Surgeon and Associate PD
      Crawford EA. 2023 Dec 6;
    • Presentation
      Embracing Your Personal Identity
      Crawford EA. 2023 Nov 2;
    • Journal Article
      Strategies for Combatting Health Disparities in Prioritization Schema for Medically-Necessary Time-Sensitive Orthopaedic Surgeries.
      Colomb E, Lapedis CJ, Hallstrom BR, Crawford EA, Smith LB. J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2023 34 (4): 1479 - 1491.
      PMID: 38661769
    Featured News & Stories arm with tape around it and cast and picture of field with kids playing and one kid sitting on bench
    Health Lab
    Properly treating, and recovering, from pediatric sports injuries
    A kid's orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist gives parents tips to make sure their children get the care they need when injured and have an effective recovery.