A Rising Sports Medicine Specialist
As a child, Ella D’Amico, MD, admired the close relationship her family’s doctor formed with patients and was fascinated by science’s ability to heal the body. These early experiences led to a passion for sports medicine as a way to improve patients’ lives.
Dr. D’Amico, who received a 2025 ACE Rising Star Award, is a fellow in the Sports Medicine fellowship program at Columbia. She is joining Columbia University as an assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine and is excited about treating patients with personalized rehabilitationand minimally invasive procedures that get them back to the activities they enjoy.
Dr. D’Amico discusses her training, her collaborative approach, and why listening to her patients always comes first.
What inspired you to become a doctor, and what keeps you motivated today?
As a little girl, I greatly admired my family doctor for the meaningful and longstanding relationships he formed with his patients. I soon became incredibly curious about the human body and the application of science to heal this remarkable system when it falters. Beginning my journey in medicine, physiatry quickly stood out to me due to the focus on improving the lives of individuals, regardless of their underlying disease, through a multidisciplinary and holistic approach.
Throughout my career, I’ve continually returned to the doctor-patient relationship that first inspired me. It’s a uniquely personal and deeply trusting connection that remains at the core of my daily motivation and one that we, as physicians, are privileged to be part of. I value a holistic approach, continuity of care, and patient advocacy. This passion has driven my involvement in leadership, education, and research to advance the field of medicine and train the next generation of physicians.
Can you share a meaningful patient experience that shapes your approach to care?
One patient who has resonated with me is a young baseball player who came to us after seeing many physicians for tingling and intermittent pain in his elbow. When looking with an ultrasound, we noted the patient had an extra slip of tendon in his arm that had only rarely been reported in medical literature. In this patient, this extra slip was irritating a nerve in his elbow, and his pitching mechanics were making it worse.
We started with focused physical therapy, which helped, but he continued to have symptoms. After thoughtful discussions with colleagues and the patient’s family, we decided to proceed with an ultrasound-guided procedure at the end of his spring season, using a specialized needle to cut the extra tendon. There was immediate improvement in tension on his exam, and I hope to get him back on the field this summer.
What made this experience so meaningful was the technical success of identifying and treating a rare issue, the collaborative decision-making process, and the trust built with the patient and his family. It reinforced the importance of listening closely, thinking creatively, and working as a team to personalize care, especially when the path is not straightforward. That experience continues to shape how I approach complex cases and patient relationships today.
What made you stay here at Columbia and join as faculty after your training?
This was truly a no-brainer for me due to the people and community. I felt incredibly fortunate to train at Columbia, where I was supported by mentors who are leaders in the field and have gone out of their way to foster my career goals. Staying at Columbia also allowed me to stay involved in research and education while caring for a uniquely diverse patient population in New York City. I could not have imagined a better community in which to start my career.
What would you like patients to know about the care you provide?
I want my patients to know that I am here to listen to their concerns and will work with them to figure out how we can apply evidence-based medicine to help them reach their goals. I continue to use the team-based approach that my training as a physiatrist has taught me, and the best outcomes happen when patients are active participants in their care. I strive to take a holistic view by considering not just the medical diagnosis but how it impacts a patient’s function, identity, and quality of life. I remain committed to thoughtful, collaborative, and compassionate care every step of the way.
What would you want potential students to know about your training here at Columbia?
Columbia is an incredible place to train, not only for building a strong clinical foundation but also for supporting academic passions in leadership, education, and research. My experience here has taught me to think critically and practice with intention. I’ve been challenged to grow in meaningful ways, all while having the support of dedicated mentors. Columbia is genuinely committed to developing the next generation of physicians who are curious, humble, and always learning.
What does being honored as an ACE “Rising Star” mean to you, and how do you hope to grow from here?
I felt incredibly honored to be recognized as an ACE Rising Star. Throughout my training, I have been fortunate to learn from mentors who embody the humanism, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and passion that this award represents. This recognition reflects them.
The values celebrated by this award deeply align with my own as a physician. I hope to honor it by continuing to provide the highest quality care to my patients and by helping train the next generation of physicians to uphold these same core principles, especially amid the challenges facing medicine today.