We’re excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Dr. Abigail Boduch. An orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine and Trauma, Dr. Boduch has experience treating athletes at all levels, from professional to high school, and looks forward to being part of our local sports community. An alumna of Winnacunnet High School and UNH, Dr. Boduch recently returned “home” to the Seacoast to join us at Atlantic Orthopaedics.
To help our patients get to know her better, we recently asked Dr. Boduch some questions about her roots on the Seacoast, her favorite part of her job, and how she likes to spend her free time.
How do you feel about moving back to the NH Seacoast?
I loved growing up here. The beauty of the Seacoast, as well as the access to the ocean and mountains, has never been lost on me. It is a wonderful place to live. The community has always meant so much to me and I am grateful to be back. I feel very fortunate to be able to provide care for the people in what I have always considered “my community”.
What made you want to join the practice at Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine?
It really stood out to me how much everyone was invested and interested in each other’s lives at work and outside of work. I was also impressed by the level of care provided for the patients. Everyone I interacted with exemplified the team mentality I love about orthopedics. The partners talked about doing hard cases together and collaborating on patients to provide the best care possible.
What made you pursue orthopedic surgery over other specialties?
I liked most specialties I rotated through during medical school and think I would’ve been happy in a lot of areas of medicine. I enjoy talking to patients and getting to know their stories, which is a large part of most medical fields. Orthopedics stood out to me because it is very tangible. Patients tell you what the problem is and, based on anatomy knowledge, you have a diagnosis and usually can work to find a solution that improves the symptoms. It is all about getting people back to what they love to do. Keeping mobility has such a direct impact on everyone’s day to day life that it is very rewarding to be able to help patients maintain that for as long as possible.
I also love how in orthopedics I am part of a team again. I played sports in high school and college and liked the team dynamics. Surgical fields in general have a team mentality, as it takes a lot of people working together to operate, but I think orthopedics stood out as the most team oriented. In the office we rely on physical therapists to guide our patients through post op rehabilitation or work closely with the therapists for non-operative treatments.
What is your specialty?
My specialty is Sports Medicine/Trauma. Sports injuries of the shoulder, elbow, and knee. Injuries to tendons, ligaments, cartilage and other soft tissues. Treatments with arthroscopic and open approaches for the shoulder and knee. Trauma, focusing on fractures of the extremities.
Sports Medicine specifically adds the aspect of team coverage. During my fellowship, I was fortunate to cover the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins, which was a great experience. But I like the idea of sports team coverage more on the community level. Getting to be the team doctor for a high school gets you into the community and I like feeling like I am part of the sports community again.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The relationships I have with patients are the most rewarding. Gaining the trust of a patient to care for them is a privilege. This relationship includes listening to their symptoms, being able to validate them by explaining what I think is the cause and lastly deciding how to move forward together. On the surface this is getting people back into their activities, whether it is a sporting activity or getting back to daily activities in less pain. But for me it is the relationship and trust that is required to do that which is the most rewarding.
What are your favorite things to do when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our family. We like to take advantage of everything NH has to offer. We enjoy camping, hiking and paddleboarding. We also love to ski and are looking forward to being close to the NH mountains again.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Boduch to Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. Her background, knowledge, and experience are a perfect complement to our team. If you’re suffering from an injury like a ligament or muscle tear, or experiencing persistent signs of tendonitis, cartilage deterioration to the shoulder, elbow or knee, schedule a consultation with Dr. Boduch. Our specialists will work with you every step of the way to diagnose and treat your condition so you can get back to doing what you love.
