Name: Katherine Gray, MD
Job title: Orthopedic hand surgeon, hand surgery consultant for the San Jose Sharks
Education: BA, Stanford University; MD, University of California, San Francisco;Orthopedic Residency, University of California, Los Angeles; Fellowship in Hand and Wrist Surgery, The Hand Center of San Antonio, TX
Years of hockey experience: Hand surgery consultant for the Sharks since 2014
Describe your job in 2-3 sentences: I provide surgical and non-surgical care for our Sharks and Barracudas players when they injure their hands and wrists. Common injuries include broken bones, torn ligaments, and tendon problems.
What was your first-ever job, and did it prepare you for the work you do today?
I worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor during the summer while in high school. In order to become a lifeguard, I took first aid training, which was my first introduction to providing medical care and which I really enjoyed. Being a lifeguard may seem glamorous, but it was mostly yelling at kids to stop running around the pool.
Describe a moment where you proudly thought to yourself, "I can't believe this is my job!"
I get to cut people open and put them back together -- what is cooler than that? A definite highlight was introducing my kids to one of my favorite Sharks players and him saying "Your mommy fixed my hand!". I loved that moment.
What sports did you play, and enjoy most or least, growing up?
I played water polo in high school and rugby in college. Rugby was a new sport to just about everyone on the team, and few of us had any idea what we were doing. We were terrible and we got beat up a lot, but we had so much fun.
Are you a morning person or night owl?
Neither!
What's your favorite book?
"And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Housseini
What's your favorite movie or TV show?
"30 Rock"
Do you have any hidden talents?
Macramé
