Meet Orthopedic Surgeon Jessica Cohen-Brown, MD

What drives someone to spend a life in medicine? In this new Q&A series, a group of leading local physicians share the moments that set them on their path, the breakthroughs shaping their fields, and the realities behind the work. Their answers are candid, occasionally surprising, and grounded in experience. Together, they offer a clear-eyed look at the people delivering care in our community and what continues to motivate them every day.

Meet Orthopedic Surgeon Jessica Cohen-Brown, MD

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, and how did you select your specialty?

I have been fortunate to have practiced orthopedic surgery for 35 years. My entire practice has been at Sansum, now Sutter Health. I grew up however, not in California, but upstate New York. After college I worked for the soil and water conservation district in upstate New York. As part of this job, I traveled through many rural districts and really enjoyed the small-town environment. I decided to return to school, and at that time my aspiration was to return to a small town as a family physician. However, during medical school I received an award for academic excellence. I was treated to a dinner, and the speaker was a hand surgeon who gave a talk on replantation for traumatic amputations. These were groundbreaking surgeries, so inspirational. 

After completing my Orthopedic residency, I trained under that physician while specializing in upper extremity surgery. I was the firstwomen to have completed that Orthopedic residency program. At that time, only 4% of orthopedic surgeons were women. While that experience had its challenges, it has provided a wonderful career. 

What is one misconception people often have about your field?

One of the common misconceptions about orthopedic surgeons is that they are regarded as too technical. I do not find this to be entirely true. I find the technical aspects of the job still rewarding. 

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

One of the things I have enjoyed most about my career is my patients. Many of them have become friends. I have been lucky enough to have inspired my daughter to go into the same career as I have. She is also an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in upper extremity surgery. She is now my partner for three years at Sutter Health. We are one of the first of three mother-daughter orthopedic surgeon pairs in the United States. We collaborated and published an article in the journal of Surgical Orthopedic Advances on a technique I developed to treat avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head, an extremely rare condition characterized by temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the long bones located between the wrist and phalanges of the fingers, resulting in loss of bone tissue. 

Can you share a moment in your career that profoundly impacted you?

In addition to day-to-day practice at Sutter Health, I try to give back to the community. I have had college students shadow me, and recently I was on the medical team for the Santa Barbara Half Marathon. One of the most unique experiences I have had was when I was fortunate enough to spend several years working simultaneously at the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic. It gave me an opportunity to learn firsthand what the Native American experience is like since the clinic is on tribal land. The Chumash community was very welcoming. I was invited to private social events and have remained friends with my colleagues from my time there. Outside of medicine, I spend time working on my ranch with my husband. We have two horses, two cats, and 12 chickens. I think the most important part of life, however, is finding a balance. Work is important but so is life outside of work. After 35 years it has been a wonderful career, but it will be the people that I remember forever.  

As Sansum Clinic begins a new chapter as part of Sutter Health, we remain united by a shared mission: to deliver compassionate, high-quality care to the communities we serve. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare on the Central Coast.

Sponsored by Sutter Health | Visit www.sutterhealth.org