Princeton University Athletics
Ilvy Cotterell (Friebe) ‘03 MD / Field Hockey
City, State / Workplace/Title
Richmond, VA/ VCU Health/ Associate Professor
Medical Specialty / Other Degrees (MBA/MPH, etc.)
Orthopaedic Surgery/ MD
What made you choose a career in healthcare?
I always knew I wanted to go to medical school, but I wanted a chance to live and enjoy the college experience first. It gives you a broader education before you do what you are going to do. Having played sports my whole life and having sustained some injuries, I was drawn to the field of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.
What is the focus of your work today?
Orthopaedic Hand Surgery
How has your work changed in the face of COVID-19?
Being a student-athlete at Princeton is still the most challenging thing I have done, and has certainly shaped me professionally and personally more than I had ever envisioned!Ilvy Cotterell
Fortunately not much. Although elective surgeries were halted for a while, people still had injuries requiring care. There were a lot of hand injuries due to home improvement projects gone bad.
How did being a Princeton student-athlete prepare you for the challenges you’ve faced?
Being able to multitask and prioritize is essential in my field, so having to balance academics and college athletics was a great way to prepare. I am thankful for all the memories and lifelong friendships Princeton Field Hockey gave me. Most people think my job as an Orthopedic surgeon must be super hard, stressful and very time consuming (yes it is..) but in my mind getting through the “gauntlet”, or spring trainings, or just in general being a student-athlete at Princeton is still the most challenging thing I have done, and has certainly shaped me professionally and personally more than I had ever envisioned!
What keeps you inspired as you look ahead?
My freshman year we lost to Brown, which interrupted the [team's] 50-something game winning streak. It was so disappointing and we felt like we had let the other teams before us down. We never lost another Ivy League game after that during my time there. As medical professionals we take that same mental toughness and pursuit of perfection into the operating room and treatment centers with our patients. During COVID we’ve all had to deal with adverse conditions but I feel that my training as an athlete helped me focus on the positives rather than worry about any negatives during times of uncertainty.
Medical School / Other Affiliations
University of Minnesota, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center.
Tiger Heroes
In partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, the official health care system of Princeton Athletics, “Tiger Heroes” honors front line workers and health care leaders from our alumni community. This digital and social series highlights alumni from all 37 varsity sports programs who have risen to the challenge since the onset of COVID-19. We also recognize special Princeton friends and family. Nominations may be sent to Jess Deutsch, Princeton's Associate Director, Student-Athlete Services: jdeutsch@princeton.edu