Kimberly M. Burbank, MD
- Sports Medicine
About
Dr. Kimberly Burbank is an Assistant Clinical Professor within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Primary Care Sports Medicine at UCLA Health providing comprehensive, nonoperative care for athletes and active individuals across the lifespan. She evaluates and treats musculoskeletal injuries, concussion, overuse conditions, and general sports-related medical issues, with a particular interest in soccer, racquet sports, and the sleep and recovery needs of competitive athletes. She performs non-operative orthopedic care and point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound guided procedures which include:
- Ultrasound guided joint injections
- Orthobiologic injections including hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- Needle barbotage for calcific tendinitis
- Percutaneous needle tenotomy for tendinosis
Board-certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Burbank completed a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine at UCLA in 2026, following residency training in Family Medicine at Wake Forest University and medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. A former Division I collegiate soccer player, she brings firsthand experience as a competitive athlete to her work with the athletes she treats.
Team & Event Coverage
Dr. Burbank provides sideline and clinic coverage for a broad range of professional, collegiate, and community teams. She is an assistant team physician for UCLA Track & Field and previously covered the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), and the Los Angeles Chargers (NFL), as well as the Red Bull Athletic Performance Center. At the collegiate level, she was the head team physician for UCLA Men’s Volleyball, Women’s Golf, and Women’s Tennis and assistant team physician for UCLA Football and Softball. She has also served as event physician for mass-participation events including NCAA Championship tournaments, conference pre-participation physical exams, regional track and field championships and USA Basketball youth training camps.
Teaching & Leadership
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Burbank is active in medical education and professional leadership. At UCLA, she co-facilitates the Sports Medicine Fellowship's Knee MRI Mastery Bootcamp, a flipped-classroom curriculum for family medicine residents/sports medicine fellows. She currently serves as Instructional Course Lecture Assistant Chair for the AMSSM 2027 Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee and previously served as the AMSSM Fellowship Class Representative (2025–2026), the elected liaison between fellows nationally and the AMSSM Fellowship Committee.
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certification
Fellowship
Residency
Degree
Locations
West Hills Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Santa Monica Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Medical Services
Research
Publications
- Swisher J, Burbank K. Injuries and Return to Play in Elite Pickleball Players: A Review of the Professional Pickleball Association Tour. Clin J Sport Med. 2026 Apr 14. Online ahead of print.
- Burbank K, Nelson C, Hansell M. Cholinergic Urticaria to Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis: The Spectrum. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2026;25(4):114–117.
- Chu J, Swisher J, Burbank K, Leiszler M, Mentele P. A Follow-Up Analysis of Interview Formats in Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowships. Clin J Sport Med. 2026;36(3):335.
- Swisher J, Sitton Z, Burbank K, Nelson C. Acute Monoarthritis: Diagnosis in Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2025;111(6):497–506.
- Burbank K, Sitton Z, Swisher J, Davis S, Mullur K, Waldrop M. A Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy Between ChatGPT and Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine Faculty. Clin J Sport Med. 2024;34(2):197.
- Swisher J, Burbank K, Sitton Z, Miles C. Sleep Consistency as a Predictor for Increased Risk of Injuries in Division I Athletes. Clin J Sport Med. 2024;34(2):184.
- Burbank K, Swisher J, Sitton Z, Miles C. Sleep Consistency as a Risk Factor for Lower Extremity Injuries in Division I Soccer Athletes. Clin J Sport Med. 2024;34(2):211.
Publications
- Wheeler A, Burbank K, April M, Wenke J, De Lorenzo R, Schauer S. Placement of Antibiotic Powder in Open Fracture Wounds during the Emergency Room (POWDER). Med J (Ft Sam Houst Tex). 2023;(23-1/2/3):103–111.
- Burbank K, Schauer S, De Lorenzo R, Wenke J. Early Application of Topical Antibiotic Powder in Open-Fracture Wounds: A Strategy to Prevent Biofilm Formation and Infections. OTA Int. 2020;3(4):e091.
- Strebel S, Burbank K, Tullar J, Jenkins M, Caroom C. A Retrospective Analysis of the Aspiration of Fracture Blisters. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2020;11(Suppl 1):S171–S173.
- Naylor J, Burbank K, April M, Wenke J, Maddry J, Schauer S. Effects of Prehospital Wound Prophylaxis in Iraq and Afghanistan on Mortality. J Trauma Treat. 2018;7(1):1000424.
Book Chapters
- Swisher J, Sparks N, Burbank K. Gymnast's Wrist/Distal Radial Epiphysitis. In: The 5-Minute Sports Medicine Consult, 4th ed. Wolters Kluwer; 2026.
- Swisher J, Burbank K. The Acutely Injured Hip, Knee, and Ankle. In: Clinical Considerations in School-based Health: An Evidence-Based Guide for Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, and School Nurses. Springer; 2025:927–937.
- Petrie K, Burbank K, Sizer P, James C, Zumwalt M. Considerations of Sex Differences in Musculoskeletal Anatomy Between Males and Females. In: The Active Female. Springer, Cham; 2023.
In the News
In the News
- Featured expert: "Workout Variety Is Linked to a Longer, Healthier Life, New Study Finds." Flow Space, January 2026.
- Featured expert: "Enter 2026 stronger than ever with these expert-approved fitness tips." USA Today, January 2026.
- Featured expert: "4 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Do Zone 2 Cardio." Health.com, October 2025.
Professional Memberships
- American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) — Fellow Member
- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of healthcare plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
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Recognitions
● AFP Top 20 Articles of 2025 (2026)
● AMSSM Foundation Resident Scholarship Award (2025)
● Wake Forest Family Medicine Research Award (2025)
● Wake Forest Family Medicine Resident Outstanding Teaching Award (2025)
● AMSSM Top 100 Cases (2024)
● TTUHSC Outstanding Student in Family Medicine (2021–2022)
● TTUHSC Outstanding Student in Pediatrics (2021–2022)
● Gold Humanism Honor Society Member (2021–2022)
● Mountain West Player of the Week (2015); Mountain West Academic All-Conference (2014–2016)