Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 8am-4pm
Registration: This event will include both in-person and virtual options for registration. In-person online registration will close Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 8:00AM EST. Onsite registration will be available.
The In-Person conference will be held at the James B. Williams Medical Education Building:
100 Woodruff Cir #331, Atlanta, GA 30322
Parking is located at the Michael Street Parking Deck / Level 3:
550 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30322
Located at 1615 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
The 8th Annual Women’s Sports and Wellness Conference will bring together thought leaders and healthcare experts from across disciplines who will present and discuss current and relevant topics affecting adult and young female athletes with the goal of empowering women and girls through sports and wellness.
We invite everyone to attend. The course is designed for healthcare professionals, athletes, coaches, learners, and all who are interested in the important topic of women and girls in sports. Come join the conversion. We are better together!
The learner will gain an in-depth understanding of sports injuries and sports-related conditions commonly seen in adult and young female athletes.
The learner will gain an in-depth understanding of the most up-to-date therapeutic interventions for sports injuries and sports-related conditions commonly seen in adult and female athletes.
As a result of the learner’s understanding of common sports injuries and sports-related conditions in female athletes, female athletes of all ages will benefit from a comprehensive approach to treatment to optimize recovery and prevent re-injury, which will allow female athletes to continue playing sports and doing activities they enjoy.
The Emory University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Emory School of Medicine designates this activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Emory Sports Medicine Center (BOC AP# P3345) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for a maximum of 6 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
This year, we are excited to introduce the Community Participant Track, uniquely designed for athletes, parents and coaches. Join us to gain actionable insights from experts on health equity, mental health, nutrition and menstruation to support the holistic well-being of female athletes.
Learn how to confidently talk to healthcare professionals about pain, localized discomfort and training plateaus.
This session covers distinguishing standard muscle soreness from acute structural injury and identifying exactly when to skip the waiting room and see an orthopaedic specialist.
Separating evidence-based medicine from locker-room lore.
This session addresses systemic physiological realities, including how cycle fluctuations influence musculoskeletal health, soft-tissue injury risk and the critical baseline warning signs of athletic amenorrhea.
Find the ideal wheels to take you where you want to go.
Building inclusive, supportive environments that prioritize whole-person safety, professional boundaries, and positive psychological coaching techniques to keep young athletes protected and thriving in competitive spaces.
A deep dive into clean fueling strategies specifically tailored for female physiology.
Demystify macro- and micronutrients, learn the baseline caloric and metabolic demands of intensive training and understand the warning signs of low energy availability.
An essential discussion for athletes, parents and coaches analyzing the psychological impacts of toxic fitness influencer culture.
Discover actionable tools to cultivate body positivity, combat comparative anxiety, and maintain a healthy relationship with performance tracking.
Bring your athletic gear! A fully interactive, practical lab session taking place in the training space.
Learn structural compound movements, establish correct kinetic alignment, and master fundamental weightlifting mechanics to safely build power and prevent common injuries.
Executive Profile
Dr. Karli Richards is a premier, board-certified podiatric sports medicine physician, surgeon, and healthcare executive with over 18 years of clinical mastery and medical research expertise. As a globally recognized authority on injury prevention, she seamlessly bridges the gap between elite clinical practice, footwear biomechanics, and international research. Dr. Richards is profoundly dedicated to revolutionizing health, safety, and performance standards for athletes, providing unique physician insight and collaborating alongside world-class organizations to pioneer research-backed protocols at the highest levels of competition.
Leadership, Education, & Sports Diplomacy
Combining strategic administrative insight with clinical leadership, Dr. Richards serves as an outside medical consultant for high-level, project-specific initiatives. As a former U.S. State Department Sports Diplomacy Ambassador, she possesses a proven track record of using athletics to advance international inclusivity, cultural equity, and global healthcare initiatives. Nationally, she serves as a medical content advisor for the U.S. Soccer Recognize to Recover program, leading strategic content creation for dedicated sections on foot injuries. Additionally, through her work with the Soccer Forward Foundation's "The Power Lab," she collaborates with U.S. Women’s National Team player Tierna Davidson to deliver vital injury prevention education to the next generation of competitors.
Pioneering Research & Data Analysis
Dr. Richards is at the forefront of gender-specific medical research. As the lead investigator of the Protect Our Players (POP) study, she analyzes large-scale clinical data to address the "Injury Paradox" in female athletes. Her international research investigates the critical relationship between female anatomy, hormones, traction mechanics, pitch surfaces, and lower extremity injuries. Furthermore, she drives transformation in equipment design by exploring footwear parameters, stud geometry, and gender-informed cleat aesthetics to optimize the biomechanical interface between the athlete and the ground.
Clinical & Academic Excellence
By pairing her advanced surgical credentials with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA), Dr. Richards uniquely synthesizes clinical rigor with executive healthcare strategy. A Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, she maintains an active clinical practice at Lexington Medical Center, specializing in corrective surgery and sports-related injury prevention. An acclaimed speaker and researcher on the world stage, her contributions have earned the prestigious Best Research Award from the International German Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Conference 2025, and she routinely presents her breakthrough footwear biomechanics research at elite global forums, including the FIFA Isokinetic Conference. Her career is defined by a commitment to public speaking and workshop development, ensuring that cutting-edge research is translated into actionable education for teams, coaches, and medical professionals worldwide.
Physician for the Atlanta Dream
Head Team Physician for Agnes Scott College Team
Emory’s Female Athlete Program
Emory Sports Medicine Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics
