About

Dr. Marcia I. Faustin is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UC Davis Health. She specializes in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, with a focus on comprehensive care for patients and athletes of all ages and levels. Her clinical interests include musculoskeletal injuries, mental health, and the treatment of pediatric athletes, utilizing diagnostic and therapeutic musculoskeletal ultrasound, physical therapy, braces, exercise protocols, and ultrasound-guided injections. Dr. Faustin is the co-head team physician for UC Davis Division I Collegiate Athletics and has served as the co-head team physician for the USA Gymnastics Women's National Team, accompanying the team to the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Her academic and research interests align with medical education, pediatric care, and collaborative treatment models for athletes with mental health disorders, female athlete triad, and gymnastics injuries. She holds a B.S. from Loyola University Chicago, an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her internship, residency, and fellowship at UC San Diego Medical Center. Dr. Faustin is dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical care with empathy and supporting patient empowerment through education.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Physical therapy
• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Public relations
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Psychiatry
• Applied psychology
• Family medicine
• Medical education
• World Wide Web

Selected publications

• Assessing the beliefs and impacts of strength training in a Division <scp>I</scp> collegiate gymnastics team

  PM&R · 2025-03-10

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Traditionally, there has been a reluctance to use weight training with female gymnasts due to concerns that it could cause detrimental increases in muscle mass and impede flexibility. Recent literature has demonstrated that strength training has no significant effect on flexibility and can improve athletic performance. OBJECTIVE: To assess in a pilot study the perceptions of collegiate gymnasts and coaches toward strength training after starting inaugural strength and conditioning training. DESIGN: Survey-based study. SETTING: National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I women's gymnastics program at a public university in California. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 23 gymnasts surveyed, 17 (74%) responded to the survey. Of the two coaches surveyed, both (100%) responded to the survey. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descriptive statistics characterizing demographics, characteristics of gymnasts' strength and conditioning program, and perceptions regarding the safety of strength training and its impact on performance, body shape, flexibility, and injury rates. RESULTS: Most gymnasts agreed (35%) or strongly agreed (59%) that weight training may improve performance. All gymnasts disagreed (59%) or strongly disagreed (41%) that weight training is not safe; 41% disagreed, 29% strongly disagreed, and 17% agreed that weight training may negatively affect body shape. Most gymnasts disagreed (59%) or strongly disagreed (18%) that weight training decreases flexibility; four (24%) felt neutral. Eighty three percent (59% strongly agree, 24% agree) felt that weight training had a positive impact on performance. More than half of the gymnasts either agreed (24%) or strongly agreed (29%) they had fewer injuries the season after implementing weight training, compared to prior seasons. Both coaches similarly endorsed the safety of strength training and its potential to improve performance. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, collegiate gymnasts and coaches expressed generally positive perceptions toward the safety of strength training and its effect on performance. A small number of gymnasts expressed concerns regarding the effects of weight training on body shape and flexibility.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Artistic gymnastics-specific extension of the IOC 2020 consensus statement: methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport

  BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine · 2024-10-01 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  The incidence of injuries reported in artistic gymnastics varies greatly. This is partly due to inconsistencies in defining and reporting injuries in artistic gymnastics. The objective was to develop consistent definitions and methodology for reporting injuries in artistic gymnastics. A group of medical practitioners working with international-level artistic gymnasts from America, Asia, Australia and Europe came to a consensus on recommendations for defining and reporting injuries in artistic gymnastics. Development of the consensus statement was achieved through in-person and online discussions, online surveys and post meeting electronic discussions. This consensus statement is meant to serve as an extension to the recommendations made by the IOC on injury surveillance. The statement includes specific recommendations of injury definitions, characterising activity at the time of injury, and describing injury burden in artistic gymnastics. The following consensus statement has been developed to encourage consistency of injury surveillance in artistic gymnastics. Reporting injury in a consistent manner will help understand the true burden of injury in artistic gymnastics and help guide future work in injury prevention.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The youth athlete: Gymnastics

  Elsevier eBooks · 2023-01-01 · 1 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2023-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• Media's Effect on Athletes' Mental Health

  Clinics in Sports Medicine · 2023-08-09 · 8 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Multidisciplinary physician survey assessing knowledge of the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport

  Journal of Eating Disorders · 2023 · 7 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Family medicine
  • Psychology

  BACKGROUND: Short and long-term health consequences surrounding Low Energy Availability can be mitigated by recognizing the risk factors and making early diagnosis of the Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). While awareness of the Triad among physicians and allied health professionals has been studied, there are very few studies that assess physician awareness of both the Triad and RED-S. METHODS: Our study assesses Low Energy Availability, the Triad, and RED-S knowledge with an electronic survey, educational handout, and follow up survey among physicians across multiple specialties at a single academic institution. RESULTS: Among 161 respondents, respective Triad and RED-S awareness among surveyed specialties was highest in Orthopedic surgeons (100%, 100%), followed by Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (70%, 53%), Family Medicine (67%, 48%), Internal Medicine (54%, 36%), Obstetrics and Gynecology (46%, 32%), Pediatrics (45%, 29%), Endocrinology (33%, 33%), and Other (33%, 33%). Comparing the initial survey results to the follow-up survey results, there was an increase from 37 to 72% of physicians who correctly identified that the presence of low BMI or recent weight loss is not a required component of the Triad or RED-S. Both the initial and follow-up survey revealed a continued misperception surrounding the use of hormonal contraception to resume menstrual cycles, with 33% of physicians on initial survey and 44% of physicians on follow-up survey incorrectly answering that question. CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary physicians have various levels of knowledge surrounding the Triad and RED-S, and there is a need for improved physician awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of the Triad and RED-S. Misperceptions exist surrounding the role of hormonal contraception in female athletes with the Triad and RED-S to regain and regulate menses.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Likes and hashtags: Influence of athlete social media use

  Sports Psychiatry · 2023 · 8 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Political Science
  • Computer Science
  • Psychology

  Abstract: Introduction: The use of various forms of social media has exploded worldwide and is popular among athletes. To date, much research has focused on the potential impact of traditional print media on athletes’ mental health. This study aims to review current literature specifically as it relates to the use of digital social media and athlete mental wellness, identify current research gaps, and present suggestions for future related studies. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, a database of references on medical research maintained by the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of health. Search terms included “social media”, “digital media” and “athlete mental health”. Results: The collection of published works provided insight on athlete social media use and body image, stress, sleep quality, performance, social connection, and financial implications. Conclusion: Given the psychological and physiological demands of sport, athletes may experience mental health issues that could be exacerbated by social media use. This is an emerging area of research, and there is currently a lack of sufficient data regarding the direct influence of social media upon the mental health of athletes. Training athletes, coaches, trainers, and healthcare providers on the pitfalls of social media use can promote healthy social media consumption.

  PublisherDOI

• Effect of media on the mental health of elite athletes

  British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2022-01-07 · 21 citations

  editorial1st author
  PublisherDOI

• Return to sport in elite gymnastics: Unprecedented training interruptions provide lessons for the future

  PM&R · 2022-08-03 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: Year-round training is standard for elite gymnasts in the United States, but the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to unprecedented training interruptions. The effect of these training disruptions is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe and compare training interruptions in elite gymnasts before and during the pandemic, the time it took to return to the prior level of gymnastics training, the development of injuries during return to gymnastics training, and gymnast-reported difficulty in and nervousness about returning to prior level of gymnastics training. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Anonymous online surveys distributed to elite gymnasts in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 184 current elite gymnasts who completed the surveys were included. This represented an overall response rate of 52.3% (184/352). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Information was collected about training interruptions and time, nervousness, difficulty, and injury during return to gymnastics. RESULTS: Gymnasts reported significantly longer training interruptions due to COVID-19 than before the pandemic (8.7 ± 4.4 vs. 4.4 ± 7.9 weeks, p < .001), but duration of return to prior gymnastics level was similar (4.6 ± 2.7 vs. 3.7 ± 4.8 weeks, p = .106). Of the 137 gymnasts who had returned to training by the time of the survey, 46 (33.6%) reported an injury during their return to gymnastics. A high degree of nervousness to return to gymnastics was significantly associated with greater risks of injury upon return (risk ratio [RR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-4.7; p < .001) and difficulty returning to prior level (RR 3.4, 95% CI: 1.7-6.6; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Pandemic-related training interruption was significantly greater in duration than prior interruptions, but time required for return to gymnastics was similar. Gymnasts may be at increased risk of injury during return to gymnastics if experiencing nervousness about returning following a break in training. These findings provide guidance for gymnasts' return from training interruptions and may refute the long-held belief that gymnasts should not take time away from training due to fear of injury or difficulty regaining skills.

  PublisherDOI

• Crush-Shin Pain In The Leg

  Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2021-07-12

  articleSenior author

  HISTORY: 19 year-old female collegiate volleyball player and former track & field athlete presents for a second opinion regarding medical management of right anterior shin pain that began in 9/2019, 13 months prior to presentation. She noticed a bump over her anterior shin at that time, and was instructed to be non-weightbearing for 3 months. She progressed to weightbearing in a boot for a month, then advanced out of the boot, however heel walking in regular shoes was painful over several months. She intermittently participated in PT, received a bone stimulator 5 months into treatment, and started shockwave therapy 11 months into treatment at which time her pain increased and she was placed back into a boot. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Right Leg: Focal prominence at mid-diaphysis of anterior tibia with localized hyperpigmentation 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm. Slight pes planus. No tenderness to anterior tibia. Full knee flexion and extension, full strength in knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion. Neurovascularly intact. Negative right leg hop test. Ipsilateral lower leg and ankle exam normal. Gait: Normal, without pain. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: 1. Anterior tibial stress fracture 2. Medial tibial stress syndrome 3. Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome TEST AND RESULTS: 8/19 - Ferritin 10 (22-291 ng/mL), normal iron, TIBC, transferrin9/19 - Tib/Fib Xray - Linear lucency in the anterior cortex of the mid tibial shaft with associated cortical thickening, periosteal reaction that extend laterally consistent with a stress fracture.12/19 - Tib/Fib Xray - Incomplete nondisplaced fracture involving the anterior cortex of mid right tibia2/20 - Tib/Fib Xray - Imaging unchanged4/20 - Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy - 20 (20-79 ng/mL), CBC, BMP, TSH normal5/20 - DEXA normal6/20 - CT - Persistent incomplete stress fracture at the anterior tibial diaphysis FINAL/WORKING DIAGNOSIS: Anterior tibial stress fracture at the anterior tibial diaphysis TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES: -Xrays (10/20) demonstrate persistence of faint fracture line-Recommended MRI, which demonstrates cortical thickening at the mid tibial diaphysis-Recommended referral to orthopedic surgeon for consideration of intramedullary nailing of the tibia-Continue calcium and vitamin D supplementation, recommend rechecking labs and workup for RED-S-Nutritionist counseling (12/20)

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• J Binder

  International Federation of Sports Medicine

  5 shared

• Alexandra Warrick

  University of California, Davis

  4 shared

• Ellen Casey

  Hospital for Special Surgery

  4 shared

• Kathryn E. Ackerman

  Harvard University

  3 shared

• Joe Chorley

  Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters

  3 shared

• Joel S. Brenner

  3 shared

• Sarah Merrill

  University of California, San Diego

  3 shared

• Young‐Hwan Jo

  Albert Einstein College of Medicine

  3 shared

Awards & honors

• Franklin McLean Medical Student Research Award (2010)
• UCSD Family Medicine Residency Leadership Award (2016)
• Galvin Foundation Scholarship (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
• Loyola University of Chicago Female Student-Athlete of the Y…