Dr. Dana Weintraub is the Co-CEO of the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI), a Clinical Associate Professor for the Division of General Pediatrics at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and a Board Member of the US Soccer Foundation. She has extensive experience both playing and coaching soccer and developing and evaluating after school programs.

Dr. Weintraub obtained her bachelor’s degree in History from Dartmouth College and her M.D. from University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed her internship, residency, and chief residency in Pediatrics at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and a postdoctoral fellowship in General Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Studies have shown that participating in team sports provides many social and psychological benefits for children. Yet, due to the competitive nature of sports, young girls often lack the confidence to pursue them. So, how can we empower girls to become involved in this activity? 

As an experienced coach, Dr. Dana Weintraub maintains the importance of fostering inclusion and providing support for girls on elementary school sports teams. Through her organization, she teaches girls the power of leadership, teamwork, and respect. By giving girls the opportunity to play sports at a young age, Dana encourages them to continue throughout their lives. 

In this episode of the Sports Up Podcast, Meredith Syms hosts Dr. Dana Weintraub of the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI), to talk about the importance of sports for youth. Dr. Weintraub shares her role as a doctor in the sports industry, BAWSI’s mission, how sports benefit children, and the importance of females having access to sports at a young age.