Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD, MEd, Is New Chief of UH Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Division

Innovations in Orthopaedics | Fall 2025

Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD, MEd

Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD, MEd, is the new Chief of the Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Division and the medical director for musculoskeletal foot and ankle health at University Hospitals.

“There is a great team atmosphere in UH Orthopaedics, and I have really enjoyed meeting my new colleagues,” says Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead, who is also an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “Everyone wants to help each other succeed, and we are all working together towards that goal.”

Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead joins University Hospitals from Cleveland Clinic. “In addition to her role as our new Chief of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead has fully integrated podiatry services within our foot and ankle program,” says James Voos, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at University Hospitals, the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at University Hospitals, Executive Director of the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center and the Charles H. Herndon Professor and Chair at the School of Medicine. “She brings a high level of expertise in complex foot and ankle problems and has been an outstanding leader in uniting these specialties.”

Integrating podiatry into orthopaedics is part of a broader effort to grow and standardize podiatry services at University Hospitals. In 2026, the UH Foot and Ankle Division will continue expanding outreach, adding a new foot and ankle surgeon and a podiatrist.

“The merging of our foot, ankle and podiatry programs is another example of how we have vertically integrated musculoskeletal care to help our patients access the appropriate provider as efficiently as possible, similar to what we have accomplished with our Spine Institute,” Dr. Voos says.

Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions. She has a particular focus on large deformity corrections and total ankle arthroplasty, as well as the use of minimally invasive techniques.

A graduate of Canada’s University of Western Ontario, Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead earned her medical degree at the School of Medicine and completed her orthopaedic residency at the University of Rochester. She returned to Canada for a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the University of Toronto.

In addition to authoring numerous articles related to foot and ankle surgery, Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead is an active participant in the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) as the chair of the Women’s Leadership Committee. She has also served on numerous committees and is passionate about education, earning her Master of Education in 2021.

Specialized Foot and Ankle Care

Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead performs the full range of foot and ankle procedures. She has a special interest in ankle arthritis, replacements and fusions.

“We are moving toward more minimally invasive techniques, including arthroscopic ankle fusions,” she says. “We are also using burrs and scopes to achieve the outcomes of open surgeries with fewer incisions.”

Another innovation Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead employs is the Advita Ortho GPS® ankle navigation system. “The technology helps ensure that the implant is in the appropriate alignment,” she says. “We place trackers on the outside of the body that relay to the computer exactly where cuts should be placed.”

Preclinical studies of the Advita system reported an accuracy of two millimeters and two degrees, relative to the CT-based surgical plan.

Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead is also working to expand foot and ankle research, including weight-bearing CT imaging.

“This allows us to visualize alignment and how it affects our treatment plans for a range of deformities and pathologies,” she says. “There is a lot of variability in foot and ankle anatomy, so we are working to determine what factors drive better patient outcomes.”

For more information, you can reach Dr. Miniaci-Coxhead at Sara.Miniaci-Coxhead@UHhospitals.org.

Contributing Experts:
Sara Lyn Miniaci-Coxhead, MD, MEd
Division Chief, Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle
Department of Orthpaedics
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

James Voos, MD
Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Executive Director
University Hospitals Haslam Sports Innovation Center
Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Charles H. Herndon Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Head Team Physician, Cleveland Browns
Medical Director, Cleveland Ballet