Building a Purpose-Driven Practice: How Dr. Sarah “Sassy” Weinstein Is Changing the Healthcare Experience
When Dr. Sarah “Sassy” Weinstein launched CORE Sports Medicine & Lifestyle Medicine in late 2024, she wasn’t just opening another medical practice—she was creating a space where purpose, personal connection, and patient care take center stage. In a recent episode of the Grit Won’t Quit podcast, Sassy sat down with host Tom to share her journey from working in large group practices to taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
This is more than a story of professional reinvention. It’s a reminder that success doesn’t come from following a script. It comes from listening to your gut, knowing your values, and showing up with heart.
From Group Practice to Going Solo
After completing her sports medicine fellowship in Colorado, Sassy returned to New Jersey and began her career in a large orthopedic group. While the experience was valuable, she soon found herself craving something more—more time with patients, more connection, and more control over how she practiced medicine.
“When you’re seeing patients every 10 or 15 minutes, you just can’t go deep,” she explained. “I wanted to have those real conversations and truly understand what was going on.”
After a brief stint at a physical therapy group where she helped build out the medical side of the practice, Sassy realized it was time to move on. Instead of going back to another large group, she decided to build her own.
A Practice Rooted in Purpose
In just five months, CORE Sports Medicine & Lifestyle Medicine has already started to make a name for itself in the Princeton community. Sassy offers personalized, one-on-one care—often spending a full hour with each patient to better understand their needs and help them create a sustainable path forward.
Her model blends sports medicine with lifestyle medicine, focusing on small, achievable changes that help patients live their best lives. “I help my patients set goals that are realistic and tailored to them,” she said. “No vague advice—just clear, practical steps.”
Marketing with a Mission
One of the biggest challenges for any new business is building a client base from scratch. For Sassy, this meant stepping out of her comfort zone and into her community. She started visiting boutique gyms, hosting educational events, and getting involved in local happenings.
“I never had to market myself before,” she admitted. “At my first job, patients just showed up. Now, I’m learning to network, create content, and get the word out—and I’m actually really enjoying it.”
Each Monday, Sassy posts a free five-minute bodyweight workout on Instagram to promote small, attainable changes. “It’s something anyone can do, anywhere,” she said. “No equipment, no excuses.”
Balancing Entrepreneurship and Motherhood
As a mom of two young children, flexibility was a key motivator for Sassy’s career change. “My son was home sick the other day, so I brought him to work with me,” she shared. “That’s not something I could do in a traditional setting.”
Starting a business may be challenging, but it’s also given her the ability to be present for her family while building something meaningful. “I wanted a career where I could show up for my patients and my kids,” she said.
Sassy hopes more women will take the leap into entrepreneurship. “Now is the time,” she said. “If you’ve got a skill and a passion, you can create something that works for you and your family.”
What’s Next for CORE?
Looking ahead, Sassy envisions expanding CORE into a multidisciplinary wellness hub. “I’d love to have a space that includes a gym, a teaching kitchen, and maybe even offer primary care,” she said. “I want it to be a one-stop shop for health and wellness.”
While the vision is big, she’s taking her own advice: one step at a time. “It’s about setting small, manageable goals and building from there. That’s how I help my patients, and that’s how I’m building this business.”
Final Thoughts: Leading with Heart
Sassy’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when you lead with intention and stay true to your values. By prioritizing connection over quotas and wellness over volume, she’s rewriting the rules of what healthcare can look like.
Whether she’s helping a patient recover from an injury or inspiring others to start their five-minute workout routine, one thing is clear: Dr. Sassy is just getting started.
Visit www.coresportsmed.com
This podcast episode was filmed at Wingman Planning in Belmar.
