School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

This year, we were delighted to once again host residency interviews, providing a meaningful opportunity to connect face-to-face with an incredible group of applicants. We were inspired by the diversity, talent, and passion displayed by candidates!

In all we met with 93 outstanding applicants, coming to us from over 59 medical schools from across the US and the globe. Interviewees boasted an average Step 2 score of 254. 

We are truly honored that so many outstanding furture orthopaedic leaders considered joining our PITT-UPMC care team. 

We were privileged to bring together the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery for a very special combined grand rounds by presented Dr. L. Scott Levin, who has been a role model for innovating multidisciplinary care models and has pioneered the discipline of “orthoplastic surgery.” Dr. Levin is an international leader in reconstructive microsurgery, hand surgery, and limb salvage. He has been both Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at Penn and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Duke.  He is board certified in both specialties.

Our Orthopaedic Care team and the Department of Plastic Surgery work together in clinical care, education, and research in many areas, including care of patients with musculoskeletal tumors, complex musculoskeletal trauma, hand disorders, and spine surgery.

This special event strengthened the partnership between our departments and leverages our combined strength. We look forward to other opportunities to build together!

UFC Concussion Workshop in Las Vegas

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) represents the pinnacle of mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, and its medical staff is responsible for the health and wellbeing of hundreds of fighters in numerous events around the world. This past fall, Drs. Micky Collins, Anthony Kontos, Anne Mucha, and Sarah Ostop traveled to UFC headquarters in Las Vegas to conduct a multiday, evidence-based concussion and brain health workshop and discussion with UFC’s medical staff. The team was also able to attend a few fights at the UFC octagon during their visit.  

4-year Military BRAIN Health Study Kicks Off

Drs. Kontos and Collins, along with their staff from the Concussion Research Laboratory, kicked off the Military Brain Risk Assessment for Individual Neurological (BRAIN) Health research program this fall with a series of site initiation and training visits with military partners at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, Ft. Cavazos in Texas, and Ft. Moore, in Georgia.

The 4-year study, which is funded by the U.S. Army, will evaluate the role of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and occupation-related repetitive head impacts (RHI) from weapons systems on multidomain brain health outcomes.

The Military BRAIN Health study is modeled off of our ongoing National Football League-funded Brain Health Initiative that, to date, has enrolled nearly 200 former professional football players and controls. We are excited to continue and expand this important line of research to help enhance the brain health of our athletes and military service members.

Former Spartan, Dr. Micky Collins returns to Michigan State University to Deliver Neurology Grand Rounds Lecture

In November, Dr. Collins returned to his alma mater of Michigan State University (MSU) to deliver a grand rounds lecture on concussion clinical profiles and targeted treatments to the Department of Neurology.

After his lecture, Dr. Collins was recognized for his pioneering work in concussion over the past 25 years at a reception, and met with current MSU President and former Pitt alum, Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, with whom he attended the Spartan football game.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) on another successful Pointe in Time fundraiser. Various members of our orthopaedic care team was on hand to celebrate the PBT's 55th year and come together in support of vital programming, including arts education in schools and community centers, classes for individuals with disabilities and funding for the PBT's Community Youth Scholarship program. 

Congratulations to Dr. Nindl, Professor, Department of Sports Medicine, on his induction as a National Academy of Kinesiology fellow. Dr. Nindl is director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, which works to find deficiencies in body mechanics and muscle function to minimize potential for injury among active populations.

Learn more about the lab on their site: https://www.nmrl.pitt.edu/

#congratulations #neuromuscular #sportsmedicine #injuryprevention #kinesiology