School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

The week of celebrations kicked off with an exclusive insider look at the 2026 NFL Draft Class during a welcome party at the August Wilson Cultural Center. That event featured football analyists Ian Rapoport, Dorin Dickerson, and Doug Whaley, and rounded out with a panel discussion with Dr. MaCalus Hogan. A great afternoon which really set the tone for an exciting week!

UPMC-PittOrtho played a critical role in ensuring the health and safety of fans, staff, and visitors from across the country. Over the course of the event, our teams cared for approximately 550 patients, addressing a wide spectrum of needs - from sunscreen applications and Band-Aids to complex foot and facial lacerations, as well as the full range of heat-related illnesses that accompany large outdoor events on warm western PA spring days!

Thanks to the comprehensive care provided on site, only 24 patients required transport to a hospital, providing a buffer for regional emergency departments while delivering timely, high-quality care where it was needed most. As the official medical and healthcare provider for the Pittsburgh Steelers, we were honored to support a successful draft.

This effort was made possible through exceptional multi-specialty collaboration across UPMC Prehospital Care, Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the dedicated talents of our physicians, APPs, nurses, paramedics, and athletic trainers. Care was delivered across four medical tents - three staffed by UPMC Prehospital Care and one by AHN - supported further by numerous Pittsburgh paramedics and EMTs. 

In addition to clinical operations, UPMC Sports Medicine had a strong community presence by hosting a sponsor booth at the University of Pittsburgh Block Party at Arts Landing, further connecting with fans and highlighting our commitment to health and wellness.

We were honored to keep the city of Pittsburgh and all visitors safe, healthy and happy during their visit.

We are pleased to announce that the Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Class of 2027 has matched into the following fellowship programs to start in August 2027.

Xi Chen, Cedars Sinai Spine Center
Nicholas Drain, UT Houston
Matthew Gong, Carolinas Medical Center
Zachary Herman, Steadman Philippon Institute
Chukwudi Onyeukwu, Inova
Devon Scott, Medstar Union Memorial

Their accomplishments not only reflect their individual hard work but also uphold the proud tradition and strong legacy of our PittOrtho graduates, who continue to make significant contributions across the field.

We are also happy to welcome six outstanding UPMC Sports Medicine fellow matches:

Rebecca Haley, Cleveland Clinic 
William Justice, Rothman Orthopaedics
Isaac Lapite, Oregon Health & Science University
Sreeram Ravi, Penn State University
Bradley Ritchey, University of Michigan
Tyler Wilps, University of California San Diego

We are proud to announce our inclusion on the Castle Connolly Top Doctors list for 2026. Many of our Orthopaedic Care members in  orthopaedics and sports medicine are included.

The Castle Connolly Top Doctors® selection process is entirely merit-based. Doctors cannot pay to be listed. Castle Connolly’s peer-to-peer nominations and rigorous research process ensure only the most qualified physicians are included. Our team members are part of more than 400 UPMC physicians to be recognized as 2026 "Top Doctors".

Check out the complete list here or here, on Pittsburgh Magazine's website.

We are proud to share that MaCalus V. Hogan, MD, MBA, was selected to receive the UNCF Bill Nunn Legacy of Excellence Award at a special celebration held at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh.

This event honors the enduring legacy of Bill Nunn, Jr., whose leadership helped reshape the NFL by expanding pathways for talent from historically Black colleges and universities and advancing equity across the league.

Dr. Hogan was recognized for his leadership and commitment to excellence. The celebration was chaired by Collette V. Smith, the first African American female coach in NFL history, and brought together leaders whose work reflects Bill Nunn Jr.’s transformative influence.

Congratulations to this year’s cohort of Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) participants. This year’s program welcomes six talented students from both within and beyond the University of Pittsburgh.

The SSRP provides an immersive experience combining hands-on laboratory research with interactive classroom learning. Under the guidance of expert mentors in the BMRC Core Labs, students develop technical research skills while strengthening professional competencies. Classroom sessions focus on communication and networking, preparing competitive applications for medical or graduate school, and delivering a clear, effective research “elevator pitch.”

Congratulations to Diya Bhagat, Joseph Perry, Caelan McCormack, Derek Favorite, Ann George, and Matthew Shi, and thank you to the BMRC faculty and staff for their mentorship and support.

It was a productive meeting for our department and the Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) at the 2026 Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting. From celebrating our alumni to outstanding trainee recognition, UPMC-PittOrtho was well represented across scientific sessions and events.

We were pleased to see BMRC lab alumni continuing to share their expertise on a national stage. Gianluca Vadalà, MD, PhD, a Ferguson Spine Lab alum, was selected to present during the 2026 ORS Guest Nation Spotlight Session, where he spoke on emerging cell therapy approaches for low back pain. His presentation highlighted ongoing innovation in this space, including work aligned with the Ferguson Spine Lab’s LB3P study.

UPMC-PittOrtho’s strong presence at ORS continued with nearly 15 poster presentations from across our research labs, along with multiple podium presentations delivered by members of our BMRC core laboratories. These talks spanned a wide range of topics, from total knee arthroplasty to novel work demonstrating how an acid–metformin conjugate hydrogel may enhance healing in cold induced skin injuries.

We were also proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our trainees and fellows. Congratulations to the 2025–2026 class of ORS/Bethel Fellows, including Dr. Mark (Min Kyu) Kim and Dr. Shirley (Nina) Tang, who were honored in person at this year’s meeting. We are proud to support all five Fellows and look forward to their presentations at the upcoming BMRC Symposium in September.

Finally, congratulations to those receiving special recognition at the meeting, including NIRA Finalist Dr. Shotaro Kamijo and ISFR Poster Award Finalist Dr. Vasyl Pastukh. Their achievements reflect the depth and excellence of research being conducted across our department.

UPMC‑PittOrtho is proud to collaborate with Nth Dimensions to create a meaningful, hands‑on educational experience for future leaders in medicine. We were happy to once again host Nth Dimensions last month for the Clinical Correlations and BioSkills Workshop.

The day included hands‑on training for participants, learning alongside world‑renowned physicians. The program underscored the value of real‑world practice, collaboration, and meaningful peer connection. We are grateful to all who volunteered their time and we hope that it was a meaningful experience for those who participated.