School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

This year's Orthopaedic Research Society meeting was an eventful one - not only because 2024 marked ORS' 70th anniversary but because of the joint grant partnership that was announced between the new Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC), ORS and PittOrtho.

These grants, equaling $50,000, will support early- and mid-phase clinician scientists in pursuing and continuing careers in translational research. For more information on the grants and how to apply, visit https://www.bethel.pitt.edu/funding/

PittOrtho also showed strong representation in poster presentations and panels, including Dr. Kurt Weiss and residents Giliian Ahrendt, Cortez Brown and Chris Como.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) hosted its annual meeting February 12-16, 2024, in San Francisco, California. Numerous members of the UPMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery attended and contributed to meaningful sessions, interactive lectures, courses, and workshops focused on the latest breakthroughs in orthopaedics across all specialties and career stages.

See a list of all PittOrtho's contributions to the AAOS annual meeting here.

We send a special congratulations to Dr. Boris Zelle, [Residency '10; Trauma Fellowship '11]  who was awarded the AAOS Diversity Award and Noreen Corcoran, Academic Manager, for her nomination as 2024 Coordinator of the Year.

PittOrtho and UPMC Sports Medicine teams have been busy! Dr. Craig Mauro, assistant program director of the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship, served as medical director of the Squash - PSA World Tour Pittsburgh Open Squash Tournament in February at the Rivers Club.

Pictured here (left to right) is tournament director Diuilo Costa, world rank #6 and tournament champion Karim Abdel Gawad, world rank #10 and tournament runner-up Marwan ElShorbagy, and tournament medical director Dr. Craig Mauro.

During this year's NHL All-Star Game in Toronto, Canada, PittOrtho was represented by Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, associate professor, head team physician, NHL Pittsburgh Penguins and Medical Director at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Dr. Vyas attended the NHL team physician's executive committee meeting. Comprising a select few NHL team physicians, this peer-selected committee plays a pivotal role in setting the future direction of care in the NHL.

Congratulations to Dr. Jeanne Doperak, who was recently awarded the distinction of American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Fellow. 

The designation of Fellow of AMSSM (FAMSSM) was created in 2019 to recognize sports medicine physicians who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning, the advancement of the profession, service to AMSSM and leadership in their communities. 

A recent study examined the correlation between orthopedic team surgeons in major professional sports and their affiliation with the top 10 sports medicine fellowship programs (of which University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Medical Education Program is ranked #7). 

By analyzing data from Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL), the research revealed that 61 of 124 (49.19%) team surgeons graduated from the top 10 sports medicine fellowship programs.

University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Sports Medicine ranked number three in the most frequently attended of top 10 sports medicine fellowship programs.

It's clear that PittOrtho and UPMC's dedication to education and investment in our future practitioners is making plays both here in Pittsburgh and nationwide.

Read the full study here.

As we step into the new year, PittOrtho is thrilled to continue our collaboration with AD99 Solutions.

AD99 has the mission to change the trajectory of under-resourced youth by providing education and resources in supportive and safe environments, so they are empowered academically, socially, and athletically.  As valued partners, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities that lie ahead in 2024 and the positive impact we can create together.

One highlight from our collaboration in 2023 was the extraordinary Mental Flex Forum held in May. This event, hosted at the Freddie Fu Sports Complex, brought together a diverse community of student-athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals. Click here for a video recap of the day!

Looking ahead, we are excited about the prospect of further collaboration with AD99 in the coming year, including a virtual sports career fair and this year’s Mental Flex Forum.  Visit ad99.org for more information and to RSVP for upcoming events.

This three-day meeting signifies the collaboration among global leaders in anatomic ACL reconstruction surgery to develop consensus on key focus areas within the field.

Orthopaedic surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers, radiologists, and basic scientists will discuss evidence-based recommendations, recent advances, and the future of anatomic ACL reconstruction, complex knee surgery, meniscus transplantation, cartilage surgery, and osteotomy.

Early bird pricing available until April 1, 2024. Register today!