School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

The results are in, and the results are great! Castle Connolly, an organization dedicated to identifying and recognizing top healthcare professionals across various specialties, has released their 2024 Accolades list. 

UPMC ranked number 5 in top health systems across the nation and again as top health system in Pennsylvania. UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC St. Margaret also made the cut as hospitals with the most number of top Castle Connolly doctors in orthopaedic care.

For a full list, click here.

Research has always been a pillar of excellence here at PittOrtho and we are thrilled to share exciting updates with you today, spearheaded by team members Dr. Kurt Weiss and Dr. Hang Lin.

Dr. Kurt Weiss and his Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory (MOL) are on a mission to revolutionize the treatment landscape for pediatric patients with osteosarcoma (OS) lung metastases (LM). Currently, one-third of pediatric patients with OS develop LM, and survival rates have stagnated at 19–30% for the past three decades. However, Dr. Weiss and his team are determined to change that narrative. Through their relentless efforts, they are exploring innovative approaches to improve survival rates, offering renewed hope to young patients and their families.

Check out the full study, published in Oncogene here.

Department and BMRC researcher Dr. Hang Lin and his Joint Tissue Biology and Engineering Lab (JTBE) has recently secured a $3.3m R01 grant for their work. The project, "Defining the unique capacity of the miniature joint model for investigating the role of adipose tissue and its impacts on osteoarthritis," promises to shed light on the correlation between OA and specific risk factors, like obesity. With this grant, Dr. Lin and his team aim to unravel the complexities of adipose tissue's involvement in osteoarthritis, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies and enhancing our understanding of this debilitating condition.

We are proud of the PittOrtho legacy of research. Congratulations to our all our researchers whose pursuit of medical science transforms the lives of our patients at UPMC.

PittOrtho was pleased to host Anna N. Miller, MD, FAAOS, FACS, FAOA, for Grand Rounds on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Dr. Miller is the Jerome J. Gilden, MD, Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr. Miller, an orthopaedic traumatologist, spoke on her nationally recognized work toward optimizing the management and outcomes of fragility fractures. She is the Chair of the Orthopaedic Subgroup for the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma.

Dr. Dharmesh Vyas was recently featured in Shadyside Hospital Foundation's "Voice" magazine for his work on bringing athletes back to the games they love from career-ending injuries. 

The article covers Dr. Vyas' work with both professional and recreational athletes. UPMC Sports Medicine physicians, Drs. Vyas and Melissa McLane, have long served as the team physicians for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Read the article in the Winter edition of the SHF's "Voice" here.

The Shadyside Hospital Foundation is an independent, volunteer-led organization that supports and inspires world-class care for every patient at UPMC Shadyside.

UPMC Orthopaedic Care partnered with CNX Foundation to launch UPMC/CNX M.O.V.E.S. (Motivation, Opportunity, Value, Experience, Success) in 2023.  The initiative aims to expand career opportunities for students from the CNX Mentorship Academy into the healthcare sector.

Since the founding of the initiative, various UPMC facilities have hosted tours and discovery days for local high school students.

Most recently, students from Steel Valley school district visited the UPMC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Center. Students toured the Concussion Clinic and spoke with Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Anthony Kontos and took a tour of the Steelers/Pitt Complex. Also included in the morning's activities was a walk to RiverTech and a meeting with Dr. William Anderst, director of the Biodynamics Laboratory.

Check out a quick video on the visit here.

Click here for more information on the UPMC/CNX M.O.V.E.S program.

We at PittOrtho take immense pride in the achievements of our alumni, who continue to uphold a legacy of leadership in the field of orthopaedic surgery.

Ronald A. Navarro, M.D., a former Pitt Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellow ('95-'96), has recently been installed as president of the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons (AALOS). Dr. Navarro's dedication to promoting care for the Hispanic population in the United States is commendable, and his appointment as Director for Clinical Affairs at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine further underscores his commitment to advancing healthcare equity.

Brian Cole, MD, MBA another former Pitt Sports Medicine Fellow ('96-'97), was recently named Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. As a professor and managing partner of Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH, Dr. Cole has demonstrated remarkable leadership in his roles at RUSH University Medical Center, where he has served as head of the Cartilage Restoration Center for nearly three decades. His leadership extends beyond academia, as evidenced by his presidency of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and his longstanding tenure as head team physician for the Chicago Bulls.

Drs. Cole and Navarro, through their dedication to innovation and patient care, exemplify the spirit of excellence we champion at PittOrtho.

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024

We are pleased to announce this year's Albert B. Ferguson, Jr, MD Resident Research Day will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. 

Guest speaker Leesa M. Galatz, MD, Professor & Chair of the Leni and Peter May Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine will be keynote speaker.

For more information, visit orthonet.pitt.edu.

Join us this June for the 2024 Freddie Fu Panther Sports Medicine Symposium held in Pittsburgh, PA.

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.

Today, April 1, is the last day of early bird pricing - register now!