Tamara Scerpella, MD
AA McBeath Distinguished Professor | Chair, Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation | Chief, Division of Sports Medicine
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
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As I reflect on the collective accomplishments of our department over the past year, I am struck by the progress we have made toward our shared vision to build excellence and distinction in clinical outcomes, translatable research, and graduate training programs that result in local, regional and national prominence. I am incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to advancing orthopedic surgery and rehabilitative medicine, and I am excited to share highlights of our department members’ numerous achievements during 2024 – as well as a glimpse of what to look forward to in 2025.
Clinical Excellence
We welcomed nine of the best and brightest physician specialists to our team in 2024. These additions bring our total faculty to 42 orthopedic and 14 rehabilitation medicine specialists, preparing us to meet the ever-growing needs of our patients in Dane County, Wisconsin, and the region as we enter 2025. We will continue to recruit surgeons, non-operative orthopedic specialists, pain medicine proceduralists and inpatient rehabilitation specialists over the coming year.
Our faculty contribute to the excellent patient care provided at a number of locations, including UW Health’s University Hospital, consistently ranked as the #1 hospital in Wisconsin and among the top 50 hospitals in the United States for orthopedic care by U.S. News & World Report. The UW Health Rehabilitation Hospital, where our faculty oversee the care of post-acute accident, stroke, burn, and other injuries, was ranked in the top ten percent of rehabilitation hospitals nationwide by healthcare software company Netsmart Technologies. These accolades reflect both our affiliated hospitals’ exceptional patient care and the skill and dedication of our department’s faculty physicians, advanced practice providers and resident trainees.
Innovative Research Initiatives
Our faculty researchers remain at the forefront of groundbreaking research in stem cell and regenerative medicine, sports-related concussion management, tendon healing, joint biomechanics, and more. With over 9,000 square feet of state-of-the-art research facilities, including the Orthopedic Research Laboratories and Badger Athletic Performance Labs, our researchers are developing innovative treatments to improve patient outcomes.
Key research highlights from 2024 include receiving a five-year NIH RO1 grant awarded to UW orthopedic surgeon Kenneth Noonan, MD, and Chris Brace, PhD, to develop a novel treatment for pediatric limb-length discrepancy (LLD). Their research holds the potential to transform the treatment of LLD in children by providing an exciting alternative to traditional surgical procedures that would improve the lives of young patients with this challenging medical condition.
Our Badger Athletic Performance (BAP) program, led by Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD, continues to enhance the performance, safety and recovery of more than 800 Badger athletes. In addition, BAP has partnered with the NBA to study patellar tendon injury and the NFL to study hamstring injury and sport-related concussion. Applying knowledge gained through over a decade of BAP research, Dr. Heiderscheit’s innovative and effective approach to musculoskeletal injury prevention and recovery has drawn the attention of professional teams from across the globe and in our own backyard – as consultant to the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Bucks. While professional athletes travel to BAP for individual consultation, testing and training protocols developed at BAP are implemented in training centers across the country.
We were thrilled when UW Orthopedics and Rehabilitation scientist Timothy McGuine, PhD – nationally recognized for his contributions to sports medicine research – was named the recipient of the 2024 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research: Independent Investigator. I am grateful for Tim’s decades-long practical and translatable contributions to sports medicine research and can think of no one more deserving of this honor.
We look forward to many research developments in 2025 – among them is the launch of Forward Ortho, an innovative program led by William Murphy, PhD, focused on transforming novel orthopedic technologies into groundbreaking start-up companies that will accelerate healthcare solutions.
Education Highlights
We have a strong reputation for training well-rounded clinicians through comprehensive residency and fellowship programs. With a history spanning over 65 years, the Department has successfully trained numerous physicians who have become leaders in their respective fields. We plan an expansion of both Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine residency training programs this year – bringing the orthopedic surgery complement to seven residents each year and the rehabilitation medicine complement to four residents per year. In addition, we will add a second orthopedic sports medicine fellow in the coming year.
When hand and upper extremity surgeon Neil Salyapongse, MD, joined our faculty in 2024, we gained an outstanding physician and academician – and a Vice Chair for Education. Here are a few of the new programs Dr. Salyapongse is spearheading:
Enhancement to our Simulation Education
A faculty workgroup has been assessing the modules available in our virtual reality platform to determine how best to educate early-year residents in surgical procedures ranging from arthroplasty to sports medicine to trauma. Using a select set of training modules, we hope to demonstrate earlier readiness for autonomy in the OR.
Orthopedics/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation combined Grand Rounds
In keeping with the spirit of the Department as a cohesive whole, we are developing a series of department-wide Grand Rounds on topics that combine interests and expertise across both Orthopedic and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialties. Nathan Rudin, MD, will lead off by sharing his expertise in hypermobility disorders.
Medical Student Education
The orthopedic clinical rotations have long been housed within the Department of Surgery due to our roots as a division of that department. We will formally assume responsibility for the rotations this coming year, allowing us to offer students a more uniform educational experience regardless of their subspecialty assignment.
A Commitment to Global Surgery
Continuing to demonstrate their longstanding commitment to excellent patient care across the global community, members of our orthopedic surgery team traveled to the far reaches of our world, performing surgery and providing training far beyond our borders:
Last year, Dr. Paul Whiting completed his fourth trip to Kenya, accompanied by orthopedic surgery residents Drs. Zachary French and Richard Behlmer. Their work was presented to the Department at a Grand Rounds session, detailing the broad impact of this visit on the education of surgeon colleagues in Kenya and our own participating residents. Dr. Kenneth Noonan returned this month, accompanied by Dr. French, for his (approximately) 15th visit to Honduras. Dr. Neil Salyapongse will return later this month for his fourth trip to Nepal, where he works alongside Orthopedic faculty at the only Hand Fellowship program in the country. He has had the pleasure of working with the fellowship since its inception and remains in frequent contact throughout the year with the graduates and faculty in the program. Our goal is to have a resident accompany him next cycle.
Advancing Gender Diversity in Orthopedic Surgery
The Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at UW–Madison continues to address the long-standing gender imbalance in orthopedic surgery. Recognizing that women are historically underrepresented in the field, the Department has actively fostered an inclusive culture by mentoring female residents, faculty, and staff and prioritizing diversity in recruitment and leadership development.
In recent years, the Department has increased the proportion of female residents and faculty members, creating a more representative and supportive environment for women in orthopedics. We currently boast an orthopedic surgery faculty that is 25% female and an orthopedic residency cohort that is 30% female. Programs such as mentorship initiatives and professional development workshops have empowered our female clinicians and researchers to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated specialty. Additionally, the Department has partnered with organizations such as the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and Perry Initiative, which aim to inspire and support women pursuing careers in orthopedics.
By championing gender diversity, the Department is shaping a more equitable future for the field while enhancing the quality of care through diverse perspectives and experiences.
Philanthropy’s Impact on our Mission
Last fall, the Department reached a significant milestone when we successfully established the first-ever sports medicine endowed professorship, in honor of Dr. Bill Clancy, who founded our sports medicine program in the 1970s. This achievement, spurred by a matching opportunity from the Shapiro Foundation, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to advancing sports medicine education and research. Further, it is a testament to the support and passion of the many individuals who helped make this professorship a reality.
In 2025, we will continue to prioritize our mission. Led by Brandi Funk, our Advancement Manager, we intend to strengthen our Annual Fund for Orthopedic Innovation, which provides our Department with flexible and nimble funds needed for time-sensitive efforts and strategic and innovative collaborations. We’ll build upon our strong dedication to Education, with the fresh vision and leadership of our inaugural Vice Chair for Education, Dr. Neil Salyapongse. Finally, we intend to shine a bright light on Badger Athletic Performance Labs under the guidance of Dr. Bryan Heiderscheit. He and his team continue to thrive and connect with athletes, industry partners, researchers, and innovators here at home, nationally and internationally.
If you have any questions or thoughts about how you’d like to join us in these important development efforts with a philanthropic gift, please reach out directly to our Advancement Manager, Brandi Funk, funk@ortho.wisc.edu.
As we move into 2025, the momentum built over the past year positions us for even greater success. Our department continues to push the boundaries of clinical excellence, research innovation, education, and global impact. With the addition of talented faculty and groundbreaking research initiatives, we are well-equipped to meet the challenges ahead and to enhance patient care both locally and globally. Thank you to our dedicated faculty, staff, residents, and partners for your hard work and unwavering support – together, we will build on our legacy of excellence. I am excited for our future!
Earlier this month, Wan-Ju Li, PhD, associate professor in the UW Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and his research team were awarded a $500,000 Research Forward grant to support a bold new project that integrates cutting-edge science and engineering to tackle one of the biggest challenges in healthcare – osteoarthritis.
ICORS represents a global coalition of orthopedic research societies, and its fellowship program celebrates sustained excellence, leadership, and innovation in orthopedic research. Being named a FIOR marks an international acknowledgment of Dr. Li’s impact on the field and his dedication to advancing therapies that restore mobility and improve quality of life.
