Eric McCarty,
M.D.
Chief of Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery
Dr. McCarty is a board-certified Orthopaedic surgeon and a
fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist with a long-time
interest in sports medicine and athletics. His passion for
treating the active individual stems from his playing days as a
linebacker at C.U. where he earned all conference honors. In
addition to his duties as head team physician for the University
of Colorado and University of Denver, Dr. McCarty’s
specialized practice also involves the care of recreational and
highly competitive athletes from the community. His clinical
expertise includes arthroscopic and open reconstructive surgery
of the knee, shoulder and elbow.
Medical Degree: University of Colorado
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Fellowship: Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Venu Akuthota, M.D.
Professor
Dr. Akuthota serves as the medical director of
the Spine Center at University of Colorado Hospital and is
responsible for the Runners' Clinic at the University Sports
Medicine Center. He is board certified in electrodiagnostic
medicine, pain medicine, and physical medicine and
rehabilitation. Dr. Akuthota's clinical interests include
prevention and management of the neck, lower back pain and
running injuries.
Medical Degree: Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine
Residency: Northwestern University
Fellowship: Sports and Spine Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago
Deborah Saint-Phard, M.D.
Director, CU Women's Sports Medicine Program
UCH Associate Professor
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dr. Saint-Phard is board certified in
physical medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic medicine
and pain medicine. As the director of CU Women's Sports Medicine,
her clinical interests are providing expert sports and spine care
to active and athletic women and girls. She also conducts
research on the self-concept of female athletes and stress
fractures in female athletes. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, Dr.
Saint-Phard was named one of the Best Doctors in America® by
Best Doctors, Inc.®. Dr. Saint-Phard is also a former elite
athlete. She competed in the shot put at the 1987 World
Championships in Rome, Italy and in the 1988 Olympic Games in
Seoul, Korea. She was ranked Top 20 in the world.
Medical Degree: Temple University
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine
Michelle Wolcott, M.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Wolcott is a Board Certified
Orthopaedic Surgeon who is fellowship trained in Sports Medicine,
with expertise in treatment of complex knee, ankle and shoulder
problems. An active marathon runner, she also has a special
interest in runner's injuries, pediatric sports medicine and
women's sports medicine. Dr. Wolcott participates in community
education regarding prevention of injuries and proper training
techniques. She is dedicated to returning competitive and
recreational athletes to their previous level of activity, and
serves as a team physician for the University of Colorado
Buffaloes and the University of Denver Pioneers.
Medical Degree:
Georgetown University
Residency: Loyola University
Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
So
urav Poddar, M.D., CAQSM
Associate Professor
Medical Degree: University of Texas-Southwestern
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: University of Colorado
William Sullivan, M.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Sullivan is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management. He
currently serves as the medical student elective director and Spine Center co-fellowship director at the University of Colorado
School of Medicine. Prior to relocating to Colorado, he worked at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Center for Spine,
Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation. Dr. Sullivan has trained numerous fellows in sports medicine and spine care techniques,
including spinal injections.
Medical Degree: Emory University School of
Medicine
Residency: University of Colorado
Armando Vidal, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Vidal is a board-certified
orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in sports medicine
and shoulder surgery. He is an avid cyclist and runner and enjoys
taking care of both competitive and recreational athletes in
Denver and Boulder. His clinical expertise includes open and
arthroscopic surgery of simple and complex knee, shoulder, hip
and elbow disorders. Dr. Vidal serves as a team physician for the
University of Colorado and University of Denver athletic
programs.
Medical Degree:
University of Miami School of Medicine
Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill
Medical College of Cornell University
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh
Aaron Provance, MD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Aaron Provance is the co-director of
the Sports Medicine Program at The Children’s Hospital, and
also serves as an assistant professor in the Department of
Orthopaedics at the University of Colorado. Dr. Provance is board
certified in pediatrics and sports medicine. His specialties
include orthopaedic and medical conditions in the young athlete,
as well as a special interest in concussions in sports.
Medical Degree: West Virginia University
Residency: West Virginia University
Fellowship: Primary Care Sports Medicine,University of Colorado SOM
Rachel Coel, MD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Coel is board-certified in pediatrics
and fellowship-trained and board-certified in sports medicine.
She has an interest in medical education (i.e. teaching medical
students, residents, and fellows, etc.) and an interest in
clinical research, including her project on improving patient
statisfaction. On a personal level, she enjoys outdoor sports and
fitness, including hiking, triathalons, skiing, swimming, and
surfing.
Medical Degree: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Residency: Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Fellowship: Primary Care Sports Medicine, University of Colorado SOM
Ra
chel Brakke, MD
Assistant Professor
Medical Degree: University of Texas Medical Branch
Residency: University of Washington
Fellowship: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado
M
Dr. Brakke is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, sports medicine and pain medicine. She is currently the pain medicine fellowship director. She has an interest in medical education including teaching fellows, residents and medical students and has had a lifelong interest in sports and active lifestyles. Trained in spinal injections, peripheral joint injections, ultrasound-guided procedures and EMG/NCS, she sees a wide variety of patients with non-surgical spine and sports conditions. She has performed research on core strengthening, high altitude cerebral edema and the role of therapy in osteoarthritis. She competed at the collegiate level in cross-country and softball and continues to be active in: running, hiking, softball, skiing and yoga. She enjoys working with a wide range of patients from the competitive athlete to the older adult who wants to remain independent and active.
Jonat
han Bravman, MD
Assistant Professor
Medical Degree: UMNDJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery, Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital
Scott Laker, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Laker has cared for athletes at all levels of participation, from adolescents to adults, amateurs to professionals. A founding member of the Seattle Sports Concussion Program, he is a regular lecturer on sports-related concussion, spinal conditions, and sports medicine topics. Trained in the use spinal injections, peripheral joint injection therapy, and EMG/NCS, Dr. Laker treats a large spectrum of non-surgical sports and spine conditions including sports-related concussion, sports injuries, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, herniated discs, and radiculopathy.
Medical Degree: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: Sports Medicine and Spine, University of Colorado
Omer Mei-Dan, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Mei-Dan specializes in hip preservation surgery consisting of hip arthroscopy, cartilage regeneration and acetabulum realignment techniques. He also performs non-operative injections modalities for the conservative treatments for joint and articular cartilage lesions. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Mei-Dan is a world-renowned extreme sports athlete. For more than 20 years, he has been involved in numerous disciplines including mountaineering, wing-suit flying and BASE jumping. His personal interest and curiosity in these sports has led to further research in extreme sports. Recent publications have focused on climbing and BASE jumping injuries as well as observing the mental characteristics and hormonal changes exhibited by extreme sports athletes.
Ashley Chrisman, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Ashley Chrisman is a Physician Assistant specializing in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. She works in the
operating room assisting CU Sports Medicine surgeons in addition
to diagnosing and treating patients in the clinic at both Denver
and Boulder locations. Ashley received her Masters of Physician
Assistant Studies graduate degree from the University of Nebraska
Medical Center in Omaha. As an undergraduate, she attended the
University of Nebraska in Lincoln majoring in Exercise Science
and competed as a heptathlete on the track and field team. Ashley
earned multiple All-American, Academic All-American, and Big 12
Conference honors highlighted by capturing the 2005 NCAA National
Championship in the pentathlon. Her clinical interests include
diagnosis and treatment of sports related injury with an emphasis
on a safe and successful return to activity.
Masters of Physician Assistant Studies: Univ. of Nebraska Med Center
NCCPA Certification: PA-C, January 2011
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
John C. Hill, D.O., FAAFP, FACSM
Associate Professor, Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Hill is a board certified family physician with sub-specialty boards in primary care sports
medicine. His clinical areas of interest revolve around
Women’s Health and Wellness. He has delivered over 1000
babies and has in depth knowledge in prenatal care and exercise
as it relates to pregnancy. He is the team physician at the
University of Denver . He is a popular speaker nationally in the
areas of sports medicine and obstetrics.
Medical Degree: Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Residency: Truman Medical Center-East, University of Missouri at Kansas City
Fellowship: University of Colorado Denver
Iñig
o San Millán, PhD
Direc
tor, Excercise Physiology Lab
Dr. San Millán is an exercise physiologist from Basque Country, Spain. He has vast experience working with professional athletes and teams. He worked with and advised 6 Pro Tour cycling teams, 1 Tour de France winner and several podium finishers, world class triathletes, runners, rowers, swimmers, professional basketball players and many other athletes and teams. He also advised and trained coaches and physiologists worldwide. At present, Dr. San Millán is directing our Exercise Physiology and Human Performance lab where, with the most advanced equipment, he is applying the latest testing protocols, approaches and methods to a wide variety of athletes of any level. He is also applying new scientific methods in lactate metabolism, substrate utilization, and overtraining and obesity prevention programs. Dr. San Millán obtained his bachelor degree from Colorado State University and his Doctorate from the University of the Basque Country, Spain.
Stephanie Chu, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Chu's areas of special interest
include dance medicine, gymnastics and the female athlete, which
stems from growing up involved in ballet and gymnastics.
Currently she serves as Team Physician for the University of
Colorado Buffaloes. She is also an active member of the Education
Committee of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.
She enjoys running and taking in all sporting events. Outside of
sports she enjoys reading, music, and the company of friends and
family and traveling.
Medical Degree: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: University of Connecticut
Fellowship: Sports Medicine, University of Connecticut
Joy Anderson, PT, ATC, CSCS
Physical Therapist & Certified Athletic Trainer
Joy is a licensed physical therapist,
certified athletic trainer, and certified strength and
conditioning specialist. She has served as a trainer for the
United States Figure Skating Association. Joy’s clinical
interests include adolescent sports medicine, strength and
conditioning for youth athletes and orthopedic sports medicine.
Her research interests are ACL prevention, rehabilitation, return
to play programs and adolescent sports medicine. Joy attended the
University of Nebraska.
Laura King, MS, ATC, CSCS
Certified Athletic Trainer
Laura joined the University Sports Medicine Center staff in 2006. After obtaining her Bachelors
Degree from the University of New Hampshire and her Masters
Degree from Washington State University, she worked as a
collegiate athletic trainer for 11 years at the University of
Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin and the University of
Denver. Laura looks forward to helping patients return to a high
level of activity.
Denise Knutson, MA, MEd, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer, Medical Assistant
Denise is a Certified Athletic Trainer, from the Chicago, Illinois area. Denise graduated from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She also attended the
University of Missouri at Columbia, where she worked as a
graduate assistant and obtained her Master’s degree. Denise
has worked with athletes and individuals of all ages and
abilities, including coordinating a high school and community
outreach program in the Boulder, Colorado area.
Andrea Lenz, MS, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Andrea is a certified athletic trainer. Originally from the Midwest, Andrea attended the University of
Iowa, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in exercise science and athletic training.
Andrea also has recently become certified as a Sportsmetrics™ instructor and offers ACL prevention
training.
Jane Fish, A.T.C
Certified Athletic Trainer
Jane joined the CU Sports Medicine staff in 2010, and has been an employee and patient with CU off and on since 1998. She has a Kinesiology Degree from the University of Northern Colorado and earned her Athletic Trainer Certification from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Prior to joining the CU Sports Medicine team, Jane's passion was working with athletes at the high school level, as she worked with several high schools throughout Jefferson County.
Susan Cartwright, RN, BSN, OCN
Registered Nurse and Certified Orthopedic Nurse
Susan joined the CU Sports Medicine staff in 2008 and has been with the University of Colorado Hospital since 2003. Originally from Georgia, Susan earned her Diploma in Nursing from the Georgia Baptist School of Nursing and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Brenau College. Since joining the CU Sports Medicine team, she has earned her certification in Orthopedic Nursing through the Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board
.
D
oug Jowdy, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Sports Psychologist
Dr. Jowdy is a licensed psychologist in Colorado and has worked for the U.S. Olympic Committee serving as the team psychologist for U.S. Speed Skating. He assisted the coaches and athletes prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, U.T. Prior to working for the Olympic Committee, he was a Co-Director of a Mental Health Treatment Program at Denver Health Medical Center. Dr. Jowdy was also employed as the Department Head of the Exercise/Sport Psychology Programs at Argosy University in Phoenix, AZ. He has coached and played icehockey at the college level.
His areas of specialization are: performance enhancement, coaching education, coach and athlete relationship development, coping with the emotional aspects of injury rehabilitation and working with team dynamics. Dr. Jowdy also specializes in the treatment of some medical conditions, anxiety disorders, depression, weight normalization and problems with alcohol/drug use.
Master’s Degree: Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D.: Virginia Commonwealth University
Clinical Internship: Denver Health Medical Center
Postdoctoral Training: Stanford University Medical School
Nancy Pudwill
Nutritionist
Nancy has been a registered dietitian in private practice since 1986. She earned her undergraduate degree
at Kansas State University and did her internship at Kansas University Medical Center. Nancy is a member of the American
Dietetic Association and the Colorado Dietetic Association and works with athletes at the University of Denver and throughout
Colorado.
Robyn Thompson-Etzel
Certified Athletic Trainer, Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Robyn is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant originally from Illinois. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Fitness/Athletic Training from Western Illinois University. In 1991 she graduated from the University of Iowa after obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Exercise Science and serving as a graduate assistant in the department of athletics. Robyn has worked in various sports medicine settings from physical therapy to high school and collegiate levels including working at the Air Force Academy.