Yesterday, baseball fans read plenty about Dr. Marc Philippon. He's the Vail-based hip expert who recently examined Yankees slugger (and admitted steroid user) Alex Rodriguez, determining that he's not only got a bizarre cyst -- wonder how that popped up? -- but also a torn labrum. If rest doesn't allow A-Rod to play with these maladies, he'll have to undergo surgery that may force him to miss four months of the upcoming season.
But what's Philippon's story? Click "Continue" to read his bio on the website of the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic -- the very same facility that brought Kobe Bryant to Colorado a few years back, with tabloid-headline-generating results:
MARC J. PHILIPPON, M.D.Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Center for Sports Medicine
Medical Consultant, National Hockey League Players Association
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Steadman Hawkins Clinic, Vail, Colorado
Dr. Marc J. Philippon is a partner at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic and is one of the world's leading orthopaedic hip surgeons. Dr. Philippon joined Steadman Hawkins in 2005 after a successful time period at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he served as Director of sports related hip disorders and was also Director of the UPMC Golf Medicine Program. Previously, he was chief of orthopaedic surgery at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Dr. Philippon is internationally known for performing joint preservation techniques utilizing arthroscopic hip surgery to treat painful joint injury in high-level athletes who constantly use powerful hip rotation, such as golfers, NFL players and NHL players, making themselves prone to acute and chronic injuries of the hip joint. He has published numerous scientific articles in sports medicine and orthopaedic journals and is a frequently invited presenter at international sports medicine and orthopaedic meetings.
Dr. Philippon earned his medical degree with an academic scholarship from McMaster University Medical School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1990, and completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1995.
Dr. Philippon is a consultant to NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB professional teams and has treated numerous PGA golfers. He is also a consultant to the NHL Players Association. Some of the professional athletes he has treated include golfers Greg Norman and Peter Jacobsen, hockey player Mario Lemieux, professional football player Priest Holmes, and baseball player Louis Castillo.
Dr. Philippon is an Active Member with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. He is also a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a Master Instructor with the Arthroscopy Association of North America, Masters Experience Hip Course, and a Member of the Herodicus Society.
Dr. Philippon lives with his wife and three children in Edwards, Colorado. He enjoys spending time with his family and participating in sports such as golf and skiing.
Sounds like A-Rod's hip is in good hands. And while plenty of critics have lambasted him of late (and for good reason), at least he didn't get into the same sort of hot water that burned Bryant during his stay in the mountains. Betcha Madonna is relieved.
