USF hires nationally prominent orthopedic surgeon

[E.T.]

USF hires nationally prominent orthopedic surgeon

Tampa Bay Business Journal - 3:10 PM EDT Wednesday

The University of South Florida College of Medicine said Dr. Robert Pedowitz was selected to chair the newly created Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Pedowitz is a consultant for the National Football League Players Association. He was recruited from the University of California-San Diego, where he was a professor and chair of sports medicine, director of the orthopedic surgery residency program, director of research for the San Diego Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine Fellowship, and team physician for the university's intercollegiate athletics program.

He joins the USF College of Medicine at a pivotal time for the school, according to a release. The college has applied for a residency program in orthopedic surgery. In addition, the Florida Legislature this year appropriated $3 million to create a statewide Sport Medicine & Athlete-Related Trauma (SMART) Institute at USF, adding to the $500,000 in seed funding appropriated in 2005.

Orthopedics specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and diseases involving the body's bones and muscles.

[SMHUSF]

This just adds to an already strong staff. Dr. Leffers in one of the best. I'm sure he remains the official team physician with Dr. Pedowitz focusing on the new department.

[smazza]

it is good to know in case i break a leg

[___ Eats It]

Or a hip, old man...

[E.T.]

... break a leg

Going n2 show business out there ?

[Bull Martin]

w00t!!!

[bulls96go]

:)

[E.T.]

USF Taps Prominent Surgeon To Head Orthopedic Unit

By ADAM EMERSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Oct 5, 2006

TAMPA - The University of South Florida hired a prominent San Diego surgeon and National Football League consultant to lead its fledgling orthopedic surgery department.

USF administrators chose Robert Pedowitz after a national search for someone who could energize the orthopedics program, which was launched earlier this year.

Pedowitz, 47, who holds top sports medicine and orthopedic jobs at the University of California, San Diego, said Wednesday that the chance to build a program at a major medical school is "a unique opportunity."

Stephen Klasko, USF Health vice president and College of Medicine dean, said he wanted to launch an orthopedics program since he started his job in 2004. "And I didn't want to do it on the cheap."

USF's College of Medicine has been without an orthopedic residency program since 1989. At that time, 13 orthopedic surgeons resigned after the university's top health sciences administrator rejected their plan for an on-campus clinic.

The dispute ended up costing USF millions of dollars in litigation and the eventual disintegration of the program.

By recruiting Pedowitz, Klasko hopes that other top recruits and medical-related companies will follow.

Pedowitz will earn $40,000 through April 1 while he consults with USF and builds the program.

He will work full time after that, earning $475,000 annually.

At UCSD, Pedowitz serves as chief of sports medicine, director of orthopedic surgery residency and team physician for intercollegiate athletics. He is an attending orthopedic surgeon for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in San Diego.

Pedowitz also is a consultant for the National Football League Players Association. He is on a list of doctors who provide a second opinion on whether injured players can return to the field.

Pedowitz says he first will focus on getting USF's orthopedics program accredited through the national Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. A committee of the accreditation council will visit USF next month.

He hopes to have accreditation by spring, but it could be up to a year later.

"We are building this program from scratch," Klasko said. Six area hospitals have pledged spots for medical residents when the orthopedics program is accredited, he said.

Tampa General Hospital is not among them.

Most of the orthopedic surgeons there work for the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, which was formed by the physicians who resigned from USF in 1989.

Pedowitz also will work to implement a $3 million grant for USF's new Sports Medicine and Athletic-Related Trauma Institute, or SMART.

Pedowitz earned his medical degree at UCSD and completed his undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles.

He is married to Loraine Pedowitz. They have two children: a daughter, Rachel, 17, and son, Jason, 13.

[dabull80]

It will be a full time job just working on our bb players