Biologic Orthopaedic Journal Editorial Board
CO-EDITOR
Allan Mishra, MD
Dr. Allan Mishra is an adjunct clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Stanford and works at the Menlo Medical Clinic. He is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist and fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is also the founder of DareToBeVital.com, a movement dedicated to enhancing global vitality.
Dr. Mishra is a double alumnus from the University of Michigan with BS and MD degrees. He pioneered the use of platelet-rich plasma for sports related injuries and disorders and published the first controlled clinical trial. He has presented his research all over the world and published it in elite journals. He also serves as a principal reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine in addition to being a reviewer for several other journals including the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the Journal of Orthopedic Research. He lives in Northern California with his family.
CO-EDITOR
Don Buford, MD
Dr. Don Buford is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who has been in private practice for 20 years. He attended Stanford University for the first half of his college career. While at Stanford, he was a member of the baseball team and had a double major in economics and Human Biology. He then transferred to USC where he continued his athletic and academic pursuits.
In 1988 he received the Woody Hayes NCAA Division I Academic All-American Award for being the single most outstanding NCAA Division I male student-athlete. After graduation from USC, he signed his first professional baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles and also enrolled at UCLA Medical School. While attending UCLA medical school, Dr. Buford played professional baseball as a second baseman and outfielder in the Baltimore Orioles professional organization for 4 years. After graduating from the UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Buford completed a 5 year orthopaedic residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern in Dallas. Dr. Buford also completed a one year sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious Southern California Orthopaedic Institute (SCOI) in 1999 where he learned advanced arthroscopy techniques.
Dr. Buford's interest in orthobiologics was a natural outgrowth of his training in minimally invasive surgery...both are designed to help patients in the simplest, safest way possible. Dr Buford is the Founder and Director of The Dallas PRP and Stem Cell Institute. The Institute’s ultimate goal is to maximize patients' quality of life and minimize their disability from any musculoskeletal condition. The Institute uses orthobiologics both with and without surgical intervention as guided by the latest evidence based orthopedic research.
Over the past 20 years Dr. Buford has been a frequent lecturer and Course Director on topics ranging from shoulder surgery to Regenerative Medicine to Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.
As a founding Editor of the Orthobiologics Journal, Dr. Buford hopes to encourage like minded clinicians to do basic science and clinical research in the field of Orthobiologics.
CO-EDITOR
William D. Murrell, Jr. MD, MS, Dubai, UAE
Dr. William D. Murrell is currently Chief Science Officer for Emirates Healthcare, Dubai, UAE. CEO and Consultant Orthopaedic Sports and Regenerative Medicine of the Emirates Integra Medical & Surgery Centre.
Dr. Murrell is an internationally recognized clinician, educator, and researcher, who performs investigations and lectures frequently on the topics related to MSK regenerative medicine. He is Co-Founding Editor of the Biologic Orthopedic Journal, Editorial Boards Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma, and Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery Research.
Adam W. Anz, MD
Dr. Adam W. Anz is an orthopedic surgeon fellowship trained in Sports Medicine who practices at the Andrews Institute in Pensacola Florida. His clinical and research focus has settled on knee, shoulder, and hip injuries as well as the development of innovative biologic treatments. Research studies have included the biomechanic investigation of modern meniscal repair techniques, the use of 3T MRI to evaluate the maturing ACL reconstruction, optimization of stem cell harvest from patients, biologic enhancement of ACL reconstruction, and an FDA observed clinical trial involving stem cells and cartilage repair. Research funding has included industry support and government support from the State of Florida and the City of Gulf Breeze.
Being part of teams that cover athletic events has always been a passion starting with residency at Wake Forest and continuing during fellowship at the Steadman Clinic with the United States Ski Team. Since being in practice, coverage has continued with annual US Ski Team events and grown to include participation with the care of the Auburn University Tigers, being the team physician for Navarre High School, and consulting for the Toronto Blue Jays.
His primary vision it to continue to carry the torch of sports medicine, being passionate about caring for athletes of all ages, developing cutting-edge treatments, enjoying coverage of athletic events, and advancing the treatment of athletes.
Tariq M. Awan, D.O.
Tariq M. Awan is assistant professor in University of Michigan’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and U-M MedSport. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where he served as chief resident and fellowship training in primary care sports medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Dr. Awan is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.
Dr Awan has clinical experience in providing non-operative orthopaedic care ranging from recreational to professional athletes. Clinically he treats multiple musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries of the extremities and pelvis in adolescents and adults. He has a particular clinical interest in chronic tendon disorders, musculoskeletal ultrasound for interventional procedures, and the use of biologic treatments/platelet rich plasma for the treatment of musculoskeletal problems and acute sports injuries.
Dr. Awan's primary research interest is in the area of biologic treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. He is the principal investigator for multiple clinical trials investigating cell based therapies for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions and has experience with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational new drug (IND)/Investigational device exemption (IDE) application submission.
Brian Cole, MD, MBA
Dr. Brian Cole is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and a Professor of Orthopaedics, Anatomy and Cell Biology at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Cole is Managing Partner of Midwest Orthopaedics and is the Department’s Associate Chairman and the Section Head of the Cartilage Research and Restoration Center. He is the Chairman of Surgery at Rush Oak Park Hospital and leads the Rush Orthopedic Master’s Program. Dr. Cole also holds several leadership positions in national and international orthopedic societies.
Honors awarded to Dr. Cole range from the "Best Doctors in America" since 2004 and “Top Doctor” in Chicagoland since 2003. In 2006, he was featured on the cover of Chicago Magazine as “Chicago’s Top Doctor.” In 2009, he was selected as NBA Team Physician of the Year and Orthopedics This Week has named Dr. Cole as one of the top 20 sports medicine, knee and shoulder specialists repeatedly over the last 5 years as selected by his peers. Dr. Cole’s patients describe his practice as compassionate, available and willing to offer novel solutions to avoid surgery whenever possible. Testimonials to the surgical care that Dr. Cole’s team provides are frequently featured and shared.
Dr. Cole’s research interests include Cartilage Restoration, therapeutic biologics and regenerative medicine, and minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of the knee, elbow, and shoulder. He has published more than 1,000 articles and 8 textbooks on orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, has lectured nationally and internationally on more than 2,000 occasions and has appeared as an expert on several TV documentaries. He received an MD and MBA from the University of Chicago, completed his orthopedic residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery at Cornell Medical Center, and a Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. His professional career outside of academia includes serving as team physician for the Chicago Bulls, co-team physician for the Chicago White Sox, and a team physician for the Chicago Fire, Chicago Dogs, and DePaul University. He has served as co-host for 8 years on the talk-show Sports Medicine Weekly The Score radio, formally on ESPN Radio.
Rahul Desai, MD
Dr. Rahul Desai is the founder & CEO of RestorePDX, specializing in musculoskeletal radiology and interventional joint and spine medicine. Dr. Desai was awarded a Full National Merit Scholarship to attend The Ohio State University, where he graduated with honors in Biology and Environmental Sciences. He attended medical school at Medical University of Ohio and completed his radiology training at the University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus. He then completed the prestigious musculoskeletal and spinal intervention fellowship at Mallincrokdt Institute of Radiology at Washington University in St. Louis.. Desai currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to pioneer and develop the medical sub-specialty of Interventional Orthopedic Medicine by funding initiatives that will accelerate the development and availability of minimally invasive therapies that have the greatest potential for immediate impact. Dr. Desai has been elected as Vice-President of the IOF starting in 2019, and is President-Elect for 2020.
Dr. Desai has expanded his musculoskeletal radiology and interventional background (educator for MSK ultrasound, diagnostic MRI, CT, Xray, interventional fluoroscopy) in combination with PRP, stem cells, and regenerative medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert in this field, including numbers lectures, presentations, and publications. Dr. Desai enjoys spending his free time with his wife Nisha, their five wonderful children, and their loving golden-doodle Sochi. Outside interests include travel, camping, hiking, as well as enjoying and DJ’ing electronic dance music.
Mandeep Singh Dhillon, MBBS, MS (Ortho), FAMS, FRCS (Eng)
Dr. Mandeep Singh Dhillon is Professor and Head, Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Head Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Consultant In-charge, Sports Medicine Clinic, PGIMER, Chandigarh. He is former Dean of Physiotherapy/Sports Medicine, Baba Farid University.
Dr. Dhillon is Past President of Indian Orthopaedic Association, Chairperson Research AOTrauma Asia Pacific, Founder President: Indian Biologics Orthopaedic Society, Past President: Indian Arthroplasty Association, Indian Association of Sports Medicine and Indian Foot & Ankle Society.
Dr. Dhillon has a special interest in Arthroscopy, Lower limb Joint replacement and Foot and Ankle problems, as well as sports-related problems. He is Honorary Consultant of the Board of Control of Cricket in India, Sports Authority of India, Indian Hockey Federation, Gymnastic Federation of India, and Punjab Crocket Association.
Jason L. Dragoo, MD
Dr. Jason L. Dragoo is a Professor and Vice Chairman at The University of Colorado. He is the Endowed Chair of Regenerative Medicine and is the Director of a newly constructed 250,000 square foot Inverness Sports Medicine and Regenerative Medicine Center. He specializes in Sports Medicine and is the Head Team Physician for the Denver Nuggets and Team Physician for the Denver Broncos. He also serves as a consultant team physician for the US Ski Team and US Olympic Committee.
Dr. Dragoo currently serves as the Chair of the newly formed Biologics Alliance, which is a multi-subspecialty national society for Biologics, and is also active member of the AAOS Biologics and Regenerative Medicine Committee, the AANA Education Committee and the AOSSM Team Physician Committee.
His basic science and clinical research have led to many advances in the use of biologics to augment tissue healing including: 1) investigations on new formulations and applications platelet rich plasma (PRP) and autologous growth factors, 2) cartilage regeneration using adult adipose-derived cells, and 3) the development of 2nd generation methods, using autologous blood products, for tissue repair. He currently has 6 active NIH/DOD grants, has published 3 textbooks, authored over 120 peer-reviewed articles.
Jack Farr II, MD
Dr. Jack Farr received his undergraduate degree in biological engineering from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in 1975, where he was also awarded an honorary doctorate of biological engineering. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University in 1979. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Indiana University Medical Center in 1986. Dr. Farr has a subspecialty practice in knee and cartilage restoration.
His numerous appointments and affiliations include a voluntary clinical full professorship in orthopedic surgery at Indiana University Medical Center, a board position with the Cartilage Research Foundation, the International Cartilage Repair Society general board (Meetings and Education Committee Chair) and Patellofemoral Foundation Vice President.
As a leader in U.S. cartilage restoration advances, Dr. Farr has written numerous articles, book chapters and has completed and edited two cartilage books published in 2013. He serves as an associate editor for the journals Cartilage and American Journal of Orthopedics.
He lectures both nationally and internationally and participates in several ongoing articular and meniscal cartilage clinical trials. He was also a design surgeon for a meniscal allograft transplant system and two knee patellofemoral osteotomy systems. Dr. Farr worked as a design surgeon for a current partial knee replacement system (Sigma High Performance Partial Knee Replacement) for patients with knee changes too advanced for restoration.
Dr. Farr is actively affiliated with OrthoIndy Hospital and Community Hospital South. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, the International Cartilage Repair Society, International Patellofemoral Study Group, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy.
Julien Freitag, MBBS, BMS, FACSEP
Assoc. Prof. Julien Freitag is an experienced musculoskeletal specialist and is a fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. His practice is focused on the active management of musculoskeletal conditions including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy.
Assoc. Prof. Freitag is a leading researcher in the area of clinical regenerative musuloskeletal medicine including techniques such as Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) and Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) therapy. He has published numerous articles in the area of regenerative medicine and is a frequent contributor and invited speak to local and international conferences. Assoc. Prof. Freitag is the Principle Clinical Investigator in a number of research projects assessing the benefits of stem cell therapy in arthritis and lower back pain.
Assoc. Prof. Freitag has worked extensively within professional sport. His past roles have included that of club doctor at both VFL and ALF level, the Tour Down Under doping commissionaire and as the race doctor at Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cup events.
Deepak Goyal, MBBS, MS (Ortho), DNB (Ortho), MNAMS
Dr. Deepak Goyal is a graduate of Gujarat University (1991) from Ahmedabad, India. He did his Masters in Orthopedics (1995) from Sheth KM School of Postgraduate Medicine & Research, India. He is also Diplomat of National Board in Orthopedics, New Delhi since 1996. He is a fellowship trained ‘Cartilage, Knee Arthroscopy and Sports Knee Surgeon’ and his training was at various centers in UK, France, Spain, Sweden and Hungary. His fellowship included training under some of the leading Knee and Sports Surgeons of the world like Prof Lars Peterson, Prof Mats Brittberg, Prof David DeJour, Prof George Dowd, Prof Ferran Montserrat and Prof Laszlo Hangody.
Josh Hackel, MD
Dr. Josh Hackel is a board-certified and fellowship-trained non-operative sports medicine physician. He specializes in treating musculoskeletal injuries and tendon disorders resulting from injury and overuse. He has been practicing at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine since the spring of 2004. His primary clinical interests are the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of orthoapedic injuries; regenerative medicine and injection therapy; and peripheral joint injections. He is also on the leading edge of research currently determining the clinical applications of stem cells in orthopaedics.
Dr. Hackel trained under world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews during his fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama. He also completed an internship and residency at Columbus Regional Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia and holds a Doctor of Medicine from American University of the Caribbean. He remains committed to advancing the practice of non-operative sports medicine through his involvement in research, outreach and professional collaboration.
José Fábio Lana, MD
Dr. José Fábio Lana is an orthopedist and a regenerative medicine expert who graduated in medicine at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, in Brazil. He optimized his skills and knowledge of cell therapy in Barcelona, where he studied Platelet Rich Plasma. The American Academy of Regenerative Medicine previously granted Dr. Lana with a fellowship title in 2015.
Dr. Lana performs research on the application of autologous biomaterials targeting the regeneration of acute, chronic and degenerative lesions of the locomotor apparatus, at the University of Campinas, Brazil. He also runs his own clinic, Instituto do Osso e da Cartilagem, located in Indaiatuba, Brazil, where he treats patients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal infirmities.
Gregory Lutz, MD
Dr. Gregory Lutz is the Founder and Medical Director of the Regenerative SportsCare Institute. In addition, he serves as Physiatrist-in-Chief Emeritus at Hospital for Special Surgery and Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Lutz completed his medical training at Georgetown University School of Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, and Hospital for Special Surgery, where he has been in practice since 1993.
Dr. Lutz has pioneered innovative approaches in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries using biologics. In 2016, he published the first double-blind, randomized controlled study demonstrating the clinical efficacy of intradiscal PRP therapy, popularizing it as a promising treatment for degenerative disc disease. Also in 2016, Dr. Lutz opened the Regenerative SportsCare Institute, with the intention of creating a model of healthcare that places patients’ interests above all others. He is also a founding board member of the Interventional Orthopedic Foundation.
Nicola Maffulli, MD, MS, PhD, FRCP, FRCS(Orth), FFSEM
Professor Nicola Maffulli is a Consultant Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Surgeon who has published more than 1,200 peer reviewed articles and 12 books on Orthopaedic Surgery and in Sports Medicine. Professor Maffulli is particularly interested in the physiopathology of sports injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament and tendon injuries, and great expertise in knee and foot and ankle arthroscopy. An ESSKA Travelling Fellow in 1997 and an American British Canadian Travellin Fellow in 1998, he was Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery at Keele University School of Medicine (2001-2008), Centre Lead and Professor of Sports and Exercise Medicine, at Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London (2008-2013), and has now taken up the Chair in Trauma and Orthopaedics in Salerno University School of Medicine, Italy, maintaining an Honorary Professorships at Queen Mary University of London and at Keele University School of Medicine.
A keen athlete in his younger days, his old dream of going to the Olympics has been granted in London: he was the Field of Play doctor for the Olympic Wrestling Tournament, and lead a group of seven orthopaedic surgeons to administer the Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle care for both the Olympics and the Paralympics.
A Past President of the British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma and Arthroscopy Association (2002-2004), Sport and Exercise Section of the Royal Society of Medicine (2011-2012), and of the European Federation of the National Societies of Orthopaedic Sports Trauma (EFOST) (2012-2014), at present he leads the International Muscle Ligaments and Tendons Society.
Prof Maffulli has described more than 40 new surgical techniques in knee, foot and ankle and sports surgery. Many have now become standard practice.
Prof Maffulli has gained a large number of national and international prizes for excellence in research and patients care, and has been named one of the UK Top Doctors in 2010 by The Times.
Soft tissue problems constitute the major focus of Prof Maffulli’s research, which has resulted in him being awarded the title of ‘King of Tendons’ by the Italian lay press.
Gerry Malanga, MD
Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry), Sports and Pain Medicine with a fellowship from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Dr. Malanga is a renowned specialist in nonsurgical treatment of orthopedic injuries such as neck/back pain, shoulder/knee and other musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Malanga lectures throughout the US and internationally on a variety of sports medicine, spine, orthopedic and pain management topics. He provides sports medicine services to several local NJ high school/colleges and has served as the head team physician of New Jersey City University since 1999. He has served as a consultant to the Rutger’s University Athletic Department. His practice includes the treatment of athletes from recreational to the College, Olympic and Professional levels. Dr. Gerard Malanga has co-authored The Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Musculosketal Injections textbook (a comprehensive text on ultrasound guided injections of the Musculoskeletal system) and Regenerative Treatments in Sports and Orthopedic Medicine (the first comprehensive book devoted to orthobiologic treatments for orthopedic conditions written for physicians) as well as contributing regularly to SpineUniverse.com. He was recently elected president for the Interventional Orthopedics Foundation.
Kristin Oliver, MD, MPH
Dr. Kristin Oliver is a national leader in orthopedic regenerative medicine. She attended the University of Notre Dame where she graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Science. Her Doctorate in Medicine was from the Southern Illinois University and Dr. Oliver completed both her residency and sports medicine fellowship at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She is a partner and a co-founder of Bluetail Medical Group, one of the nation’s pre-eminent regenerative medicine clinics. Bluetail Medical Group has offices in Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri, Naples, Florida, Little Rock and Jonesboro, AR and Green Bay, WI.
Dr. Oliver has been practicing in the field of Regenerative Orthopedics for 12 years. The focus of her current practice is the percutaneous use of bio-cellular grafts, including platelet rich plasma, bone marrow concentrate and lipo-aspirate in musculoskeletal injury and disease. She lectures frequently on these topics as well as the use of MSK ultrasound across the U.S.
Luga Podesta, MD
Dr. Luga Podesta is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician specializing in the non-surgical treatment of orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee, and spine, and brings with him a wealth of experience on and off the field. Dr. Podesta has been selected as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He is considered a pioneer in the field of Regenerative Medicine, an area of medicine with the potential to fully heal damaged tissues, offering hope for individuals who are unable to or do not choose to undergo surgery.
Dr. Podesta is a dedicated educator, clinician and researcher. He has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of PM&R and Sports Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences and a consultant and lecturer on the medical education faculty at Arthrex Inc. since 2014. He is also a respected member of numerous medical societies including the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Arthroscopy Association of North America, International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Restoration Society, Arena Football Physician and Trainers Society and Major League Baseball Physicians Association.
Dr. Podesta serves as a team physician for the ECHL’s Florida Everblades Hockey Team and as a consultant to the Major League Baseball Umpires and World Baseball Classic. Prior to joining Bluetail Medical Group, he founded Podesta Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute in Thousand Oaks, CA. In 2015 he relocated back New York to serve as director of sports medicine at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. Throughout his career, he has served as medical director, head team physician and/or consultant for Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, the XFL’s LA Xtreme, the Arena Football League’s the Los Angeles Angels Avengers and Kiss, the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and WNBA LA sparks, Major League Lacrosse’s Los Angeles Riptide, Cirque Du Soleil-Iris, the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament and Loyola Marymount University.
Dr. Podesta completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of NYC and post doctorate Sports Medicine fellowships at the Staten Island Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship and at the world renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. He is board certified in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.
Steven Sampson, DO
Dr. Steven Sampson is an internationally recognized pioneer in orthopeaedic regenerative medicine. Dr Sampson is Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dr Sampson founded the Orthohealing Center in Los Angeles, CA a comprehensive state of the art facility specializing in minimally invasive orthopedics and sports medicine. He is a trusted advisor for a wide variety of professional athletes including the Los Angeles Clippers. His advanced treatment protocols have been trusted by elite athletes to maintain longer, healthier careers.
In order to cultivate a community of physicians and scientists practicing regenerative medicine, Dr Sampson founded the Orthobiologic Institute (TOBI), a premier annual symposium with cadaver lab featuring the foremost experts in tendon, cartilage, and spine disease. He has published dozens of peer reviewed articles and textbook chapters and lectured around the globe influencing the orthopedic community.