School of Medicine


Showing 1-26 of 26 Results

  • Marc R. Safran, MD

    Marc R. Safran, MD

    Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Safran’s practice focuses on arthroscopic management of hip problems as well as articular cartilage regeneration, shoulder surgery and athletic shoulder and elbow problems. He is actively involved in research in these areas.

  • Aaron Keith Salyapongse

    Aaron Keith Salyapongse

    Clinical Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Salyapongse is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He is the medical director of Interventional Services, medical director of Joint Replacement, and chief of Orthopaedics for Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. He is also a clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Salyapongse performs the full range of orthopaedic surgery procedures to treat injuries and conditions related to the hip and knee. He has extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and use of advanced treatment techniques for disorders of the hip and knee, including meniscus tears, arthritis, avascular necrosis, and post-traumatic injuries.

    Dr. Salyapongse does hundreds of knee and hip replacements annually. His goal with each patient is to help them recover quickly and safely, with durable, long-lasting joint replacements as a result. He specializes in tissuesparing techniques, including an anterior approach to hip replacement.

    Dr. Salyapongse is a certified instructor of anterior hip replacement. He has performed more than 2,000 procedures and traveled nationwide to teach it to other surgeons. Anterior hip replacement offers the potential for faster recovery, as it involves a small incision that presents less of a disruption to the muscles. Dr. Salyapongse also specializes in techniques such as Anterior PATH, or percutaneous assisted total hip replacements.

    For knee replacements, Dr. Salyapongse uses a variety of techniques, including robotic surgery. He also specializes in partial knee replacements for patients who may be experiencing arthritis in a localized area but who might not be ready for a full replacement. Partial replacements enable patients to have a faster recovery and a more natural feeling knee post-surgery.

    Dr. Salyapongse welcomes referrals from specialists as well as primary care physicians. He sees patients at every stage of their care journey, but especially when their situation has progressed beyond interim interventions like physical therapy or injections. He views each of his patients as an individual with a unique set of goals and tailors each treatment plan to fit their specific needs. While Dr. Salyapongse will help patients first explore the alternatives, he may recommend surgery once activities of daily living
    (like sleep, work, or gait pattern) have been impacted.

    In an effort to make outpatient care more accessible, Dr. Salyapongse has helped to pioneer the use of digital technology to prepare patients before, during, and after hip and knee surgery. His passion is to improve patient engagement and thus outcomes by letting patients know what they can expect at every stage of their care journey.

    Dr. Salyapongse has co-authored articles on a variety of topics related to techniques, technologies, and outcomes in joint replacement surgery. His work has appeared in the American Journal of Orthopaedics, Journal of Arthroplasty, Current Sports Medicine Reports, and other publications.

    He has made presentations on hip and knee replacement planning and surgery at meetings such as the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and Western Orthopaedic Association.

    Dr. Salyapongse has won honors for his work, such as a Physician Champion Award for outstanding patient care. He is a member of the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

  • Kevin Shea

    Kevin Shea

    Chambers-Okamura Endowed Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedics

    BioKevin G. Shea, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon at Stanford University Medical Center and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Dr. Shea grew up in Montana and California, graduated from the UCLA School of Medicine, and completed his orthopaedic residency at the University of Utah School of Medicine. His advanced training includes pediatric orthopaedics at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, AO Fellowship in Bern Switzerland with Drs. Ganz (Hip), Dr. Diego Fernandez (Trauma), and Dr. Hans Staubli (sports), and Ilizarov Training in Lecco, Italy. He was the AOSSM Traveling Sports Medicine Fellow in 2008, and practiced in Boise, ID prior to joining the Stanford Faculty. Dr. Shea is a founding member of the PRiSM Society (Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine), the ROCK (Research in OsteoChondritis of the Knee) Multi-center Study Group, and the SCORE prospective cohort registry for pediatric sports arthroscopy outcomes, complications. He is a member of the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), POSNA (Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America) and the AOSSM (American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine). In addition, Dr. Shea has authored more than 240 scientific papers and book chapters.

  • Seth Lawrence Sherman, MD

    Seth Lawrence Sherman, MD

    Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research focuses on ways to augment tissue healing, improve human performance, and prevent musculoskeletal injuries. Approaching these challenges through parallel basic science and clinical pathways, our team works from the “bedside to the bench and back to the bedside”, identifying areas of clinical need to deliver evidence-based solutions for patients.

    We collaborates with orthopaedic surgeons, non-surgical physicians, and researchers within bioengineering, human performance, and musculoskeletal imaging across the Stanford campus. The team is developing novel methods to accurately record human movement (including wearable technology, phone-based systems), rapid MRI imaging protocols, and exploring the use of biomarkers to track injury and recovery. This research builds on my earlier work, which utilized portable, inexpensive software for Microsoft Kinect to detect knee injury risk in youth athletes performing a drop vertical jump test. The team’s multifaceted goal is: 1) develop innovative methods to screen for injury risk (i.e. youth athlete non-contact ACL), 2) create targeted intervention programs to reduce risk, 3) enhance athletic performance; and 4) improve accuracy of return to play testing following injury/surgery (i.e. clinical evaluation, biomarkers, functional tests, imaging analysis for healing).

    In the laboratory,our team investigates cellular and molecular deficiencies in tissue types including tendon, ligament, articular cartilage, and meniscus. By understanding aberrant pathways leading to tissue injury, they can identify innovative therapeutic targets for intervention. In collaboration with the Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology laboratories, Dr. Sherman’s research has explored the role of orthobiologic agents such as platelet rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) for tissue healing in patella tendinopathy (the breakdown of collagen in a tendon). Our lab is also investigating the use of CBD for musculoskeletal applications as an alternative to commonly used local anesthetics and cortisone derivatives. In my earlier work, we researched the cellular toxicity of such applications.

    In addition to basic science research, I have helped to build a Sports Medicine clinical research team that includes several full-time clinical research coordinators, residents, fellows, and students. The team collects prospective outcomes on their patients using a novel data collection platform called Patient IQ. The group is part of the JUPITER study which is the largest, multicenter study ever assembled in patellofemoral instability. They are additionally planning to enroll in FDA-approved clinical studies investigating pioneering strategies for knee cartilage restoration, joint preservation, and orthobiologic injections for osteoarthritis. Recent clinical publications explore outcomes in meniscus preservation and transplantation, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, osteochondral allograft and matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), and surgical augmentation using PRP/BMAC. The clinical research team actively reports results of non-surgical and surgical interventions to continue to introduce new knowledge to the field, with the goal of improved patient outcome.

  • Vivian Shih, MD

    Vivian Shih, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Vivian Shih received her Bachelor of Science with honors and Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami. In 2002, she completed her postgraduate medical training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (Shirley Ryan Ability Lab). She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R or Physiatry) and specializes in non­-surgical management of musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, gait and balance disorders. She also performs electrodiagnostic testing (EMG/NCS), ultrasound guided joint/soft tissue injections, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections. Dr. Shih previously practiced in the New Haven area from 2005 to 2018. She was an Attending Physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital and on faculty at the Yale School of Medicine. Prior to that, she had been practicing at Northwestern University Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She has published in the Arthritis and Rheumatism journal, Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) online review, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation journal, and Koopman's Arthritis and Allied Health textbook. She is a member of the AAPM&R, Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP), and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM).

  • Robert Lane Smith

    Robert Lane Smith

    Professor (Research) of Orthopedic Surgery, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur group is interested in the molecular and cell biology underlying bone and cartilage metabolism in health and disease. Normal daily activities are linked to the ability of the articular cartilage to withstand normal joint forces that may reach 5-7 times body weight and bone homeostasis depends on daily mechanical loading histories.

  • Matthew Smuck, MD

    Matthew Smuck, MD

    Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI direct the Wearable Health Lab at Stanford, investigating medical applications of mobile technology to improve musculoskeletal and neurologic disease detection, treatment and prevention.

  • Leina'ala Song, MD

    Leina'ala Song, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Song is a double board-certified sports medicine physician with Stanford Health Care Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. She is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Song completed fellowship training in orthopaedics and sports medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington.

    Dr. Song specializes in managing a wide range of sports and musculoskeletal injuries. She performs ultrasound-guided injections including corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, and PRP. She is also skilled at using high-resolution ultrasound to perform other minimally invasive interventions, such as ultrasound guided percutaneous tenotomies and peripheral nerve hydrodissections. She is currently the primary team physician for numerous Division 1 athletic teams at Stanford University, including men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, beach volleyball, lacrosse, open weight crew, light weight crew, softball, artistic swim, and sailing.

    Dr. Song’s research interests include the long-term outcomes of percutaneous ultrasound-guided tenotomy, orthobiologics, and the health of the female athlete. She has taught sports medicine fellows as well as primary care residents. She has provided sideline coverage at multiple athletic events, as well as pre-participation screenings for professional teams such as the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Seawolves.

  • Jeremy Stanek

    Jeremy Stanek

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Jeremy Stanek is a sports medicine physiatrist who specializes in performing arts medicine, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal medicine. He enjoys treating musicians, dancers, athletes of all abilities, and anyone who wants to become or stay active. He performs diagnostic ultrasound as well as ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopic-guided procedures.

    Dr. Stanek grew up on a small farm near the town of Qulin, Missouri. He received degrees in music performance from the University of Missouri and University of New Mexico and had a career as a professional trumpet player until developing focal dystonia (musicians' dystonia). Wanting to utilize his experience and education as a performer, he chose medicine as his next career. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine then completed his intern year at the Medical College of Wisconsin, followed by advanced residency training in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) at the University of Missouri. In 2018, Dr. Stanek completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also was a provider in the Medical Program for Performing Artists, treating members of the St. Louis Ballet and his former colleagues in the St. Louis Symphony and community bands and orchestras. He has also provided coverage for a variety of events such as MMA fights, endurance sports events, and was a team physician for Washington University Athletics.

    He conducts research in performing arts medicine and has given numerous conference presentations. Additionally, he enjoys speaking with professional and student musicians/dancers to educate them on arts medicine and avoiding injuries. In his free time, he enjoys working on old cars, baking, and participating in triathlons and other endurance sports.

  • Robert Steffner

    Robert Steffner

    Clinical Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Steffner specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors in pediatric and adult patients. This includes primary bone and soft tissue sarcomas, locally active conditions such as giant cell tumor, aneurysmal bone cyst, and chondroblastoma, as well as impending and pathologic fractures from metastatic carcinoma, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma. He works closely with the multidisciplinary sarcoma group at the Stanford Cancer Center to provide coordinated, highly specialized treatment strategies.

    Research interests include circulating tumor DNA in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, local drug delivery, establishment of a national bone and soft tissue registry, and collaborative clinical studies on imaging and soft tissue management.

  • Ruopeng (Robin) Sun

    Ruopeng (Robin) Sun

    Physical Science Research Scientist, Orthopaedic Surgery

    BioDr. Sun is the research scientist at the Wearable Health Lab. He received his Ph.D. in Human Performance from Indiana University, MS in mechanical engineering from Stony Brook University. His research focused on using novel technology to study human movement as a function of aging, promote functional independence and enhance quality of life. He is particularly interested in investigating balance/locomotion control and risk of falling among ambulatory populations and translating novel research findings and technology into clinic/community-based settings to enhance healthy independent aging. His recent work utilized machine learning and augmented reality tools to enhance precise and efficient functional mobility assessment.