Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship

UPMC | Department of Orthopaedic Surgery | Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship

Christopher C. Schmidt, MD

Director of Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Co-Director Shoulder and Elbow Mechanics Laboratory
Swanson School of Engineering

The fellowship is designed to provide a thorough understanding of shoulder and elbow anatomy and pathologic conditions; it is also designed to teach the latest techniques in open, arthroscopic, and endoscopic surgery. The fellow will share rotation time at UPMC with Drs. Schmidt and Sotereanos and is projected to be involved in over 500 cases. The case load will include innovative surgeries like arthroscopic muscle transfers, revision total shoulder arthroplasties, arthroscopic and open elbow releases, and endoscopic and open distal biceps repairs. On a weekly basis, the fellow will also rotate with Dr. Lin, who will emphasize the sports medicine side of shoulder and elbow pathology. Dr. McMahon, currently the orthopaedic chief of the VA, will focus on the reconstructive aspects of shoulder and elbow surgery and will help foster a working relationship between the fellow and rotating UPMC orthopaedic residents.

The educational curriculum consists of weekly shoulder and elbow conferences, combined UPMC sports/shoulder and elbow conferences, bi-weekly cadaveric wet laboratories (scope equipment), bi-weekly research conferences, monthly journal clubs, and bi-monthly mortality and morbidity conferences. The curriculum is intended to provide the fellow an opportunity to develop a solid knowledge base and skill set on which to start his/her career.

The wet lab is integrated in the same space as our state-of-the-art engineering facility, which houses both our shoulder and elbow simulators. The lab is designed to help master the surgical skills needed to perform quality surgery. The fellow will be strongly encouraged to participate in on-going cadaveric/mechanical/radiographic studies investigating the distal biceps tendon, rotator cable/capsule, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and more. Integration of the shoulder fellow with graduate engineering students and radiologists will help foster their understanding of the importance and power of cooperative interdisciplinary research. The fellow will be given dedicated time to practice their surgical skills and to perform valuable research.

Our fellowship has met the ASES’s quality standard requirements and as such will be participating in the 2020-2021 Orthopaedic Shoulder & Elbow Match. This year's interview dates will be virtual.

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Dean G. Sotereanos, MD

Neer Circle Member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons

Co-Director of the Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship

Dr. Dean G. Sotereanos, Co-Director of the University of Pittsburgh Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship, talks about the mentorship, teaching, training and overall experience you'll receive during this fantastic fellowship program.

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Attending Physicians

Christopher Schmidt, MD

Christopher C. Schmidt, M.D., is a nationally distinguished Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon. He serves as the Director of the Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He specializes in rotator cuff repairs, shoulder and elbow replacements, instability repairs, nerve reconstructions, fracture care, and distal biceps re-attachments.

Dr. Schmidt's Bio

Dean Sotereanos, MD

Dean G. Sotereanos, MD, is a Neer Circle Member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and is Co-Director of the Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship. He is nationally recognized for his work on chronic ulnar nerve compression, elbow instability, heterotopic ossification, total elbow arthroplasty, distal biceps tendon reconstructions, and more.

Dr. Sotereanos' Bio

Albert Lin, MD

Albert Lin, MD, is an active member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. In addition to his role in teaching the shoulder and elbow fellow in weekly conferences and in the operating room, Dr. Lin is the Associate Program Director for the UPMC Sports Medicine Fellowship and is Co-Director of the Pittsburgh Shoulder Institute.

Dr. Lin's Bio

Patrick McMahon, MD

Patrick McMahon, MD is a Neer Circle member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. He is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Bioengineering. He is nationally recognized for his sentinel research on rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, and shoulder muscle transfers. He has experience in both academic and private practice settings.

Dr. McMahon's Bio

Fellows

Luis Carrazana-Suarez

Luis Carrazana-Suarez, MD is our current Shoulder and Elbow Fellow. Dr. Carrazanna-Suarez graduated medical school from the University of Puerto Rico. He completed his orthopaedic residency from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.

Dr. Carrazana-Suarez's Bio

Thomas Zink

Dr. Thomas Zink (Tom) was the first fellow to graduate from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Zink completed his orthopedic surgery residency in 2019 from OhioHealth Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Zink's Bio

Thomas Zink, Fellow,
Academic Year 2019-2020

Case Breakdown

ASES Accepted (1 Procedure/Patient)

Shoulder Arthroplasty

Shoulder Arthroscopy

155

Trauma

Open Instability

L.D. or L.Trap. Transfer

Pectoralis Major Repairs

Shoulder Fusion

Elbow (Distal Biceps Repairs, Arthroscopic Osteochondral Arthroplasty, TEA)

Thomas Zink, DO, (COVID year) did 427 upper extremity patients (1181 procedures), 351 Shoulder & Elbow patients (20% Elbow)

Videos

Dr. Chris Schmidt, Fellowship Presentation

Dr. Albert Lin and Dr. Patrick McMahon, Staff Testimonials

Dr. Carrazana-Suarez, Current Fellow, Testimonial

Tour of Pittsburgh

Watch a virtual tour of Pittsburgh and learn more about the city.