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 caseload 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.
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 skillset 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 ongoing cadaveric/mechanical/
Our fellowship has met the ASES’s quality standard requirements and as such will be participating in the 2023-2024 Orthopaedic Shoulder & Elbow Match. This year’s interviews will be in-person.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fellows
Omar Rodríguez-Alejandro
Dr. Rodríguez-Alejandro graduated medical school from Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico. He completed his orthopaedic residency at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Dr. Rodríguez-Alejandro and his wife, Viviana, moved to Pittsburgh along with their daughter. In his spare time, Dr. Rodríguez-Alejandro enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching sports, cooking BBQ, and playing soccer and golf.
Joshua Dworkin
Dr. Joshua Dworkin was our Shoulder and Elbow Fellow in 2021-2022. He received his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed an orthopaedic residency at Tripler Army Medical Center.
Luis Carrazana-Suarez
Luis Carrazana-Suarez, MD was our Shoulder and Elbow Fellow in 2020-2021. 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.
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.
Fellow Case Breakdowns
Luis Carrazana-Suarez, Fellow
Academic Year 2020-2021
Thomas Zink, Fellow
Academic Year 2019-2020
Luis Carrazana-Suarez, Case Breakdown
ASES Accepted (1 Procedure/Patient)
- Shoulder Arthroplasty, 99
- Shoulder Arthroscopy, 168
- Trauma, 13
- Open Instability, 13
- L.D. or L.Trap. Transfer, 9
- Pectoralis Major Repairs, 5
- Should Fusion, 1
- Elbow (Distal Biceps Repairs, Arthroscopic Osteochondral, Arthroplasty, TEA), 79
Luis Carrazana-Suarez, MD, (COVID year) did 431 upper extremity patients (1116 procedures), 396 Shoulder & Elbow patients (20% Elbow)
Videos
Dr. Chris Schmidt, Fellowship Presentation
Dr. Albert Lin
Staff Testimonials
Dr. Carrazana-Suarez, Current Fellow, Testimonial
Tour of Pittsburgh
Watch a virtual tour of Pittsburgh and learn more about the city.
Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship Conference Schedule 2022-2023
| 1 | Rotator Cuff Anatomy | Schmidt | 8/8/2022 | |
| 2 | Total Elbow Arthroplasty | Sotereanos | 8/15/2022 | |
| 3 | Pectoralis/Latissimus Dorsi Tears/SC OA | Lin | 8/22/2022 | |
| 4 | Diagnosis/Treatment of SLAP Tears | Rodriguez Alejandro | 8/29/2022 | |
| Lab | Tendon transfers (latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, trapezius) for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears | Schmidt | 9/12/2022 | |
| 5 | Ulnar Nerve/Nerve injuries of elbow | Sotereanos | 9/19/2022 | |
| 6 | Current Thoughts on the Rotator Cuff | Schmidt | 9/26/2022 | |
| 7 | Clavicle Fractures | Lin | 10/3/2022 | |
| 8 | M&M | All | 10/10/2022 | |
| 9 | Shoulder Instability (Bone Procedures) | Rodriguez Alejandro | 10/17/2022 | |
| 10 | Fracture Distal Humerus/OCD | Sotereanos | 10/24/2022 | |
| Lab | Anatomy Lab: Nerve anatomy of the shoulder | N/A | 10/28/2022 | |
| 11 | RSA/TSA for treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis in the young | Schmidt | 10/31/2022 | |
| 12 | Shoulder Instability: On & Off Trick (Soft Tissue) | Lin | 11/7/2022 | |
| 13 | AC Joint Disorders | Rodriguez Alejandro | 11/14/2022 | |
| Lab | Brachial plexus, ulnar nerve decompression, transposition and supercharge nerve transfer | Schmidt | 11/21/2022 | |
| 14 | M&M | All | 11/28/2022 | |
| 15 | Proximal Humerus Fractures | Schmidt | 12/5/2022 | |
| Lab | Anatomy Lab: TSA/RSA | N/A | 12/12/2022 | |
| 16 | Heterotopic Bone - Elbow | Sotereanos | 12/19/2022 | |
| 17 | Case Presentations | All | 1/9/2023 | |
| Lab | Elbow Collateral Ligament Reconstruction | Sotereanos | 1/23/2023 | |
| 18 | TSA: B-glenoid/Stemless | Lin | 1/30/2023 | |
| 19 | Stiff Shoulder | Rodriguez Alejandro | 2/6/2023 | |
| 20 | MCL/LCL - Elbow | Sotereanos | 2/13/2023 | |
| Lab | Shoulder arthroscopy with suprascapular nerve decompression | Schmidt | 2/17/2023 | |
| 21 | Guest Speaker | TBD | 2/20/2023 | |
| 22 | Distal Biceps Injuries | Schmidt | 2/27/2023 | |
| Lab | Open release for treatment of elbow contractures/osteoarthritis | Sotereanos | 3/6/2023 | |
| 23 | Pre-operative planning TSA/RSA | Lin | 3/13/2023 | |
| 24 | M&M | All | 3/20/2023 | |
| 25 | Non-reparable Rotator Cuff Tears | Schmidt | 3/27/2023 | |
| Lab | Arthroscopic management of osteoarthritis in the elbow | Schmidt | 3/31/2023 | |
| 26 | Distal Humerus/Radial Head Fractures | Sotereanos | 4/3/2023 | |
| 27 | RSA (Part 1: Biomechanics) | Schmidt | 4/10/2023 | |
| 28 | Guest Speaker | TBD | 4/17/2023 | |
| 29 | RSA (Part 2: Complications) | Schmidt | 4/24/2023 | |
| Lab | Superior capsule reconstruction for treatment of irreparable rotator cuffs | Schmidt | 4/28/2023 | |
| 30 | Physician Burnout Cases | Lin | 5/1/2023 | |
| Lab | Total Elbow Arthroplasty | Sotereanos | 5/8/2023 | |
| 31 | Proximal Biceps Tendon | Rodriguez Alejandro | 5/15/2023 | |
| 32 | Elbow Arthritis | Sotereanos | 5/22/2023 | |
| Lab | Arthroscopic Labral Repair | Schmidt | 6/5/2023 | |
| 33 | Nerve Injuries/Nerve Transfers | Schmidt | 6/12/2023 | |
| 34 | Case Presentations | All | 6/19/2023 | |
| Lab | Anatomy lab | N/A | 6/23/2023 | |
| 35 | Shoulders in Athletes | Lin | 6/26/2023 | |
| 36 | Pediatric Elbow/Shoulder Fractures | Rodriguez Alejandro | 7/10/2023 | |
| Lab | TSA/RSA | Schmidt | 7/17/2023 | |
| 37 | Investing/Practice Management | Charlie | 7/24/2023 |
Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship Clinical Teaching Lab Schedule 2022-2023
Date/Procedure
9/12/22
Tendon transfers (latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, trapezius) for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears
10/28/22
Anatomy Lab: Nerve anatomy of the shoulder
11/21/22
Brachial plexus, ulnar nerve decompression, transposition, and supercharge nerve transfer
12/12/22
Anatomy Lab: TSA/RSA
1/23/23
Elbow Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
2/17/23
Shoulder arthroscopy with suprascapular nerve decompression
3/6/23
Open release for treatment of elbow contractures/osteoarthritis
3/31/23
Arthroscopic management of osteoarthritis in the elbow
4/28/23
Superior capsule reconstruction for treatment of irreparable rotator cuffs
5/8/23
Total elbow arthroplasty
6/5/23
Arthroscopic labral repair
6/23/23
Anatomy Lab
7/17/23
TSA/RSA
Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship Journal Club Schedule 2022-2023
| Schmidt | 9/28/22 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Schmidt | 10/12/22 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Sotereanos | 11/16/22 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Sotereanos | 12/21/22 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Lin | 1/25/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Lin | 2/15/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Schmidt | 3/8/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Schmidt | 4/12/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Sotereanos | 5/17/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Sotereanos | 6/21/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |
| Lin | 7/12/23 | 6:30-8:30 PM |