Savio L-Y. Woo, Ph.D., D.Sc. (Hon), D. Eng. (Hon)
Professor of Bioengineering
Founder and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center
University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Savio L-Y. Woo is a Distinguished University Professor of Bioengineering and the Founder and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center (MSRC), a diverse multidisciplinary research and educational center in the Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He arrived at the University of Pittsburgh in 1990 after spending 20 years at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as a Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering.
Dr. Woo received his B.S. degree from Chico State College (1965), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (1966, 1971) from the University of Washington. In 1999, Dr. Woo was bestowed a Doctor of Science Degree (Hon.) from the Trustees of the California State University System and in 2008, he earned a Doctor of Engineering Degree (Hon.) from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Dr. Woo’s primary focus throughout his career has been the training and education of others. He has advised over 465 orthopaedic surgeons, post-doctoral fellows and students from all around the globe including, Japan, Germany, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Turkey, Korea, Canada, England, Norway, India, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, and China. In addition, he has also mentored over 40 junior faculty members. As a testament to the impact Dr. Woo has had, many of his former fellows and students contributed to the book “Flow of a Long River” Tributes to Savio L-Y. Woo on his 70th Birthday.
Dr. Woo has been a leader in Bioengineering and Orthopaedics. He has served as Chair of ASME’s Bioengineering Division, United States National Committee of Biomechanics, and the World Council for Biomechanics as well as President for The Orthopaedic Research Society, American Society of Biomechanics, and International Society for Fracture Repair. He is also the founder of the International Symposium on Ligaments and Tendons (ISL&T) and World Association for Chinese Biomedical Engineers (WACBE).
Dr. Woo has the special honor of being only one of four persons who has been inducted into the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Academia Sinica. He has also received the highest honor from many professional societies, including the Kappa Delta Award, the Herbert R. Lissner Medal, the O’Donoghue Sports Injury Research Award, the Giovanni Borelli Award, the Muybridge Medal, the prestigious Diamond Award for Distinguish Achievement from the University of Washington, and IEEE Gold Medal for Innovation in Healthcare Technology from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, among others. In 1998, Dr. Woo also received the first Olympic gold medal from the International Olympic Committee at the Nagano Games in Japan for the Olympic Prize for Sports Science.
Dr. Woo is a pioneer in bioengineering and is renowned for his 40+ years of translational research in healing and repair of tissues. He has delivered over 910 lectures both nationally and internationally and together with his team, has authored 320 original research papers in refereed journals as well as 145 book chapters and review articles. Their work has significantly impacted the management of ligament and tendon injuries including clinical paradigm shifts that have led to improved patient outcome.
More recently, Dr. Woo has focused on using novel functional tissue engineering to heal and to regenerate ligament and tendon at the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels. Also, he has pioneered the use of robotic technology to study the function of ACL and to improve ACL reconstruction procedures. When combining it with biplanar fluoroscopy, he and his team will be able to better characterize mechanisms of ACL injury and find better ways for its prevention. Dr. Woo’s current research also involves exploring the use of biodegradable magnesium (Mg) and Mg alloy for ligament regeneration.
Selected Published Works
Woo, S.L-Y., Hollis, J.M., Adams, D.J., Lyon, R.M., and Takai, S.: Tensile Properties of the Human Femur-Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Tibia Complex: The Effects of Specimen Age and Orientation. Am. Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine 1990 Excellence in Research Award Paper (Clinical Science). Am. J. of Sports Medicine, 19:217-225, 1991.
Fujie, H., Mabuchi, K., Woo, S.L-Y., Livesay, G.A., Arai, S., and Tsukamoto, Y.: The Use of Robotics Technology to Study Human Joint Kinematics: A New Methodology. J. of Biomechanical Engineering, 115:211-217, 1993
Yagi, M., Wong, E.K., Kanamori, A., Debski, R.E., Fu, F.H., and Woo, S.L-Y.: The Biomechanical Analysis of an Anatomical ACL Reconstruction. Am. J. of Sports Medicine, 30(5):660-666, 2002.
Woo, S.L-Y., Kanamori, A., Zeminski, J., Yagi, M., Papageorgious, C. and Fu, F.H.: The Effectiveness of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction by Hamstrings and Patellar Tendon: A Cadaveric Study Comparing Anterior Tibial Load vs. Rotational Loads. J. of Bone and Joint Surgery, 84A(6):907-914, 2002.
Wang, J.H-C., Jia, F., Yang, G., Yang, S., Campbell, B., Stone, D., and Woo, S.L-Y.: Cyclic Mechanical Stretching of Human Tendon Fibroblasts Increases the Production of Prostaglandin E2 and Levels of Cyclooxygenase Expression: A Novel In Vitro Model Study. Connective Tissue Research, 44:128-133, 2003.
Abramowitch, S., Woo, S.L-Y.: An Improved Method to Analyze the Stress Relaxation of Ligaments Following a Finite Ramp Time Based on the Quasi-Linear Viscoelastic Theory. J. of Biomechanical Engineering, 126(1):92-97, 2004.
Vercillo, F., Noorani, S., Dede, O., Woo, S.L-Y.: Determination of a Safe Range of Knee Flexion Angles for Fixation of Grafts in Double Bundle ACL Reconstruction: A Human Cadaveric Study. Am. J. of Sports Medicine, 35(9):1513-1520, 2007.
Karaoglu, S., Fisher, M., Woo, S.L-Y., Fu, Y-C., Liang, R., Abramowitch, S.D.: Use of a Bioscaffold to Improve Healing of a Patellar Tendon Defect After Graft Harvest for ACL Reconstruction: A Study in Rabbits. J. of Orthopaedic Research, 26(2):255-263, 2008.
Liang, R., Woo, S.L-Y., Nguyen, T.D., Liu, P-C., Almarza, A.: A Bioscaffold to Enhance Collagen Fibrillogenesis in Healing Medial Collateral Ligament in Rabbits. J. of Orthopaedic Research, 26(8):1098-1104, 2008.
Torry, M.R., Shelburne, K.B., Peterson, D., Giphart, J.E., Krong, J., Steadman, J.R., Woo, S.L-Y.: Knee Kinematic Profiles During Drop Landings: A Bi-Plane Fluoroscopy Study. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(3):525-532, 2011.
Fisher, M.B., Liang, R., Jung, H-J., Kim, K., Zamarra, G., Almarza, A., McMahon, P.J., Woo, S.L-Y.: Potential of Healing a Transected Anterior Cruciate Ligament with Genetically-Modified Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffolds in a Goat Model. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 20(7):1357-1365, 2012.
Farraro, K.F., Kim, K.E., Woo, S.L-Y., Flowers, J.R., McCullough, M.B.: Revolutionizing Orthopaedic Biomaterials: The Potential of Biodegradable and Bioresorbable Magnesium-Based Materials for Functional Tissue Engineering. J. of Biomechanics, Electronically Published December 2013.
Sasaki, N., Farraro, K.F., Kim, K.E., Woo, S.L-Y.: Biomechanical Evaluation of the Quadriceps Tendon Autograft for ACL Reconstruction. Am. J. of Sports Medicine, In Press December 2013.
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Eric C. McCarty, M.D.
Associate Professor
Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery
Department of Orthopaedics
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Associate Professor Adjunct
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado, Boulder
Director of Sports Medicine
University of Colorado Department of Athletics
Dr. Eric C. McCarty grew up in Boulder, Colorado within a stone’s throw of the University of Colorado. His upbringing was centered on athletics and mountain activities as his father was a prominent dentist and well-regarded mountaineer who co-authored the first rock climbing guidebook in Boulder and his mother was an avid fitness instructor. Early on he became interested in sports medicine and knew the path he was meant to follow. He attended college at the University of Colorado where he excelled and received numerous honors for his exploits in the classroom as well as on the football field where he was a first-team all-conference linebacker in the prominent Big-Eight Conference. He was also named to the Academic All-American team his senior year. He subsequently signed with the Houston Oilers and after being released he played football for the Bergamo Lions in the Italian Football League.
Dr. McCarty attended medical school at the University of Colorado. After graduation he completed his training in orthopaedic surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. From there he completed an intensive year of fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the internationally renowned Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He also honed in his skills as a team physician working with the New York Giants Football team under the guidance of Dr. Russ Warren and Dr. Steve O’Brien and Ronnie Barnes. He subsequently returned to Vanderbilt as a faculty member in the department of orthopedics as he joined Dr. Kurt Spindler. While at Vanderbilt, Dr. McCarty helped Dr. Spindler in his efforts in the formation of MOON (Multicenter Orthopedics Outcomes Network) and was a founding member. Dr. McCarty continues to be active in several multicenter outcomes research efforts including MOON knee, MOON shoulder and the MARS (multicenter ACL study) group.
In 2003, Dr. McCarty was recruited back to Colorado from Vanderbilt University to take over the sports medicine and shoulder program in the department of orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and to serve as the head team physician for the University of Colorado and University of Denver athletic programs.
Dr. McCarty’s specialized practice involves the care of these collegiate athletes as well as recreational and highly competitive athletes from the community and the rocky mountain area. In addition to his busy clinical practice, Dr. McCarty is very active in research, teaching, and writing in the field of sports medicine and knee and shoulder surgery. He has received competitive grants for his research and frequently gives talks at both the national and international level. He has been the recipient of several national research awards including the AOSSM Cabaud Award and AOSSM Aircast Award as well as the ASES Neer Award on two occasions. Additionally he received the prestigious Kappa Delta Award from the AAOS in 2012.
Dr. McCarty has been the course chairman of numerous sports medicine courses. He is also annually recognized and voted by physicians in the Denver and Boulder area as one of 5280 Magazine’s “Top Docs” for his expertise in the specialty of sports medicine. He is also very active in national and international sports medicine and arthroscopic societies including AOSSM, ISAKOS, AANA and ASES with various positions of leadership in those societies. In 2004, he was selected as a traveling fellow for the AOSSM/ESSKA traveling fellowship to Europe. He is a proponent of international sports medicine collaboration and recently was the chair of the Traveling Fellowship committee for AOSSM. Dr. McCarty is extremely dedicated to his faith and every year organizes a well-attended prayer breakfast during the annual AOSSM meeting.
Since his playing days, Dr. McCarty continues to maintain a very active lifestyle with his family. He lives in Boulder with his wife Miriam and four children Madeleine, Cleveland, Shannon, and Torrance. He enjoys the activities he grew up with in Colorado including hiking, cycling, climbing and skiing. This carries over into his unbridled dedication of returning his patients to their desired activity/sport. His passion for his work as a team physician, surgeon, educator and researcher is quite evident in his enthusiasm for what he does. He feels very fortunate and blessed to be in such a wonderful profession.
Selected Published Works in AJSM:
Kraeutler MJ, Bravman JT, McCarty EC. Bone -Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft Versus Allograft in Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-analysis of 5182 Patients. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2013 Oct;41(10):2439-48
Wolf BR, Ramme AJ, Wright RW, Brophy RH, McCarty EC, Vidal AR, Parker RD, Andrish JT, Amendola A; MOON Knee Group. Variability in ACL Tunnel Placement: Observational Clinical Study of Surgeon ACL Tunnel Variability. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2013 Jun;41:1265-1273
McConkey MO, Amendola A, Ramme AJ, Dunn WR, Flanigan DC, Britton CL; MOON Knee Group, Wolf BR, Spindler KP, Carey JL, Cox CL, Kaeding CC, Wright RW, Matava MJ, Brophy RH, Smith MV, McCarty EC, Vida AF, Wolcott M, Marx RG, Parker RD, Andrish JF, Jones MH. Arthroscopic agreement among surgeons on anterior cruciate ligament tunnel placement. American Journal of Sports Medicine 40(12):2737-46, 2013
Harris JD, Pedroza A, Jones GL; MOON Shoulder Group. Predictors of pain and function in patients with symptomatic, atraumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears: a time-zero analysis of a prospective patient cohort enrolled in a structured physical therapy program. American Journal of Sports Medicine 40(2):359-66, 2012
Brophy RH, Schmitz L, Wright RW, Dunn WR, Parker RD, Andrish JT, McCarty EC, Spindler KP. Return to play and future ACL injury risk after ACL reconstruction in soccer athletes from the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) group. American Journal of Sports Medicine 40(11):2517-22, 2012
McCullough KA, Phelps KD, Spindler KP, Matava MJ, Dunn WR, Parker RD; MOON Group, Reinke EK. Return to high school- and college-level football after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) cohort study American Journal of Sports Medicine 40(11):2523-9, 2012
Jia X, Yokota A, McCarty EC, Nicholson GP, Weber SC, McMahon PJ, Dunn W, E McFarland. Reproducibility and reliability of the Snyder classification of superior labral anterior posterior lesions among shoulder surgeons. American Journal of Sports Medicine 39(5):986-91, 2011
Swan KG, Baldini T, McCarty EC. Arthroscopic suture material and knot type: an updated biomechanical analysis. American Journal of Sports Medicine 37(8):1578-85, 2009
Toman CV, Dunn WR, Spindler KP, Amendola A, Andrish JT, Bergfeld JA, Flanigan D, Jones MH, Kaeding CC, Marx RG, Matava MJ, McCarty EC, Parker RD, Wolcott M, Vidal A, Wolf BR, Huston LJ, Harrell FE Jr, Wright RW. Success of meniscal repair at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 37(6):1111-5, 2009
McCarty E.C., R.G. Marx, D. Maerz, R.F. Warren, and D. Altchek. Sports Participation following Shoulder Replacement Surgery. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 36 (8): 1577 – 1581, 2008
American Journal of Sports Medicine Editorial Board Spotlight 