Newswise — COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – K. Donald Shelbourne, MD will be inducted into the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) Hall of Fame on Friday, July 8th, during the Society’s Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. The AOSSM Hall of Famers are individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of sportsm medicine. Sixty-six North American and International individuals have been named to the Hall of Fame since 2001.

Dr. Shelbourne began his orthopaedic sports medicine career in 1982. He graduated from Wabash College in 1972, where he was a first team Academic All-American as a football player and he received an NCAA post-graduate scholarship for wrestling. He completed medical school and his orthopaedic residency at Indiana University Medical School from 1972 through 1981. Dr. Shelbourne obtained additional training by completing a sports medicine fellowship with William Clancy, MD at the University of Wisconsin in 1981-82.

Dr. Shelbourne served as the team physician for the Indianapolis Colts from 1984 through 1998, and has been an orthopaedic consultant to Purdue University, Wabash College, and area high schools since 1982. He is an associate clinical professor at Indiana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis. He is also on the editorial board of the American Journal of Sports Medicine and serves as a reviewer for many other orthopaedic journals.

Dr. Shelbourne became interested in sports medicine when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing football in college. He knew when he began his practice that he wanted to concentrate on the treatment, rehabilitation, and research of ACL injuries. Since the beginning of his practice, he established a research department and prospective database for continually recording and evaluating his outcomes after surgery. He has performed more than 6,500 ACL reconstructions, and the follow-up he has obtained on these patients has allowed him to identify problems with treatment and the factors associated with optimum long-term outcomes. Dr. Shelbourne is best known for his advancement of ACL rehabilitation for obtaining a predictable, successful result while returning patients back to athletic activities quickly. In addition, the successful results from surgery have been maintained in the long-term without causing range of motion or strength loss in the knees. He has published more than 250 journal articles and book chapters, and has presented his findings at national and international meetings.

Dr. Shelbourne has won many prestigious awards, including:• AOSSM Hughston Award (2000 and 2010) • Honorary Doctorate of Science Degree, Wabash College (2001) • Athletic Hall of Fame, Wabash College (1986)• Indiana High School Wresting Hall of Fame (1991)• Indiana Football Hall of Fame (2000)• Division III Wresting Hall of Fame (2011)

Dr. Shelbourne was elected to the Herodicus Society in 1988. In addition to the Herodicus Society, Dr. Shelbourne is a member of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, The American Orthopaedic Association, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, ACL Study Group, and Arthroscopy Association of North America.

Dr. Shelbourne is currently the medical director for the Shelbourne Knee Center at Community Westview Hospital in Indianapolis and continues to conduct long-term outcome research for knee conditions and injuries.

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The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a global leader in orthopaedic sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, and includes national and international sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.