DALLAS – February 22, 2016 – UT Southwestern Medical Center has selected Dr. Dane Wukich, a nationally renowned foot and ankle specialist, educator, lecturer, and researcher, to become the third Chairman of UT Southwestern’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, following a rigorous national search.
Dr. Wukich, who served as a Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, is recognized internationally for his work in limb salvage, management of diabetes-related complications, and education. He will hold the Dr. Charles F. Gregory Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery.
“I am deeply honored and privileged to be selected as Chairman at such a prestigious institution as UT Southwestern. In my opinion, this is the best job in academic orthopaedic surgery. Everywhere that I visited in Dallas, I witnessed tremendous growth, and UT Southwestern is particularly well-positioned to lead locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Dr. Wukich, who is scheduled to arrive in June of 2016. “I was particularly attracted to UT Southwestern because of the enthusiasm of the administration, orthopaedic faculty, orthopaedic residents, and orthopaedic alumni. On a personal note, my wife and I are incredibly excited to embrace the dynamic opportunities available in the Dallas community.”
UT Southwestern’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery includes multidisciplinary care teams that include surgeons, medical doctors, and health care specialists in:
- Orthopaedic spine, neck and back pain.
- Trauma and complex reconstructions.
- Sports medicine.
- Joint replacement, including hips, knees, and shoulders.
- Foot and ankle injury and complications.
- Hand and upper extremity issues.
- General orthopaedics.
UT Southwestern Orthopaedic Surgery faculty and specialists provide care at UT Southwestern University Hospitals, Parkland Memorial Hospital, the Dallas VA Medical Center, Children’s Health, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, as well as serving as team physicians for a number of professional and other sports franchises including as team physicians for the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars.
“Our Department of Orthopaedic Surgery already is nationally recognized for its commitment to exceptional residency training and for outstanding programs in trauma and critical care, and management of complex pediatric orthopaedic problems,” said Dr. J. Gregory Fitz, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School. “Dr. Wukich is arriving at a great time for building upon these efforts to provide the best opportunities for outstanding patient care, and training of orthopaedic surgeons and investigators in all of our venues. We are fortunate to have his leadership and experience.”
Dr. Wukich is currently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Professor of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, Chief of the Division of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and Medical Director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Mercy Center for Healing and Amputation Prevention, and its Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center. Among his accomplishments, he served as an orthopaedic foot and ankle consultant to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the athletic departments at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Robert Morris University, Duquesne University, and Point Park University.
Dr. Wukich achieved the rank of Major with the U.S. Army, and served in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery. He received several Army Commendation Medals and an Army Achievement Medal. Dr. Wukich also received the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the National Defense Service Ribbon. Following his active-duty and reserve service, Dr. Wukich has been actively treating military veterans at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
Dr. Wukich’s research interests include the complications of circular external fixation in patients with diabetes, foot and ankle problems in post-transplant patients, tendon transfers with bio-tenodesis screw, and thromboembolic complications after foot and ankle surgery. He also is interested in treating spastic foot and ankle problems in patients with traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury.
Dr. Wukich has written more than 100 papers and given invited lectures around the globe. He is an editorial board member of Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics, serves as peer reviewer for 11 journals, and is the author or co-author of several book chapters dealing with foot and ankle problems in athletes and patients with diabetes. He has been selected for leadership roles in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Diabetes Association and other societies; has been recognized for his teaching skills, including with the Golden Apple Award at UPMC; and has designed and directed a large number of courses locally and internationally.
Dr. Wukich holds a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, where he graduated with honors, and a medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed a surgical internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and is a member the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, and the American Orthopaedic Association. The latter organization is the oldest and most distinguished orthopaedic organization in the world, recognizing physicians who are considered to have made a significant contribution in the areas of education, research, and the practice of orthopaedic surgery.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty has included six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. The faculty of almost 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year.
Media Contact: Gregg Shields
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