Division of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy

The Division of Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy cares for recreational and professional athletes of all ages, specializing in non-operative care and arthroscopic and open surgery involving the shoulder, knee, hip, elbow and ankle. We address common injuries and conditions resulting from sports activities, including shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, arthritis, injuries in the throwing elbow, hip impingement and associated labral tears, knee and meniscal injuries, patellofemoral instability, and various ankle injuries. We also specialize in treating traumatic bone and soft tissue injuries in the upper and lower extremity. Our clinical work is complemented by ongoing research investigations to further the understanding and practice of sports medicine, as well as training the next generation of physicians. The Division’s team of experts includes five orthopaedic surgeons, two non-operative sports medicine physicians and four physician assistants, working together to restore and return our patients to their desired level of physical activity at any level of participation.

Areas of particular interest and expertise are noted below:

Daniel Keefe, MD (Division Head)

Laura Alberton, MD

Ed Fellow, MD

Jan Fronek, MD

Heinz Hoenecke, MD

Laika Nur, MD

Brian Rebolledo, MD

Paul Stricker, MD

Tianyi Wang, MD

Featured Services

  • Minimally invasive shoulder surgery

  • Rotator cuff repair and reconstruction

  • Shoulder instability and labral repair

  • Shoulder arthritis care – replacement and resurfacing

  • Arthroscopic elbow surgery

  • Ligament reconstruction of the elbow

  • Non-operative care of musculoskeletal injuries

  • Hip arthroscopy with labral repair and FAI correction

  • ACL/PCL/Collateral ligament repair and reconstruction

  • Knee osteotomy

  • Patellofemoral instability correction

  • Ankle arthroscopy and tendon repair

  • Pediatric and adolescent injury care

Recognitions & Awards

  • Scripps Clinic Sports Medicine Physicians have been recognized for excellence in teaching and have been awarded the San Diego Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Teaching award by the fellowship participants multiple times.

  • We have over 75 cumulative years of experience covering professional, collegiate, and high school level sports in the area. This has involved treatment and surgery on two inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and a multiple Gold Medal winning extreme sports athlete, and caring for Olympic level athletes at home and abroad, including the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

  • Our physicians have given multiple talks and educational seminars both locally and abroad and we serve as faculty every year at the San Diego Shoulder Conference. We serve as peer reviewers for Sports Medicine journals. One of our members has also recently returned from a traveling fellowship to South America.

  • We have helped to customize an online learning platform that aids patients in the recovery from injury and surgery and allows us to track your progress as you recover.

  • All members are active committee members in numerous national and international orthopaedic and sports medicine societies including: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Shoulder and Elbow Society, Arthroscopy Association of North America, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopeadic Sports Medicine, Major League Baseball Injury Registry, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Council for Sports Medicine.

The Division of Sports Medicine supports the San Diego Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Fellowship, through which 3-4 orthopaedic surgeons are trained every year in advanced techniques in arthroscopy and shoulder replacement surgery. This program is ACGME accredited and we feel is important in training the next generation of Sports Medicine Physicians.

For more information or to apply, please visit the Graduate Medical Education page.

  • Research regarding shoulder anatomy and replacement design
  • Studying return to play for throwing athletes after elbow surgery
  • Research about limiting pain medication usage after knee and shoulder arthroscopic procedures
  • Evaluating the use of a longer acting anesthetic on shoulder pain during and after surgery
  • Prevention of Childhood Obesity and Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle
SEE ALL SCMG RESEARCH