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Chairman Emeritus of The Steadman Clinic and Co-Chairman of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Retired Knee Specialist

Dr. J. Richard Steadman is a retired sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon in Vail, Colorado, who specialized in knee injuries and disorders. He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Steadman Clinic, as well as the Founder and Co-Chairman of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute, which is a world leader in orthopaedic research and education.

A renowned innovator and mentor in the field of orthopaedic sports medicine, Dr Steadman is internationally known for the development of several advanced surgical procedures for the knee, including the "healing response", and most recently (in 2011) the "package", a technique which can restore normal comfortable movement to the stiff and painful arthritic knee. In 2012 he received an award from the Arthroscopy Association of North America for an essay about this unique combination of remedies for a common problem.

Dr. Steadman has treated numerous professional athletes across various sports and is sought out by some of the world's best-known athletes and public figures for treatment. His ability to return high-level athletes with knee injuries to medal winning victories following surgery and rehab with him has made him an iconic figure in sports medicine. Traumatic knee injuries occur in multiple sports and Dr. Steadman's success in returning many elite athletes to major athletic achievements following potentially career ending injuries include 26 athletes from professional soccer, 45 from the NFL, 23 from the MLB, 8 in the NBA, and 26 snow skiers.

Dr. Steadman is well known for his creation of the Microfracture surgical procedure to treat chondral defects in the knee. It is estimated that today worldwide, Microfracture is used to treat more than 500,000 patients a year. Moreover, the technique has been adapted to treat other joints such as the shoulder, hip and ankle. The use of the Microfracture procedure has allowed countless athletes of all levels to stay competitive in their sports, and its benefits can delay, or even eliminate, the need for more radical and invasive procedures such as joint replacement surgery.

In addition to developing new orthopaedic surgical techniques, Dr. Steadman is also a leader in the area of physical therapy and post operative rehabilitation. He has developed rehabilitation protocols for patients with serious joint and chondral injuries that are used daily by orthopedic surgeons and physical therapy professionals around the world.