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2016 a Year of Growth and Collaboration for SPRI: 10 Examples

The year 2016 was unprecedented at every level of growth and collaboration. SPRI solidified its position as a world leader in evidence-based medicine, patient-centered care, education and outreach, and collaborations with research institutions around the world. Here are 10 examples.

•  Top 5 Globally in Peer-Reviewed Publications

SPRI continues to publish its research at a prolific rate, with more than 90 articles appearing in professional, peer-reviewed journals—a 37 percent increase over 2015. The publications resulted in international recognition as the 2017 recipient of the Cabaud Memorial Award for best research. It will be presented by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at its annual meeting in Toronto, Canada. Naming SPRI as an award winner is unique. Since 2012, it has only been awarded to major university-affiliated research programs.

• Focused Resources on the Patient Through Personalized Medicine and Predictive Analytics

The Steadman Clinic enhanced patient care with SPRI data covering more than 33,000 surgeries stored in the Center for Outcomes-Based Orthopaedic Research’s database. New predictive modeling applications add to the quality of personalized medicine. Ongoing initiatives in regenerative medicine include areas such as orthopaedics, cancer, cardiac care, and delaying the effects of aging through stem cell banking.

• Best-in Class Governance and Financial Practices

SPRI doubled revenues in 2016—the largest growth in the history of the organization—partly as a result of a substantial financial commitment from its Vail Valley Medical Center partner and The Steadman Clinic physicians. Industry support grew by 50.1 percent.

• Investments in Smart Technology for Patient-Centered Care and World-Class Research

These advances including the first installation in North America of the Siemens MRI Skyra operating system, two state-of-the-art X-ray systems, and partnerships to accelerate bench-to-bedside clinical care and streamline data input for improved patient satisfaction.

• Second Annual Vail Scientific Summit

The Scientific Summit attracted 41 internationally-known researchers representing 23 institutions, support of 12 industry sponsors, and more than 150 participants. The conference spurred collaborative initiatives between SPRI and the Mayo Clinic, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin, University of California-San Francisco, NASA, and UT Health.

• Revamped Digital Media Strategy

SPRI completed its first website overhaul in 10 years, resulting in an entire redesign. The result was a five-fold growth in website views. SPRI also had a 43 percent increase in Facebook likes and a 13 percent growth in Twitter followers in the first three months after the launch.

• Creation of a Federal Grants Program Office

This new office submitted four funding requests through the Department of Defense 2017 Appropriations Bill, which included two $5,000,000 requests for musculoskeletal health and regenerative medicine research, respectively.  

• Expansion of Community Engagement Programs

SPRI’s Education and Public Outreach Committee (EPOC) impacted 750 area students with tours, lectures, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) mentorship (see page__). SPRI and The Steadman Clinic committed to a multi-year comprehensive sports medicine program for the Vail Ski & Snowboard Club. SPRI also developed an Injury Prevention Seminar with the United States Olympic Committee.

• Competitively Excellent Sports Medicine Fellowships

The program attracted six Sports Medicine Fellows from a national pool of 176 applicants, in addition to a distinguished group international research scholars from Europe, South America, and Asia.

• New Research Facilities

SPRI and VVMC combined to build new research facilities housing surgical skills, biomechanical, robotics, regenerative medicine, and biomotion labs, as well as administrative offices. VVMC also invested in a $68,000,000 renovated orthopaedic west wing—representing a 36 percent growth in space totaling more than 26,000 square feet. The new and renovated facilities allow for increased collaboration between physicians, scientists, and SPRI staff members, and expedited bench-to-bedside clinical applications for patients.

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