“A Really Special Experience”: Former Steadman Fellow Dr. Justin Arner Speaks at the Vail Scientific Summit
Dr. Arner is one of many former Steadman fellows enjoying burgeoning careers in medicine following a year of mentorship from The Steadman Clinic’s team of internationally recognized surgeons in Vail
VAIL, Colo. – The Vail Scientific Summit, hosted by Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), celebrated its eighth meeting this August. The event has become a regular stop on the summer speaking schedule for many of the top scientists, researchers and clinicians in the field of clinical translation. But it’s not just the names from the top of the list of the award-winning doctors and clinicians that appear on the speaking list at the annual meeting in Vail. Some of the most well-received sessions are keynoted by doctors and specialists not too far removed from their medical schools and residencies.
One of those young speakers at the Summit was Justin Arner, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon now practicing at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). For Dr. Arner, it was more than a special opportunity to speak at a highly regarded scientific and medical meeting. It was also a chance to return to The Steadman Clinic and SPRI for a few days and get reacquainted and reminisce with some old friends, colleagues and mentors in Vail. Dr. Arner spent a year (2019–20) as a fellow at SPRI and participated in its highly acclaimed Sports Medicine Fellowship.
“It was a really special experience when I got the email inviting me to come and speak at the Summit,” said Dr. Arner during a break at one of the afternoon sessions at the event. “It's really special and surreal having the opportunity to talk among your mentors and a room full of some of the most accomplished and brightest doctors and researchers in the field.”
Dr. Arner noted that he put some extra preparation into his remarks for his presentation on “Maximizing Meniscus Healing in 2023.”
“This is not your typical audience,” said Dr. Arner. “I'm not the world authority on stem cells or PRP (platelet rich plasma), but the clinical translational opportunity to experience here is not something we really have at another meeting. This Summit is an exciting opportunity to meet new people and learn about things like exosomes that typically a surgeon doesn't have too much exposure to.”
A bonus to the trip to Vail for Dr. Arner was the chance to visit with so many friends and mentors from his time in the mountain region of Colorado three years ago.
“I was lucky enough to be a fellow here and spend a year working with some of the finest sports medicine doctors and clinicians in the profession,” said Dr. Arner. “I really enjoyed my time at the Summit’s opening reception and dinner. I was able to visit with Dr. Philippon, Dr. Millett and Dr. Provencher and catch up on their lives as well as get some more advice on ways to further advance my own career. They continue to be terrific mentors to me, both in and out of the OR (operating room).”
In addition to his growing practice at UPMC, Dr. Arner also has the privilege of serving as one of the team physicians for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, a team he has followed since growing up in western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Arner was a high school athlete when he first met the Steelers’ longtime team physician Dr. James Bradley.
“Dr. Bradley was at UPMC and performed shoulder surgery on me when I was a senior in high school,” said Dr. Arner. “After that surgery and rehab experience, I ended up wanting to pursue that career. I did research with him when I was in college and then did my residency there as well. It is really a dream come true to be working with him and with the Steelers, too.”
For further information, contact Lynda Sampson, vice president of external affairs at The Steadman Clinic and SPRI (lsampson@sprivail.org).
VAIL, Colo. – The Vail Scientific Summit, hosted by Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI), celebrated its eighth meeting this August. The event has become a regular stop on the summer speaking schedule for many of the top scientists, researchers and clinicians in the field of clinical translation. But it’s not just the names from the top of the list of the award-winning doctors and clinicians that appear on the speaking list at the annual meeting in Vail. Some of the most well-received sessions are keynoted by doctors and specialists not too far removed from their medical schools and residencies.
One of those young speakers at the Summit was Justin Arner, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon now practicing at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). For Dr. Arner, it was more than a special opportunity to speak at a highly regarded scientific and medical meeting. It was also a chance to return to The Steadman Clinic and SPRI for a few days and get reacquainted and reminisce with some old friends, colleagues and mentors in Vail. Dr. Arner spent a year (2019–20) as a fellow at SPRI and participated in its highly acclaimed Sports Medicine Fellowship.
“It was a really special experience when I got the email inviting me to come and speak at the Summit,” said Dr. Arner during a break at one of the afternoon sessions at the event. “It's really special and surreal having the opportunity to talk among your mentors and a room full of some of the most accomplished and brightest doctors and researchers in the field.”
Dr. Arner noted that he put some extra preparation into his remarks for his presentation on “Maximizing Meniscus Healing in 2023.”
“This is not your typical audience,” said Dr. Arner. “I'm not the world authority on stem cells or PRP (platelet rich plasma), but the clinical translational opportunity to experience here is not something we really have at another meeting. This Summit is an exciting opportunity to meet new people and learn about things like exosomes that typically a surgeon doesn't have too much exposure to.”
A bonus to the trip to Vail for Dr. Arner was the chance to visit with so many friends and mentors from his time in the mountain region of Colorado three years ago.
“I was lucky enough to be a fellow here and spend a year working with some of the finest sports medicine doctors and clinicians in the profession,” said Dr. Arner. “I really enjoyed my time at the Summit’s opening reception and dinner. I was able to visit with Dr. Philippon, Dr. Millett and Dr. Provencher and catch up on their lives as well as get some more advice on ways to further advance my own career. They continue to be terrific mentors to me, both in and out of the OR (operating room).”
In addition to his growing practice at UPMC, Dr. Arner also has the privilege of serving as one of the team physicians for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, a team he has followed since growing up in western Pennsylvania.
Dr. Arner was a high school athlete when he first met the Steelers’ longtime team physician Dr. James Bradley.
“Dr. Bradley was at UPMC and performed shoulder surgery on me when I was a senior in high school,” said Dr. Arner. “After that surgery and rehab experience, I ended up wanting to pursue that career. I did research with him when I was in college and then did my residency there as well. It is really a dream come true to be working with him and with the Steelers, too.”
For further information, contact Lynda Sampson, vice president of external affairs at The Steadman Clinic and SPRI (lsampson@sprivail.org).