The world of professional sports is highly competitive. Athletes have to stay in shape and stay on top of their game to see success for their team. The body of an athlete is put under high demand, and this consistent demand can lead to sports-related injuries. These injuries can affect an athlete’s season, as well as their entire career. When an athlete gets injured and requires surgery, their future success is ultimately in the hands of their surgeon. This means the surgeon has to know what they are doing and provide the best care to ensure the athlete will be able to return to the game they love. One surgeon who has demonstrated his skill and passion for aiding athletes return to full strength is Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Neal ElAttrache is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in sports medicine at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He has dedicated his career to helping professional athletes recover from significant injuries that could have halted their careers. He is most recognized for the treatment and research of knee, shoulder, and elbow injury and repair.
Rise to Top Sports Physician
Dr. Neal ElAttrache studied at the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1981. His focus was set on entering the medical field, knowing he wanted to specialize in sports medicine. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he went on to earn his medical doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He immediately started his internship in general surgery and started his residency in orthopedic surgery. Following this residency, he went on to become a sports medicine fellow at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in 1990. Dr. ElAttrache loved his time at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic so much that he joined the team directly following his fellowship.
Memberships
Neal ElAttrache is dedicated to his craft, both hands-on and through important educational and consulting positions. Dr. ElAttrache is a member of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic Board of Directors. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Foundation. He serves on the Board of Directors and functions as co-chair of Medical Affairs for the Kerlan-Jobe Institute. He also collaborates with Cedars-Sinai whose goal is to lead and support advancements in the fields of sports medicine and orthopedics on a global scale.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache is a former member of the Executive Committee of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Association. He is also the former Program Chairman for the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine.
In addition, he’s been selected for membership in the Alpha Omega Honor Medical Society, NFL Physicians Society, and many other prestigious groups that are leaders in orthopedic surgery.
Role as a Sports Surgeon
Neal ElAttrache has built his career on providing the best in orthopedic care, as well as giving back to his community and supporting future orthopedic surgeons. He takes pride in continuing to provide expert surgical procedures for professional athletes who still have a long career ahead of them. His reputation and track record of successful surgeries has led him to become one of the most highly demanded orthopedic surgeons in Los Angeles. He has held the position of head team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s also served as an Orthopedic Consultant to the Los Angeles Kings, L.A. Lakers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He also served as senior surgeon for on-site surgical support for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache specializes in knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries. All of these injuries can commonly occur in individuals who participate in contact sports.
As head physician for the Los Angeles Rams, Dr. ElAttrache was proud to be there when the team experienced their big Super Bowl win. He loves the rush of being right there on the sidelines to provide aid at a moment’s notice to the different members of the team. He takes personal pride in ensuring the health and safety of the athletes under his care.
Recognitions
Dr. Neal ElAttrache has a long career in sports medicine with no sign of slowing down any time soon. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and recognitions for his dedicated work in sports medicine. He has been recognized as a top sports medicine specialist by several different organizations. The Los Angeles Daily News included Dr. ElAttrache as a “Top 50 Most Powerful in Los Angeles Sports.” USA Today included him in their list of “The 100 Most Powerful People in MLB.” He was selected by peer review for “Best Doctors in America,” and Castle Connolly included him in their list of “America’s Top Doctors.” He’s also been labeled “Super Doctor” by Super Doctors of Southern California.
Baseball Prospectus, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated Online all recognized him as “Top 10 Sports Medicine Doctors in America.” His list of recognitions goes on and on. What all his recognitions share in common is that they highlight his commitment to orthopedics and sports medicine. His commitment to athlete success continues to build his career and his recognition not only in Los Angeles, but throughout the entire U.S.
Work Outside of Surgery
Dr. ElAttrache is truly committed and passionate about sports medicine. When he isn’t operating, he is serving his community through different memberships and committees. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise with others. He has authored over 40 textbook chapters and 100 research journal articles. He’s also participated in 10 orthopedic instructional videos. He has also given over 317 lectures at national and international orthopedic surgery conferences. With over 37 years of experience, he enjoys sharing his experiences with others in the field.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache Today
Neal ElAttrache continues to focus on providing quality medical treatment to the athletes of the L.A. Rams team. He knows how detrimental an injury can be, and so he provides the expert care these athletes need to continue to play at their best. According to the ChicagoTribune.com, Dr. ElAttrache is married to Tricia as well as the brother-in-law to Sylvester Stallone. His long career is full of recognition for his commitment to advancing sports medicine and orthopedic medicine. He continues to support the state-of-the-art work performed at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic.
Photo credit: “Twilight at Dodger Stadium” by LifeSupercharger is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
