We are excited to announce that Dr. Robert Christian and Dr. Michael Knudsen of Columbia Orthopedics will be presenting to the staff of Professional Physical Therapy.  

SPEAKER BIOS:

Robert A. Christian, MD, MBA, is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the operative and non-operative treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels, including pediatric and adult patients. He is an expert in arthroscopic and open surgery of the hip and knee. Dr. Christian is interested in arthroscopic hip preservation, focusing on femoroacetabular impingement, labral tears, proximal hamstring injuries, and complex knee pathologies, focusing on cartilage restoration, meniscus injuries, and ligament reconstruction.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Christian received a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University and graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University, where he served as Chief Resident and was awarded the Brian J. Hartigan, MD, Memorial Award.

While in residency, Dr. Christian graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Booth School of Business. Following residency, Dr. Christian completed fellowships in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Hip Preservation at Duke University in Durham, NC. While there, he served as a team physician for Duke University basketball, football, and baseball teams.

Throughout his training, Dr. Christian has been active in academic research, having published over 20 peer-reviewed articles on various topics related to hip arthroscopy, femoroacetabular impingement, quality improvement, value-based healthcare, and surgical techniques. His ongoing research projects focus on optimizing patient outcomes with a particular interest in complex hip and knee pathology. Dr. Christian also has a significant interest in resident and fellow education and mentorship. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA). Outside of his practice, Dr. Christian enjoys golfing, snowboarding, and personal fitness.

Michael L. Knudsen, MD, is a board certified and established orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the operative and non-operative treatment of athletes and non-athletes with shoulder and elbow injuries, including children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. He is an expert in minimally invasive arthroscopic and open surgery of the shoulder and elbow, and has expertise in advanced shoulder and elbow reconstructive surgery, including shoulder replacement surgery, rotator cuff tear surgery, shoulder instability and labral tear surgery, elbow arthroscopy, and elbow ligament reconstruction and repair. Dr. Knudsen’s practice leverages advanced imaging modalities to create personalized treatment plans and reconstructions for shoulder and elbow reconstructive surgery. He uses cutting-edge techniques for sports injuries such as PRP, ultrasound, and up-and-coming physical therapy and rehabilitation techniques such as blood flow restriction therapy.

After receiving a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Knudsen completed medical school and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. Following residency, he completed the prestigious Columbia Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Knudsen returns to Columbia after starting his practice at the University of Minnesota and serving as team physician for the Minnesota Twins (Major League Baseball), Saint Paul Saints (AAA Major League Baseball), and the University of Minnesota (NCAA Division I College). During his training at Columbia, he served as an Assistant Team Physician for the New York Yankees (Major League Baseball), Rockland Boulders (Can-Am Association of Professional Baseball), and Columbia University Athletics. Dr. Knudsen currently serves as a Team Physician for Iona College where he cares for student athletes with shoulder and elbow injuries.

Dr. Knudsen has a passion for research and has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on various topics related to shoulder, elbow, knee, and sports medicine surgery. Dr. Knudsen serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Reviews, Reports, and Techniques and actively reviews articles for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery among others. Dr. Knudsen’s ongoing research is focused on improving patient outcomes by improving the longevity and durability of shoulder arthroplasty implants and maximizing rotator cuff repair and labral tear healing rates. He is an active and engaged member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES).