The Sports Medicine Service is the "orthopedic practice of choice" for major professional sports teams in St. Louis - the St. Louis Rams football team and the St. Louis Blues hockey team.
Matthew J. Matava, MD, co-chief of service
Dr. Matava serves as team physician for the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Blues hockey. He also is head team physician for Washington University Athletics. Dr. Matava is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Profesor of Physical Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine and is board certified in orthopedic surgery.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in 1987 and served a residency in orthopedic surgery at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals in Atlanta, GA. In 1994, he completed a fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center. Dr. Matava has been listed in Best Doctors in America and specializes in knee ligament reconstruction, including revision and multi-ligament reconstruction; meniscal allograft implantation; adolescent sports medicine; and runners' injuries.
Rick W. Wright, MD, co-chief of service
Dr. Wright is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and serves as an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Recognized for his sports medicine expertise, Dr. Wright also is the team physician for both the St. Louis Blues hockey and the St. Louis Rams football teams.
Dr. Wright earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri in 1988. Following a residency in orthopedic surgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, he completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the Minneapolis Sports Medicine Center in 1999. His special interests include knee ligament reconstruction, shoulder instability, rotator cuff repair, throwing injuries of the shoulder and elbow and arthroscopy.
Robert Brophy, MD
A former professional soccer player, Rob Brophy, MD is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. He serves as the Assistant Team Physician for both the St. Louis Rams football team and the St. Louis Blues Hockey team.
Dr. Brophy earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in 2001. He completed a residency in orthopedic surgery and a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. A former anatomy lab instructor at Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Brophy also holds a master’s of science degree in industrial engineering, and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and economics from Stanford University in Stanford, CA. He is particularly interested in sports medicine and was a member of the California Jaguars professional soccer team from 1995 to 1996, the year the team was the United States Inter-Regional Soccer League (USISL) National Champions. He also was a player for the Palo Alto Firebirds soccer team, which was the USISL national champion in 1992.
Mark E. Halstead, MD
Dr. Halstead is board-certified in both sports medicine and pediatrics and serves as an Instructor in Orthopedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. His areas of clinical interest include musculoskeletal and medical problems related to sports in pediatric, adolescent and adult athletes, as well as management of concussions and treatment of overuse and acute injuries in runners; knee ligament injuries; shoulder and elbow problems resulting from throwing injuries or misuse; stress fractures in the athlete; and asthma care for athletes.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, WI in 1998 and served a residency in pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital. He completed his fellowship training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Matthew Smith, MD
Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He completed his undergraduate and medical education in Virginia, and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. He concluded a Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery fellowship at the University of Michigan. During his fellowship, he served as an assistant team physician for the University of Michigan football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, gymnastics and baseball teams. He currently serves an assistant team physician for the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Rams.
Dr. Smith’s practice focuses on sports injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee and hip in adults and children. He has a special interest in shoulder and elbow injuries including shoulder instability surgery, shoulder trauma, rotator cuff surgery, and elbow ligament and cartilage injuries in the throwing athlete. He is also interested in knee ligament reconstruction including multiple ligament reconstruction, knee cartilage restoration, and hip arthroscopy.
To schedule an appointment with a Washington University orthopedic specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, please call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll free 866-867-3627.