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Christopher J. Wahl, MD
Associate Clinical Professor
Chief, Sports Medicine, UCSD Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery
Sports Medicine (Primary Specialty)
Orthopedics (Primary Specialty)
Sports Medicine
Male
Date Joined Staff:
8/26/2012
Current Status:
Active
Dr. Wahl is Associate Professor and Chief of Sports Medicine at the UC San Diego Health System's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Prior to joining the UC San Diego faculty in 2012, Dr. Wahl served as Associate Professor and team physician at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he cared for the UW football, men's basketball, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and tennis teams. He has been listed among the national and regional 'Top Doctors' in US News and World Report, Seattle Magazine, and Seattle Met Magazine.
Dr. Wahl developed a regional and national reputation in the treatment, innovations, and study of high-energy, complex knee and shoulder injuries. While he enjoys treating all athletic soft tissue and bony injuries of the knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle; his specific interests include ligament reconstruction of multiple-ligament knee injuries and knee dislocations, cartilage/meniscal transplantation and repair, osteotomies, peri-articular fracture management, and minimally-invasive treatment of shoulder pathology (including rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability).
Dr. Wahl attended medical school and residency at Yale University. He then completed a sports medicine and shoulder surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, where he assisted in the care of the New York Giants football team. Dr. Wahl then completed the AO John Border Traveling Trauma Fellow in Augsburg, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland. More recently, he was awarded the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Fellowship, and spent time observing world class sports medicine facilities across South America.
Dr. Wahl's research interests include:
--Clinical outcomes research and innovations in treatment of the multiple-ligament injured/dislocated knee.
--Basic science/clinical research on the anatomic factors that prediscpose to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
--Development of surgical techniques for the treatment of complex shoulder instabilities and dislocation and bone loss.
In terms of treatment philosophy: "Every person and every injury is unique--it is important to understand the factors that are most important to a person and their goals and then to tailor a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation approach that is likely to achieve those goals. In sports medicine, we have to excel on three levels: prevention, treatment, and training. Our challenge is not just to bring people back to the same level, but to always strive to improve their performance as well. With the resources in research, education, and patient care at UC San Diego, this is a very exciting time."
Outside of his clinical and academic life, Dr. Wahl enjoys sailing, cycling, skiing, outdoor sports and music with his wife, Suzanne and their three young children.
Education:
Medical Degree:
Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (AOA)
Internship:
Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Residency:
Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Fellowship:
AO North America John Border Trauma
Fellowship:
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
Board Certifications:
Orthopaedic Surgery, 2005
Sports Medicine, 2012
Clinical Expertise Areas
Cartilage repair and restoration
Knee Dislocation
Knee ligament injuries, revisions and dislocations
Meniscus transplantation and repair
Osteotomies and treatment of focal arthritis (unicompartmental, etc.)
Rotator cuff tears
Shoulder instability/dislocation
Sports Medicine
Sports-related fractures and joint injuries
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