When Marc Philippon, MD, looks at the evolution of sports medicine, he does not see a field defined by technology, but one defined by values.
As an orthopedic surgeon and managing partner of The Steadman Clinic, and chairman and co-director of the sports medicine fellowship at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colo., Dr. Philippon has built one of the most respected sports medicine programs in the world. Its success, he said, comes down to a single element: patient-centered care.
“I think it starts with practicing good medicine and trying to give our trainees values,” Dr. Philippon said. “It starts by putting the patient at the center of your algorithm. We’re in this profession to provide the best possible care for our patients, whether they’re Olympians, college athletes or weekend athletes.”
That philosophy is woven through every part of the organization, from its operating rooms to its research labs. Fellows at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute learn not only surgical technique, but also how to communicate, listen and lead with empathy.
“We try to teach our fellows how important it is to always put the patient at the center of decision-making,” he said.
Dr. Philippon traces that conviction to his training at McMaster University in Canada, where he studied under David Sackett, MD, who coined the term “evidence-based medicine.”
“For us, it’s really putting the patient at the center,” he said. “For every patient, we provide the best possible treatment.”
Those lessons extend beyond elite athletes. After decades working with Olympians and professionals, Dr. Philippon said the same principles apply to every patient he treats.
“We learn a lot from our athletes,” he said. “They have high expectations and high goals. Most of these athletes have successful outcomes because they’re disciplined, they really want to understand their problem and they stay positive. Those attributes — discipline, understanding expectations and positivity — make all the difference.”
That mindset also defines how Dr. Philippon has built and sustained The Steadman Clinic’s global reputation. Growth, he said, has always been intentional — rooted in quality, not scale.
“We want to grow to share our expertise with different communities,” he said. “At the same time, we’re very strict about how we grow. We will not sacrifice excellence for growth.”
He said every new surgeon, fellow and faculty member must share that commitment.
“We want our surgeons and faculty to share our values,” he said. “The key is always to strive for excellence. You should never be satisfied. There are always ways to make things better.”
Over the years, the organization has expanded its partnerships with Team USA, the International Olympic Committee and leading research institutions with one mission: to improve care for patients everywhere.
Dr. Philippon credits that longevity to the strength of his team.
“Our team is like a family,” he said. “We work together well, and at the end of the day, we all have a common goal of helping our patients.”
That culture of collaboration extends into mentorship. Many of Dr. Philippon’s former fellows now lead top programs across the country and abroad, including Bryan Kelly, MD, president and CEO of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
“I look for passion,” Dr. Philippon said. “They have to have a passion for innovation and for making our field better. The most successful fellows I’ve had are humble, inquisitive, positive and hard-working. They’re never satisfied with the status quo.”
Those qualities, he added, reflect The Steadman Clinic’s adherence to curiosity, compassion and commitment.
“We’re only as good as our last success,” he said. “I always say, let’s just do the right thing.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Philippon sees a new chapter unfolding in sports medicine, one where prevention, biologics and advanced data analytics will shape care as much as surgical innovation once did.
“If we can prevent damage early, change training patterns or intervene conservatively, that’s a huge win,” he said.
His team is developing programs such as “hip at risk,” which screens young athletes for early structural changes before injury occurs. The research institute is also advancing regenerative medicine and using AI to refine diagnosis, patient selection and outcomes prediction.
“AI will help us select patients better, optimize patient selection and understand outcomes,” Dr. Philippon said. “But innovation must always be guided by the needs of our patients.”
For him, a balance between excellence and empathy, innovation and integrity is what propels The Steadman Clinic.
“Medicine isn’t a perfect science; it’s both an art and a science,” he said. “But if we stay curious, stay humble and stay focused on the patient, we’ll keep moving forward.”
