Matt Tao, M.D., is a new faculty member at UNMC.
- Name: Matt Tao, M.D.
- Hometown: Lafayette, Ind.
- Current position: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Research/professional interests:
- Athletic knee issues — ACL tears, multi-ligament knee injuries, complex cartilage defects, malalignment, meniscal tears;
- Arthroscopic shoulder surgery — shoulder instability, rotator cuff pathology, biceps disease; and
- Biologic therapy — PRP (platelet-rich plasma), BMAC (bone marrow aspirate concentrate), pharmaceutical therapy to minimize inflammation and promote healing.
How I fell in love with orthopaedic surgery.
My interest in ortho really grew out of getting to know one of the team doctors for the Chicago Bears during med school and spending a lot of time with him. As I went through training, my appreciation broadened for the positive effect joint replacements, spine surgery, etc., can have on people. Although we typically aren’t in the position to save lives, the special thing about this field is the tremendous opportunity we have to positively affect quality of life. We have the privilege, particularly in sports, of embracing the “team” mentality, which I think ultimately benefits our patients and athletes. Whether it’s getting a young kid back in the game or doing a knee replacement to get someone back to pain-free mobility, orthopaedics is such a rewarding field because of the relationships and the impact we can have on patients.Degrees:
- M.D, Northwestern University, Chicago, 2007-2011
- Residency, orthopaedic surgery, Duke University, Durham, N.C., 2011-2016
- Fellowship, sports medicine & shoulder surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, 2016-2017
Memberships:
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
Three things people may not know about me:
- After college, I worked as a ski bum in Keystone, Colo., and spent a couple seasons teaching little kids to ski.
- My loyalties are equally divided between Nebraska football and Duke basketball.
- Both my wife and I are avid (but persistently mediocre) golfers.