Sebastianelli receives national recognition from American Orthopaedic Association
Wayne J. Sebastianelli, MD, associate dean for clinical affairs at the University Park Regional Campus and Alexander Kalenak, MD, Professor in Orthopaedics at Penn State College of Medicine, has been named “Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession” by the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA).
According to the AOA, this award honors exemplary orthopaedic surgeons who have served as clinicians, educators and researchers, providing essential support to the orthopaedic community. Sebastianelli is one of four physicians across the country to receive the designation this year.
Notably, he also joins two other current College of Medicine faculty who have previously received the AOA honor: Kevin Black, MD, former College dean and professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation, and C. McCollister Evarts, MD, former dean and Distinguished Professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation.
“Both Black and Evarts have been mentors, role models and colleagues for over four decades, which adds even more meaning to the award,” Sebastianelli said. “Having them think this highly of me creates a sense of pride that is beyond words. To be included in such great company is humbling.”
The fact that Penn State now has three Pillars, Sebastianelli added, speaks to the College of Medicine’s excellence in the field.
“It highlights the level of devotion to leadership, mentoring and dedication to the specialty of orthopedic patient care,” he said.
Sebastianelli, also the associate chief medical officer for Penn State Health’s Centre County region and the director of athletic medicine and team physician for Penn State Athletics, was recruited to the College of Medicine in the early 1990s. He was tasked with developing on-site, high-level orthopedic and sports medicine services for intercollegiate athletics and the State College community.
Sebastianelli’s work to advance the profession of orthopaedics was another key factor for his Pillar nomination. The orthopaedic surgery practice at the State College location has continued to grow, Sebastianelli noted, with over 50,000 patient visits per year – a true group effort, he added, thanks to the collaboration and mentorship of former department chairs such as Vincent D. Pellegrini, Jr., MD; Black; present chair April Armstrong, MD; and many colleagues and partners.
“It truly takes a village to get this done, and without their support, none of this would be possible,” Sebastianelli said. “Becoming part of the community health system allowed me to lead others, learn from others and work hard at trying to feed off our strengths while simultaneously collaborating to minimize our weaknesses.”
Sebastianelli’s research and teaching interests are mainly in orthopaedic and sports medicine. His clinical interests focus on knee, shoulder, ankle, hand and ligament surgery.
Sebastianelli has served as a principal and co-investigator for several National Institutes of Health grants, including an investigation of athletes at risk for traumatic brain injuries. He has co-authored several books, published more than 95 articles in various peer-reviewed journals, and is a member of multiple professional and prestigious medical societies.
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