Matthew R. Schmitz, M.D, New UCSD Prof and Rady Children’s Surgeon

Matthew R. Schmitz, M.D., is both a new member of the surgical team at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and clinical professor of orthopedics at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

“I’m excited to continue the great tradition of top-notch care in the pediatric orthopedics department and to broaden the extensive network that already exists in San Diego,” stated Dr. Schmitz, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. “San Diego is on the road to becoming a premier destination for hip surgery, and I look forward to catering to a broad demographic of youth both in the region and from all around the globe.”

“This appointment represents a significant addition to the pediatric orthopedic community in San Diego and reinforces the hospital’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare,” said Dr. Peter Newton, chief of the Division of Orthopedics & Scoliosis and surgeon-in-chief at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.

“We are honored to have Dr. Schmitz contribute to these efforts at Rady Children’s and look forward to seeing the pediatric orthopedics department grow in the years to come. His decades of experience working in the field at major institutions make him the ideal fit for our department, which prides itself on achieving excellence.”

OTW asked Dr. Schmitz to reflect how his military experience informed his medical career, “From taking care of young active military members and families where staying physically active is paramount, that has led me to the field of sports medicine,” said Dr. Schmidt, “and keeping our young patients ready for their athletic careers is my first priority. The military experience allowed me to serve around the globe and care from patients from across the country and globe. I look forward to bringing that experience to Rady.”

Dr. Schmitz is team physician for the USA Rugby Men’s National Team and associate professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He was recently chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at San Antonio Military Medical Center. Dr. Schmitz completed his pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the United States Air Force Academy.

Dr. Schmitz is a member of the Board of Directors and incoming president of the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance and served as chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the San Antonio Military Medical Center from 2019 to 2021. He has held national leadership roles in prominent organizations such as the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Looking forward, Dr. Schmitz told OTW, “My first steps have been getting plugged into the local sports scene. With daughters that play both club and high school soccer, volleyball, and track, that has been relatively easy. Any time I am not in the hospital or clinic, I have been at their games and training sessions. In addition, San Diego has a rich rugby culture and getting plugged in to the youth and professional rugby set ups has allowed me to help provide some advice and care for those athletes.”

And what are his plans for the sports medicine and hip preservation services?

“I plan to enhance the sports medicine and hip preservation service by bringing a new perspective on arthroscopic treatment of hip problems—getting athletes with hip problems back to sports with arthroscopy but also helping our complex hip patients with a mixture of both open and arthroscopic surgery, frequently in the same setting. With regard to sports knee injuries, it is building on the long standing history of providing excellent sports care with 360 Sports Medicine here in San Diego.”