Thomas R. Hackett,
MD
Chair, Education Committee
Faculty, Sports Medicine Fellowship
Team Physician for the US Snowboard Team
Medical Consultant to the Colorado Rockies (MLB)
Dr. Tom Hackett is an orthopaedic surgeon whose practice focuses on the surgical and non-surgical treatment of elbow, shoulder and knee disorders. He is a specialist in the arthroscopic treatment of sports injuries and trained directly under Dr. Frank Jobe, the founder of the "Tommy John" procedure and one of the pioneers in shoulder and elbow surgery for "overhead" athletes. Dr. Hackett also has completed additional training in the management of fractures and musculoskeletal trauma at Harbourview hospital in Seattle.
Dr. Hackett is a former collegiate athlete who received a degree in anthropology from The Colorado College and has worked both locally and internationally as an archaeologist, mountaineer, guide, and ski patrolman. After developing extensive, hands-on experience in wilderness medicine and rescue he went on to formally study medicine; initially at the University of Wyoming and subsequently at Creighton University, where he received his medical degree.
Dr. Hackett then went on to complete a general surgery internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at Boston's prestigious New England Medical Center at Tufts University. He completed a Sports Medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, where he specialized in surgery of the shoulder and elbow. While in Los Angeles he served as an assistant team physician to the LA Lakers, Sparks, Dodgers, Kings, Ducks and Galaxy professional sports teams. He continues to assist with the medical management of the LA Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies, and is a team physician for the US Snowboard Team. Dr. Hackett is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Hackett has conducted research in surgery of the shoulder, elbow and knee, and has published articles in peer reviewed medical journals. He is the author of several book chapters and has presented his research at national and international meetings.