Bennett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2003
Contact: Karen Warmkessel kwarmkessel@umm.edu 410-328-8919
Ellen Beth Levitt eblevitt@umm.edu 410-328-8919

PITTSBURGH STEELERS TEAM PHYSICIAN NAMED CHIEF OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SPORTS MEDICINE

Craig Bennett also will become head team orthopaedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens

Craig H. Bennett, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon and a team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been named Chief of Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Maryland Medical Center, effective August 1. He will also serve as head team orthopaedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens and will join the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Bennett comes to Baltimore from Pittsburgh, where he was on the staff of the Center for Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In addition to being an associate team physician with the Steelers, he was head team physician for the University of Pittsburgh men's varsity basketball team.

"We're excited about getting him here. He is an academic orthopaedist - an excellent clinician and educator," says Vincent D. Pellegrini, Jr., M.D., chief of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland Medical Medical Center and professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

"Dr. Bennett really is a well-rounded surgeon and physician, and we would be selling him short if we promoted him largely as an NFL team doctor. Craig really has the mix of qualities that we were looking for, in addition to his experience with professional athletes," Dr. Pellegrini says. He adds that Dr. Bennett was selected after a national search.

Ravens President David Modell says, "We are delighted that someone with Dr. Bennett's experience and reputation will be working with our players. We chose the University of Maryland Medical Center to provide medical services for our team because of its top-notch specialists and commitment to sports medicine. Our experience over the last seven years has been nothing but positive."

As Chief of Sports Medicine, Dr. Bennett will oversee all of the medical center's sports-related programs, which provide care for the Baltimore Ravens, University of Maryland Terrapins, UMBC Retrievers and Coppin State Eagles. He will also supervise the resident education and orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship programs.

"This is a terrific opportunity to oversee an already well-established and highly-regarded sports medicine program that serves not only professional and collegiate teams, such as the Baltimore Ravens and the University of Maryland Terrapins, but recreational athletes as well," Dr. Bennett says. "I look forward to working with the Ravens and University of Maryland athletes and with people in the surrounding communities. In addition to treating athletes, I have always had a very active community practice, and I plan to continue that work in Maryland."

Dr. Bennett specializes in treating knee, shoulder and ankle injuries and in complex reconstructive surgery, particularly on the knee, such as anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions, cartilage surgery, meniscus transplantation and knee osteotomies.

As a researcher, he is interested in studying ways to improve the longevity and results from knee ligament, cartilage and meniscus surgery. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Brown University and received his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Emory University and a knee and shoulder surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He joined the staff of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine in 1998.

Dr. Bennett was one of 15 orthopaedic surgeons from across the country recently chosen to take part in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' leadership program. The program is designed to groom orthopaedic surgeons who have demonstrated a high level of expertise and commitment to their community for leadership positions within the AAOS.

The University of Maryland Medical Center has provided medical services to Ravens players, coaches, scouts and staff since owner Art Modell first brought the NFL football team to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996.

Andrew M. Tucker, M.D., the director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at the medical center and an assistant professor of orthopaedics and family medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is head team physician for the Ravens and manages every aspect of the players' medical care. Brian Crites, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine, is the head team physician and orthopaedic surgeon for the University of Maryland Terrapins. Dr. Crites is also associate team physician for the Ravens and an assistant professor of orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Physicians, nurses and emergency staff are also on hand at Ravens Stadium during games to give first aid and other medical assistance to fans and players alike. The medical center's Maryland ExpressCare provides ambulance service to bring patients to the medical center and its Shock Trauma Center, which are only blocks away from the stadium.

Dr. Bennett and the other sports medicine physicians are based at One Texas Station in Timonium. To schedule an appointment, patients can call (410) 448-6400 or 1-800-492-5538.

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For patient inquiries, call 1-800-492-5538 or click here to make an appointment.

This page was last updated on: February 25, 2008.