Eric McCarty, M.D.
Chief of Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery
Dr. McCarty is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and a fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist with a long-time interest in sports medicine and athletics. His passion for treating the active individual stems from his playing days as a linebacker at C.U. where he earned all conference honors. In addition to his duties as head team physician for the University of Colorado and University of Denver, Dr. McCarty’s specialized practice also involves the care of recreational and highly competitive athletes from the community. His clinical expertise includes arthroscopic and open reconstructive surgery of the knee, shoulder and elbow.
Full Bio

Medical Degree: University of Colorado
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Fellowship in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

Deborah Saint-Phard, M.D.
Director, Active Women's Health, a CU Sports Medicine Program, UCH
Associate Professor,
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dr. Saint-Phard is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic medicine and pain medicine. As the director of Active Women's Health, her clinical interests are providing expert sports and spine care to active and athletic women and girls. She also conducts research on the self-concept of female athletes and stress fractures in female athletes. In 2007, Dr. Saint-Phard was named one of the Best Doctors in America® by Best Doctors, Inc.®. Dr. Saint-Phard is also a former elite athlete. She competed in the shot put at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, Italy and in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. She was ranked Top 20 in the world.

Full Bio

Medical Degree: Temple University
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine

Michelle Wolcott, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Wolcott is an orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in sports medicine. Her areas of expertise include the treatment of lower extremity injuries; issues related to women’s sports medicine; and the care of the competitive and recreational athlete. She is an avid runner who has competed in two marathons and is training for her first triathlon. She also is actively involved in community education on injury prevention and proper training techniques. Dr. Wolcott is the author of a variety of articles and has co-authored a book on sports-related injuries.
Full Bio

Medical Degree: Georgetown University
Residency: Loyola University
Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Armando Vidal, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Vidal is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. He is an avid cyclist and runner and enjoys taking care of both competitive and recreational athletes in Denver and Boulder. His clinical expertise includes open and arthroscopic surgery of simple and complex knee, shoulder, hip and elbow disorders. Dr. Vidal serves as a team physician for the University of Colorado and University of Denver athletic programs.
Full Bio

Medical Degree: University of Miami School of Medicine
Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh

Sourav Poddar, M.D., CAQSM
Assistant Professor
Dr. Poddar is board certified in family medicine and is fellowship trained and board certified in sports medicine. As a former collegiate soccer player who continues to play the game, Dr. Poddar brings his athletic background to work. He specializes in the non-operative management of orthopaedic injuries, as well as exercise prescription, heat illness and concussion management. Dr. Poddar is the head medical team physician for the Colorado Buffaloes and also serves as regional consultant for the San Francisco Giants.

Medical Degree: University of Texas-Southwestern
Residency: University of Colorado
Fellowship: University of Colorado

Venu Akuthota, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Akuthota serves as the medical director of the Spine Center at University of Colorado Hospital and is responsible for the Runners' Clinic at the University Sports Medicine Center. He is board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine, pain medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Akuthota's clinical interests include prevention and management of the neck, lower back pain and running injuries.

Medical Degree: Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine
Residency: Northwestern University
Fellowship: Sports and Spine Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

John C. Hill, D.O., FAAFP, FACSM
Associate Professor, Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Hill is a board certified family physician with sub-specialty boards in primary care sports medicine. His clinical areas of interest revolve around Women’s Health and Wellness. He has delivered over 1000 babies and has in depth knowledge in prenatal care and exercise as it relates to pregnancy. He is the team physician at the University of Denver . He is a popular speaker nationally in the areas of sports medicine and obstetrics.

Medical Degree: Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Residency: Truman Medical Center-East, University of Missouri at Kansas City
Fellowship: University of Colorado Denver

Iñigo San Millán, Ph.D.

Director, Excercise Physiology Lab

Dr. San Millán is an exercise physiologist from Basque Country, Spain. He has vast experience working with professional athletes and teams. He worked with and advised 6 Pro Tour cycling teams, 1 Tour de France winner and several podium finishers, world class triathletes, runners, rowers, swimmers, professional basketball players and many other athletes and teams. He also advised and trained coaches and physiologists worldwide. At present, Dr. San Millán is directing our Exercise Physiology and Human Performance lab where, with the most advanced equipment, he is applying the latest testing protocols, approaches and methods to a wide variety of athletes of any level. He is also applying new scientific methods in lactate metabolism, substrate utilization, and overtraining and obesity prevention programs. Dr. San Millán obtained his bachelor degree from Colorado State University and his Doctorate from the University of the Basque Country, Spain.

Paula Langner, MS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Originally from Western Colorado, Paula attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins where she received her Bachelors degree in Health and Exercise Science with an emphasis in Sports Medicine. She continued her studies and received her Master’s degree in 2005. Paula is also a certified personal trainer and USA swimming coach and has worked with age group and masters swimmers throughout Colorado. She is currently the Clinical Research Coordinator for CU Sports Medicine.

Joy Anderson, PT, ATC, CSCS
Physical Therapist & Certified Athletic Trainer
Joy is a licensed physical therapist, certified athletic trainer, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. She has served as a trainer for the United States Figure Skating Association. Joy’s clinical interests include adolescent sports medicine, strength and conditioning for youth athletes and orthopedic sports medicine. Her research interests are ACL prevention, rehabilitation, return to play programs and adolescent sports medicine. Joy attended the University of Nebraska.

Laura King, MS, ATC, CSCS
Certified Athletic Trainer
Laura joined the University Sports Medicine Center staff in 2006. After obtaining her Bachelors Degree from the University of New Hampshire and her Masters Degree from Washington State University, she worked as a collegiate athletic trainer for 11 years at the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Denver. Laura looks forward to helping patients return to a high level of activity.

Denise Knutson, MA, MEd, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer, Medical Assistant
Denise is a Certified Athletic Trainer, from the Chicago, Illinois area. Denise graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She also attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, where she worked as a graduate assistant and obtained her Master’s degree. Denise has worked with athletes and individuals of all ages and abilities, including coordinating a high school and community outreach program in the Boulder, Colorado area.

Andrea Lenz, MS, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Andrea is a certified athletic trainer. Originally from the Midwest, Andrea attended the University of Iowa, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in exercise science and athletic training. Andrea also has recently become certified as a Sportsmetrics™ instructor and offers ACL prevention training.

Doug Jowdy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Sports Psychologist
Dr. Jowdy is a licensed psychologist in Colorado and has worked for the U.S. Olympic Committee serving as the team psychologist for U.S. Speed Skating. He assisted the coaches and athletes prepare for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, U.T. Prior to working for the Olympic Committee, he was a Co-Director of a Mental Health Treatment Program at Denver Health Medical Center. Dr. Jowdy was also employed as the Department Head of the Exercise/Sport Psychology Programs at Argosy University in Phoenix, AZ. He has coached and played ice hockey at the college level. His areas of specialization are: performance enhancement, coaching education, coach and athlete relationship development, coping with the emotional aspects of injury rehabilitation and working with team dynamics. Dr. Jowdy also specializes in the treatment of some medical conditions, anxiety disorders, depression, weight normalization and problems with alcohol/drug use.

Master’s Degree: Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D.: Virginia Commonwealth University
Clinical Internship: Denver Health Medical Center
Postdoctoral Training: Stanford University Medical School

Nancy Pudwill
Nutritionist
Nancy has been a registered dietitian in private practice since 1986. She earned her undergraduate degree at Kansas State University and did her internship at Kansas University Medical Center. Nancy is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Colorado Dietetic Association and works with athletes at the University of Denver and throughout Colorado.