Thomas P. Knapp, M.D. founded the Shoulder Institute with the idea of building a comprehensive clinic to take care of all aspects of shoulder pathology.
Dr. Knapp is an experienced, board certified orthopaedic surgeon who, in addition to all other aspects of sports medicine, has devoted his career specializing in arthroscopic surgery and reconstructive procedures of the shoulder. Dr. Knapp has authored numerous articles for medical journals, has been a frequent lecturer and instructor in training and educating other physicians, and is heavily involved in medical research and the development of new techniques and technologies. His invention of the Chia PercPasserTM has revolutionized arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Other innovative inventions include the KnappTM Sak II, the KnappTM Knee Sleeve and the KnappTM Universal Hinged Knee Orthosis .
Dr. Knapp joined the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group in 1995. Dr. Knapp is active in many leadership positions in the community, including with St. John’s Health Center, where he served as Vice-Chairman of the Orthopaedic Section, and with the University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he served as a Clinical Instructor. Dr. Knapp has also served as Team Physician for numerous local high school and college sports teams and Venue Medical Director for the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cup.
Dr. Knapp graduated from the University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Knapp completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship with the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group.
Bert R. Mandelbaum, M.D. is an experienced, board certified orthopaedic surgeon who is a well-published author and a frequent lecturer and instructor, among other posts serving as the Course Chairman since 2000 of the Annual National Articular Cartilage Repair Symposium for Sport Medicine Fellows. Dr. Mandlebaum is also heavily involved in medical research. He subscpecializes in cartilage restoration in the shoulder.
Dr. Mandelbaum joined the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group in 1989. Dr. Mandelbaum is active in many leadership positions in the community, including with St. John’s Health Center, where he served as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery, and with numerous sports teams and federations, including being the Team Physician for all U.S. Soccer Federation teams, U.S. Gymnastics Federation, FIFA World Cup USA (where he is Medical Director for the U.S. World Cup Team), and Pepperdine University, among others.
Dr. Mandelbaum attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University and Washington University in St. Louis, completing his internship and residency programs at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Mandelbaum completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship with UCLA Division of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Kevin M. Ehrhart, M.D. is an experienced, board certified orthopaedic surgeon with an active practice in all aspects of orthopaedic and sports medicine. He specializes in arthroscopic and open shoulder surgery. Dr. Ehrhart has been in private practice in Santa Monica for over 20 years, and has been active in leadership positions with St. John’s Health Center, including serving as Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and as a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors. Dr. Ehrhart has also served in numerous teaching positions, including that of Clinic Instructor with the UCLA School of Medicine and with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Ehrhart graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine, and performed a post graduate internship and residency at the UCLA School of Medicine as well as rotations through Wadsworth Veterans Hospital and Shriner’s Crippled Children’s Hospital.
Michael B. Gerhardt, M.D. is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who joined the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group in 2003. He is a shoulder trauma specialist subspecializing in advanced shoulder reconstructive procedures. Dr. Gerhardt is also active in sports medicine, serving as Team Physician for US Soccer Federation, PepperdineUniversity, and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer, among others.
Dr. Gerhardt graduated from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and performed his internship and residency at the University of Southern California, before completing a Sports Medicine Fellowship with the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group.
M. Ramin Modabber, M.D. is an experienced, board certified orthopaedic surgeon who, in addition to all other aspects of sports medicine, specializes in conditions of the upper extremity. In regards to the latter specialization, Dr. Modabber is well-published, is a frequent lecturer, and has undertaken extensive research in addition to developing numerous medical devices to aid. He is a specialist in advanced shoulder trauma as well as partial and total shoulder replacments.
Dr. Modabber joined the Santa Monica Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Group in 1997, and is active in leadership positions with St. John’sHealthCenter, including serving as the current Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Modabber has also served in numerous teaching positions, most notably as a Clinical Instructor at HarvardMedicalSchool. Dr. Modabber also serves as the Medical Director/Chief Medical Officer for the Amgen Tour of California, an eight-day, 700-mile professional cycling race through California. He is the inventor of the ModabberTM Wrist Orthosis and the ModabberTM Thumb Orthosis .
Dr. Modabber graduated from JeffersonMedicalCollege in Philadelphia, and went on to complete a General Surgery Internship at the New EnglandMedicalCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Modabber completed his residency at TuftsUniversity in Boston, and went on to complete a Fellowship in Hand/Upper Extremity Surgery at Massachusetts GeneralHospital in Boston.
