Richard Ma, MD ’05, Res ’11
September 9, 2024 – The UVA Medical Alumni Association is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 MD Early Achievement Award: Richard Ma, MD ’05, Res ’11.
Dr. Ma is the Gregory L. and Ann L. Hummel Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Missouri. He is the current director of the Division of Sports Medicine, co-fellowship director for the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Surgery Fellowship, and the medical director of outpatient clinics for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute. Dr. Ma also serves as an official team physician for the University of Missouri Tigers Athletics.
Dr. Ma received his undergraduate, medical school, and residency education at the University of Virginia. After his time in Charlottesville, he completed a two-year clinician scientist fellowship program at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, with emphasis in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. In addition to his clinical work, he currently directs research programs within the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and the Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group. His primary clinical and research interests are in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery, understanding the mechanobiology of healing after ACL repairs, identifying biological indices that predict healing after ACL surgery, and sports injury epidemiology and injury prevention. His interests in musculoskeletal research led him to pursue a PhD with a focus on understanding the post-operative joint response to injury and surgery.
Dr. Ma has authored and contributed to over 250 manuscripts, abstracts, and research presentations at various national and international forums. His team’s research has been recognized by several national organizations including the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Australia, National Football League, and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. In 2023, Ma was one of four U.S. orthopaedic surgeons selected to be a part of the American Orthopaedic Association – Japanese Orthopaedic Association Traveling Fellowship. He has also been recognized for excellence in medical research and trainee education at the University of Missouri, where he has received the Dorsett L. Spurgeon Distinguished Medical Research Award and the Barry J. Gainor, MD Excellence in Teaching Award.
Congratulations to Dr. Ma on this well-deserved award.