About

Scott Hacker, MD

Board-certified and Fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. Scott Hacker is a native San Diegan who returned to San Diego in August 2003 to bring world class training and expertise to athletes, individuals and workers in Southwestern California and the United States. He is board certified and fellowship trained in knee and shoulder surgery in the treatment of sports related injuries. He has special interest in advanced arthroscopic techniques, the treatment of arthritis and alternatives to joint replacement surgery as well as treatments with ultrasound-guided platelet rich plasma (PRP) for tendon and joint problems.

His broad expertise includes arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder and knee and treatment of athletic injuries. He currently serves as a Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the United States Olympic Team at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. Dr. Hacker was previously affiliated during his fellowship with the Denver BroncosColorado Rockies and formerly served as a team orthopaedic surgeon for the US Olympic Ski Team. Dr. Hacker continues to treat professional, college, high school and recreational athletes.

Clinical Research

Dr. Hacker serves as a principal investigator for Horizon Clinical Research, which participates along with companies around the world, to advance the science and understanding of cartilage repair and treatment of osteoarthritis.  With over 15 years of clinical trial experience, he not only treats patients under FDA Clinical Trial guidelines, but helps to design and execute clinical trials for new treatments.

Education & Training

Majoring in Engineering at the University of California San Diego, Dr. Hacker graduated Magna Cum Laude and went on to receive a Regent’s Fellowship to continue his engineering studies at UC San Diego, completing a graduate degree in Bioengineering, specializing in orthopedic biomechanics and properties of the human meniscus and cartilage. Dr. Hacker participated in extensive orthopedic research including landmark work describing the ability of the medial collateral ligament to heal and the anterior cruciate ligament to require reconstruction under Dr. Savio Woo at UCSD.

After his orthopedic surgery training at the University of Washington, Seattle, he was awarded the prestigious orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at the internationally famous Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado. In Vail, he trained under Dr. Richard Steadman and Dr. Richard Hawkins in knee and shoulder surgery, working with athletes and dignitaries from around the globe.

Industry Leadership

Dr. Hacker continues to teach regarding arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery and serves a clinical instructor to the San Diego Sports Medicine Fellowship program. Dr. Hacker wants all his patients to know that he and his team is committed to serving them in their orthopedic needs by providing the highest quality of treatment and service.

Publications

  • 7 scientific papers in peer reviewed orthopaedic journals
  • 1 Book Chapter
  • 15 scientific abstracts presented at national meetings

Team Coverage

  • Denver Broncos Football Team
  • Colorado Rockies Baseball Team
  • Eagle Valley High School Athletics
  • US Olympic Ski Team Physician
  • US Olympic Team Physician
  • Grossmont High School Football Team and Athletics
  • Valhalla High School Football Team and Athletic Department
  • San Diego Surf Dawgs Professional Baseball Team Physician

Professional Appointments

Teaching

  • Clinical Instructor Sports Medicine Family Practice Fellowship Program

Associations & Memberships

  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • American Society of Biomechanics
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineering
  • California Medical Association
  • California Orthopedic Association
  • San Diego County Medical Society
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society-California Psi Founding President

To read more about Dr. Hacker please visit his personal website.