Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Professor
Primary Appointment:
Orthopaedics
Additional Title:
Chief of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland Medical System; Former Chair, Department of Orthopaedics, UMSOM
Location:
110 S. Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 300
Phone (Primary):
410-328-8340
Fax:
410-328-2893
Education and Training
- Northwestern University, BS, 1983
- Northwestern University Medical School, MD, 1987
- Fellowship, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Musculoskeletal Biology, 1989
- Residency, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Integrated Orthopaedic Surgery, 1993
- Fellowship, University of California-Davis Medical Center, Orthopaedic Traumatology, 1994
Biosketch
As chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Dr. Pollak is leading the way in building research programs aimed at understanding musculoskeletal disease and response to injury and investigating the effectiveness of clinical interventions. A preeminent orthopaedic trauma surgeon, he has introduced innovative surgical techniques to the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center and Medical Center to improve recovery after significant musculoskeletal trauma. He has also pioneered new processes in the evaluation and treatment of patients with orthopaedic injuries that have challenged traditional dogma and improved both patient care and resource utilization Dr. Pollak was instrumental in developing sports medicine programs at the School of Medicine for professional and college athletes.
He has served as a team physician for the Baltimore Ravens and currently serves on the medical staff of the University of Maryland Terrapins. As former chair of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Extremity War Injuries Project Team, Dr. Pollak was instrumental in leading efforts to define research gaps in treatment of high-energy musculoskeletal injury and in substantially increasing overall federal funding for musculoskeletal research. He is Editor of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Orange Book Series, an entire series of textbooks for emergency medical services (EMS) providers.
Dr. Pollak’s interest in EMS began while he was a junior volunteer firefighter/EMT before college. He continues to pursue that interest today as Medical Director of the Baltimore County Fire Department. He also serves as a Special Deputy US Marshal and as Medical Director of the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center’s Go Team, a rapid response team of physicians and nurse anesthetists who respond into the field to assist field providers in situations of prolonged entrapment and at mass casualty incidents.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Orthopaedic surgery, orthopaedic traumatology
Highlighted Publications
Okike K, O’Toole RV, Pollak AN, Bishop JA, McAndrew CM, Mehta S, Cross WW, Garrigues GE, Harris MB, and Lebrun CT. Survey Finds Few Orthopedic Surgeons Know The Costs Of The Devices They Implant. Health Aff (Milwood). 2014 Jan; 33(1):103-9. PMID:24395941.
Wegener ST, Castillo RC, Heins SE, Bradford AN, Newell MZ, Pollak AN, MacKenzieEJ. The development and validation of the readiness to engage in self-management after acute traumatic injury questionnaire. Rehabil Psychol. [Epub ahead of print]. 2014 May;59(2):203-10. PMID: 24611921.
Slobogean G, Sprague S, Furey A, Pollak AN. Orthopaedic Trauma Care Specialist Program in Developing Countries. J Orthop Trauma. 2015 Oct; 29:S26-S28. PMID:26356211
Additional Publication Citations
Torbert JT, Joshi M, Moraff A, Matuszewski PE, Holmes A, Pollak AN, O'Toole RV. Current bacterial speciation and antibiotic resistance in deep infections after operative fixation of fractures. J Orthop Trauma 2015;29(1):7-17.
Kleweno CP, O’Toole RV, Ballreich J, Pollak AN. Does fracture care make money for the hospital? An analysis of hospital revenues and costs for treatment of common fractures. J Orthop Trauma 2015;29(7):e219-e224.
Boulton CL, Pollak AN. Special topic: Ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures: Does evidence give us the answer? Injury2015;46(3):478-483.
Scalea TM, Carco D, Reece M, Fouche YL, Pollak AN, Nagarkatti SS. Effect of a novel financial incentive program on operating room efficiency. JAMA Surg 2014;149(9):920-924.
Zhou J, Li Y, Wang QK, Pollak AN, Slobogean GP. Status of road safety and injury burden: China. J Orthop Trauma 2014;28[suppl 1]:S41-S42.
Whitney A, O'Toole RV, Hui E, Sciadini MF, Pollak AN, Manson TT, Eglseder WA, Andersen RC, LeBrun C, Doro C, Nascone JW. Do one-time intracompartmental pressure measurements have a high false-positive rate in diagnosing compartment syndrome? J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2014;76(2):479-483.
Clinical Specialty Details
Dr. Pollak specializes in orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic traumatology.
Awards and Affiliations
- Past-President, Orthopaedic Trauma Association
- Past Treasurer, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Past President, Maryland Orthopaedic Association
- Past Chair, Board of Specialty Societies, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Commissioner, Maryland Health Care Commission
- Editor, AAOS Orange Book Series
- Medical Director, Baltimore County Fire Department
- Shock Trauma Hero Award, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center (2000, 2006, 2008, 2012)
- U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command Research Program Award for Excellence, 2010
- The Washington Post Magazine’s Super Doctors (2011, 2012, 2013)
- Baltimore Magazine Top Doctors, 2012
Featured Video
The Department of Orthopaedics is saving and changing lives for the better every day, providing state-of the-art trauma and orthopaedic care. This video is the story of Katelyn Mitchell, who was in danger of losing a leg following a terrible car accident. Luckily, she was rushed to the University of Maryland for her care.