Get to Know Me
Dr. Stephanie Stopka Pearce is a dual-fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon specializing in both pediatric and adult orthopedic sports medicine. She is also the director of our Sports Medicine Division here at ÎÞÂëרÇø Children’s Health. She focuses on complex injuries and conditions of the knee, elbow, shoulder and hip, with a strong emphasis on cartilage preservation. Her mission is to help competitive athletes return to their sport as quickly and safely as possible.
As team physician for US Ski & Snowboard, Dr. Pearce is committed to serving athletes on a global, national and local scale. She has worked extensively with Team USA athletes across various sports, including USA Lacrosse and USA Field Hockey, and has contributed her expertise to the Premier Lacrosse League and numerous universities, high schools and professional teams.
An accomplished former Division I scholarship soccer player, Dr. Pearce understands the unique needs of high school and collegiate athletes recruiting to the next level and how that may affect timing and options in the setting of medical needs. As a mother of two, she actively engages with her local community, working with youth, high school and Olympic athletics as well as serving with local, regional and national organizations to enhance pediatric sports medicine care and practices in our own backyard.Â
Dr. Pearce is a sought-after lecturer, presenting on topics such as "Knee Osteochondritis Dissecans," "Shoulder Dislocations: On and Off Field Management," and "The Growing Athletic Child." She has delivered numerous lectures nationwide on ACL injuries, meniscal pathologies, shoulder instability and sports injuries in throwing athletes, and has contributed to many peer-reviewed journals and textbook chapters. Her research efforts include multi-center prospective trials aimed at improving surgical care quality and patient outcomes. Additionally, she served as the medical director for the Master’s Athletic Training program at Old Dominion University, and currently trains the next generation of medical providers, including surgical and non-surgical fellows, residents and medical students, among students from other disciplines.
Her areas of expertise include:
- Complex knee injuries — Ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL, PLC, etc.), meniscus, cartilage
- Elbow injuries — UCL (Tommy John), cartilage/OCD, impingement, fractures, little leaguers elbow
- Shoulder instability and labral tears, throwing athletes
- Cartilage preservation and osteochondritis dissecans
- Hip preservation techniques (hip arthroscopy, labral repairs, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI))
- Sports medicine injuries of the ankle, wrist and more
- Injections and biologics, including PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma injections)
- Comprehensive care for the entire athlete
What I'm Passionate About
I have led ÎÞÂëרÇø in establishing the ÎÞÂëרÇø Sports Psychology and Sports Nutrition programs, enhancing the holistic care of athletes during their recovery and return to competition, rivaling our resources for our Team USA athletes.
