In his roles as Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Dr. Swiontkowski has educated, trained, and mentored many orthopaedic surgery residents and fellows. The champions for this effort on his behalf are Milton (Chip) L. Routt, MD, FAOA and Ann Van Heest, MD, FAOA.
Bio
Dr. Swiontkowski received his medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency training at the University of Washington, then went to Davos, Switzerland where he completed a research fellowship at the Laboratory for Experimental Surgery.
He began his work as Associate Professor at the Vanderbilt University where he helped establish the state of Tennesee’s first level one trauma center. Dr. Swiontkowski then moved to the University of Washington as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington from 1988-1997. From September 1997 through October 2007, he held the position of Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota.
Since then, Dr. Swiontkowski has held the position of Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota and was CEO of TRIA Orthopaedic Center in Bloomington, MN from 2007- 2015. He now holds the roles of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and continues as a Professor at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Swiontkowski is actively involved in training residents at the international level with Haitian surgeons at the two Haitian national university teaching hospitals in Port Au Prince (HUEH) and Delmas (LaPaix), and has worked at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania.
Throughout his celebrated career, he received many honors nationally and internationally, especially for his research and clinical achievements. He has held numerous leadership roles in professional societies, including president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, president of the Mid America Orthopaedic Association, and served as representative to the Board of Directors of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Swiontkowski has been an active and dedicated member of the AOA during his professional life. In 1985, he traveled as part of the North American Traveling Fellowship; and in 1989, he participated in the prestigious American-British-Canadian Traveling Fellowship. He served as president in 2006. Most recently, he was selected as the Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedics awardee in 2015.
The AOA congratulates Dr. Swiontkowski on being recognized as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession and for his constant support of the AOA programs and leadership initiatives throughout his career.
Tribute
“Dr. Swiontkowski set the platinum standard for mentorship long before mentorship was even an entity. His work effort was legendary, his clinical-educational-research abilities were unmatched, and his leadership inspired everyone around him to excel beyond their expectations. Dr. Swiontkowski’s research and clinical work have significantly impacted orthopaedics, but his most important contributions are the innumerable students, residents, fellows, and colleagues that he has patiently listened to, wisely counseled, and shown how to share their compassion. Marc is not only an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession, he’s also an orthopaedic icon.”
– Milton (Chip) L. Routt, MD, FAOA
Dr. Swiontkowski’s Champion
Tribute
“Dr. Swiontkowski was my sponsor to become an AOA member and has been integral to my career development and the successful career trajectory of hundreds of other orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Swiontkoswki’s amazing legacy of education, research, clinical, and leadership excellence has truly established him as an AOA Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession.”
– Ann E. Van Heest, MD, FAOA
Dr. Swiontkowski’s Champion