Sports and exercise. They're great ways to stay healthy, challenge yourself and have fun. So when an injury sidelines you, you want a team with the expertise to get you back in the game as quickly as possible. You’ll find that expertise at Rush, home to the team physicians for the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, also boasts one of the top-ranked orthopedic programs in the country, according to U.S.News & World Report, which places the Rush orthopedic program ahead of any other program in Illinois. 

To help patients return to their active lifestyles, the sports medicine team at Rush has pioneered innovative new treatment options, such as cartilage transplants and arthroscopic surgical approaches to repair damaged anterior cruciate knee ligaments and rotator cuffs. In fact, Rush is one of the nation's leaders in ACL and rotator cuff surgery and research.

Because Rush is an academic medical center, the same doctors who treat patients are working behind the scenes to find new ways to repair or replace damaged cartilage, improve the performance of knee and hip implants and help athletes avoid injuries in the first place.

And because women and girls have unique health care needs, Rush has one of the nation's few dedicated women's sports medicine programs, providing care for both recreational and competitive female athletes.

Our comprehensive sports medicine program offers care for athletes of all ages and skill levels. Services include:

• Knee surgery, including ligament repairs and cartilage transplantation.
• Shoulder surgery, including shoulder-joint replacement and repairs, 100 percent arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery and surgery to correct shoulder instability.
• Treatment for complex cases, including revision surgery for failed knee and shoulder surgeries.
• An extensive network of athletic trainers who provide patients with instruction on injury prevention, rehabilitation and safe but effective ways to return to their sports.

At Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, a highly skilled multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for active adults and kids of all ages. The team has the know-how to treat even the most complex injuries. And then there are the Rush nurses. Thanks to these highly experienced, compassionate caregivers, Rush has achieved Magnet status, the highest honor a hospital can achieve for nursing services.

Sports Medicine Surgeons

Bernard R. Bach Jr., MD, director of Sports Medicine at Rush since 1986, has developed a nationally recognized sports medicine program. Bach has published more than 375 scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters. He serves on numerous national sports committees and editorial boards and is an educator of residents, fellows and his patients.

Brian J. Cole, MD, MBA is a professor in the Department of Orthopedics with a conjoint appointment in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Rush. He is the section head of the Cartilage Research Program and the Cartilage Restoration Center at Rush. He also serves as the head of the Orthopaedic Master's Program and trains residents and fellows in sports medicine.

Gregory P. Nicholson, MD, specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery, utilizing state-of-the-art arthroscopic and open surgical techniques to treat sports-related, traumatic, arthritic and occupational conditions.

Shane Jay Nho, MD, focuses on sports medicine and arthroscopic treatment of the hip, shoulder and knee. He is co-head of the Hip Study Group at Rush, a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and scientists conducting research on hip joint preservation and clinical outcomes after hip surgery.

Anthony A. Romeo, MD, specializes in shoulder and elbow injuries. Romeo uses state-of-the-art arthroscopic techniques to accelerate the recovery process for challenging conditions such as rotator cuff disease, shoulder instability and elbow stiffness. He is one of the few surgeons in the United States who routinely performs rotator cuff repairs, including revision repairs, using all arthroscopic techniques.

Nikhil N. Verma, MD, specializes in the treatment of injuries to the shoulder, elbow and knee, with an emphasis on advanced arthroscopic techniques, meniscal transplantation and cartilage restorative procedures.

Primary Care Sports Medicine Physicians

Krystian Bigosinski, MD, focuses on sports medicine, treating both recreational and high-level athletes. Bigonsinski is assistant team physician for DePaul University and Trinity International University football. He is also a team physician for the Chicago White Sox, providing coverage for Sox home games. 

Joshua Blomgren, DO, focuses on sports and musculoskeletal medicine, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels. Blomgren is one of the co-team physicians for the Chicago White Sox. He is also on the medical team at the Chicago Marathon and serves as team physician for York Community High School Athletics.

Jeffrey M. Mijaanes, MD, is dedicated to caring for young athletes. At the high school level, he gives talks to parents, coaches and student athletes on a variety of current sports issues and injury prevention. He also takes an active role in educating future physicians and advancing research in sports medicine. He currently serves as medical director of the Chicago Sports Concussion Clinic at Rush.

Kathleen M. Weber, MD, possesses unique expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal issues. Weber currently serves as head team physician for the DePaul Blue Demons and as sports medicine physician consultant for the Hubbard Street Dance Company and the River North Dance Company. She also is a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Force women's football team.