December Featured Author

Christopher D. Harner, MD
University of of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA

From the December Issue: Effects of Knee Flexion Angle and Loading Conditions on the End-to-End Distance of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament: A Comparison of the Roles of the Anterolateral and Posteromedial Bundles

Podcast: Listen to Dr. Harner discuss his article in the December issue.

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Christopher D. Harner, M.D., is the Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine.  He holds a secondary appointment as Professor of Physical Therapy, Health, and Physical Activity.  He is dual certified in both Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.

Dr. Harner specializes in Sports Medicine and knee surgery.  He has a long history of clinical and basic science research.  Dr. Harner is the Co-Director of the Sports Medicine Biomechanics/Biodynamics Laboratory which opened in April of 2007.  This lab is dedicated to the in vivo and in vitro basic science studies of knee injury, healing, and surgical repair.

Dr. Harner’s clinical and academic leadership in Sports Medicine is evidenced by numerous grants, awards and published scientific articles in clinical and research journals.  Awards for his research include the Cabaud Award (1999 & 2003) and the Excellence in Research Award (1994 & 2002) from the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Hughston Best Paper Award by AJSM (2000), the John Joyce Award from the ISAKOS (2001 & 2002), the Compere Award from the Twentieth Century Club (2004) and the Rovere Award from the AOSSM (2009).

His dedication to Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine is marked by his commitment to research and education. He consistently has been named among The Best Doctors in America: Northeast Region. He has served on the education committees for both the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA). In addition, Dr. Harner is a member of the editorial review boards for numerous orthopaedic, sports medicine, and scientific journals. He served as Program Chair for the Combined AOA/COA Meeting in July 2007 in Quebec City and for the AOSSM Annual Meeting in July 2009 in Keystone, CO.

In 2000, he was appointed to a 11 year term on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).  Dr. Harner has played a key role in Sports Medicine Certification serving as Chairman of the Subspecialty Certification Committee.  In addition to his ABOS commitments, he was appointed to a 2 year term on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors as a Member at Large in February 2007. Currently, he is a member of both the AOSSM Board of Directors and the ISAKOS Board of Directors.

Dr. Harner graduated with high honors from Michigan State University. In 1981, he earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan and went on to do his orthopaedic residency at the University of Pittsburgh.  He completed his sports medicine fellowship in Salt Lake City in 1987 and joined the full time faculty at the University of Pittsburgh later that same year.   In 1990, he was selected as an ESSKA-AOSSM Sports Medicine Travelling Fellow and visited over 20 sports medicine centers throughout Europe.

Selected Other Published Works in AJSM

“Complications After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery.” Salzler MJ, Lin A, Miller CD, Herold S, Irrgang JJ, Harner CD.
Am J Sports Med. 2013 Nov 27.

“Presidential Address of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine: Lifelong Learning–Mandate or Mission?”
Harner CD. Am J Sports Med. 2013 Dec;41(12):2742-5.

“In Vivo Analysis of the Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knee During Functional Activities.”
Goyal K, Tashman S, Wang JH, Li K, Zhang X, Harner CD. Am J Sports Med. 2012 Apr;40(4):777-85.

“Meniscal Root Suturing Techniques: Implications for Root Fixation.” Kopf S, Colvin AC, Muriuki M, Zhang X, Harner CD. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Oct;39(10):2141-6.

“Predictors of radiographic knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.” Li RT, Lorenz S, Xu Y, Harner CD, Fu FH, Irrgang JJ. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Dec;39(12):2595-603.