Matthew Philip Abdel, MD

Matthew P. Abdel, M.D., is a consultant in the Division of Hip and Knee Surgery and chair of the Division of Orthopedic Surgery Research in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Abdel also serves as director of the Orthopedic Genetic Host Variation Laboratory. Given his surgical expertise in joint infections, he holds a joint appointment in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine. He joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 2012 and holds the academic rank of professor of orthopedic surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Abdel is recognized with the very highest distinction as the Andrew A. and Mary S. Sugg Professorship in Orthopedic Surgery.

Dr. Abdel earned his B.S. in biochemistry and business management at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, graduating as valedictorian. He earned his M.D. at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, also graduating as valedictorian. He completed an internship and a residency in orthopedic surgery, serving as chief resident, at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education and earned his M.S. at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He then completed an adult hip and knee reconstruction fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell University in New York City, followed by the Müller/Hip Society European Fellowship in Hip Reconstruction, visiting centers in England, France, Germany and Italy. He subsequently completed the Insall Traveling Fellowship, visiting multiple centers in North America.

As an orthopedic clinician-scientist with broad-based training in orthopedic surgery, biomechanics, and biochemistry, Dr. Abdel is interested in studying clinically-relevant pathologies while considering the functional impact on patients. His laboratory is focused on investigating the genetic expression profiles of people predisposed to joint contractures (arthrofibrosis). Dr. Abdel’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS), Regenerative Medicine Minnesota, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and
The Knee Society. He is frequently invited to give presentations on his research both nationally and internationally. He is a prolific author of expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals.

In recognition of his work, Dr. Abdel has received many awards and honors, including the Dorr Award, conferred by the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons three times; the Otto Aufranc Award and Frank Stinchfield Award twice, both conferred by The Hip Society; the Insall Award, conferred by The Knee Society; and the Coventry Award, conferred by The Knee Society two times.

In addition to his clinical and research activities, Dr. Abdel is active in education and provides mentorship
to surgical residents and fellows. He holds master’s faculty privileges in Orthopedic Surgery and Ph.D. faculty privileges in Biomedical Engineering and Physiology in Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Abdel recently recently served on the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Board of Directors, the highest governing body of orthopedic surgery in the world. He also a member of the prestigious invite-only closed Hip Society, closed Knee Society, and closed International Hip Society, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Mid-America Orthopedic Association, and International Orthopedic Education and Network.