Omar Protzuk, MD

As one of Omar Protzuk, M.D.’s mentors used to say: “Everyone is an athlete.”

“Being an athlete is a state of mind without age limits, and sports medicine extends far beyond the care of elite performers,” Protzuk said. “Sports medicine is about treating people of all ages and functional levels to preserve their mobility, independence and quality of life. It is about our ability to live fully.”

A fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, Dr. Protzuk helps patients of all ages restore function, mobility and confidence after injury to the shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle. He is trained in both non-surgical and minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to treat conditions such as ligament, tendon and cartilage injuries; meniscal tears; patellar instability; and rotator cuff and labral disease. He also manages complex and revision cases in patients with failed previous surgeries.

Dr. Protzuk returned to VCU Health in 2025, several years after attending medical school and completing his residency at the VCU School of Medicine and VCU Medical Center, where he served as chief resident in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Mass General Brigham, where he cared for athletes from high school to Harvard University, Stonehill College and Northeastern University, as well as professional organizations such as the Boston Bruins hockey team and Boston Ballet.

“I take pride in forming a relationship with my patients — listening and learning about their condition, and providing not just treatment options, but also education about the musculoskeletal system and their injuries,” he said. “Nothing brings me more fulfillment and joy than seeing my patients return to the activities that make them happy and supporting them in their goals — whether that means winning a championship or throwing a ball with their grandchild.”

While Dr. Protzuk stays on the leading edge of orthopaedic treatment technologies, he recognizes that new approaches can be a double-edged sword. While a new therapy may seem “new and shiny,” that doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective. “Our role is that of a gatekeeper,” he said, “to critically assess every new technique and tool to ensure safety and effectiveness.”

Dr. Protzuk is also an active educator and researcher in the field of sports medicine. As an assistant clinical professor, he teaches young residents the ropes of orthopaedic conditions and treatments and conducts research into topics such as improving outcomes in ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff and shoulder instability repair and cartilage restoration. He participates in a research group at VCU dedicated to his late mentor and Richmond orthopaedic surgeon Alexander Vap, M.D. Dr. Protzuk’s work has been published in leading journals, presented nationally and internationally and supported by research grants and awards. “We actively mentor undergraduate students, medical students and residents in developing research topics, designing studies, and writing manuscripts,” he said. “It’s an honor to continue to spread Dr. Vap’s passion for teaching and research through this group.”

Returning to Richmond and VCU Health feels like coming full circle for Dr. Protzuk. “This is the place that shaped my career,” he said. “To now care for patients and train future surgeons in the same community that trained me is a privilege.”