Dr. Benjamin S. Shaffer, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy, with particular expertise in problems of the shoulder, elbow and knee. He is an associate professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at Georgetown University and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Shaffer serves as head team physician for the NHL Washington Capitals, assistant team physician for the NBA Washington Wizards, and is president of the NHL Team Physicians Society. He is a former team physician for the Washington Nationals, Washington Freedom and Georgetown University Hoyas.
Dr. Shaffer authored more than 50 textbook chapters and peer-reviewed journal publications. He lectures extensively and co-chaired regional and national level orthopaedic and sports medicine meetings.
Dr. Shaffer is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Practice and Privileges
- Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Washington, D.C., 2005 to present
- Staff physician, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Washington, D.C., 1997 to present
- Associate professor, Clinical Orthopaedics, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 1992 to present
- Associate professor, Clinical Orthopaedics, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 2007 to present
Education/Training
- Fellowship, Sports Medicine, Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles, Calif., 1989—1990
- Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases and Orthopaedic Institute, New York, N.Y., 1985—1989
- Internship, General Surgery, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y., 1984—1985
- MD, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., 1980—1984
- BS, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., 1976—1980
Team Physician
- Assistant team physician, Washington Wizards, 2010—present
- Medical director and head team physician, Washington Capitals NHL Hockey Team, 1999—present
- Medical director and head team physician, Washington Nationals Baseball Club, 2006—2008
- Head team physician, Washington Freedom Pro Women's Soccer, 2001—2003
- Head team physician, Georgetown University Athletics, 1992—2000
- Head team physician, United States Basketball League (USBL) Washington Congressionals, 1997—1998
- Team physician, Maret School, 1999—present
- Team physician, Holton-Arms School, 1998—2007
Orthopaedic Consultant
- NHL Physician, 2010 Olympics, Vancouver, CA
- Energy Consultant, PGA Championship, Avenel, Md., 2010
- Frozen Four, Verizon Center, 2009
- Booz Allen Classic, Avenel, Md., 2006
- President’s Cup, PGA Tour, Manassas, Va., 2005
- World Figure Skating Championships, Washington, D.C., 2003
- U.S. Canoe/Kayak Slalom Team, 1994—2004
- Women's World Cup Summer, 1999 and 2003
- PGA Golf Tour, 1992—1998
Certifications
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Honors
- Top Doctors, Washingtonian Magazine, since 2002Top Doctors, Northern Virginia, 2010
- Who's Who in America, 2010
- Best Textbook in Clinical Medicine, Shoulder Arthroscopy, 2003
Memberships
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- President, NHL Team Physician Society
Publications since 2008
See earlier publications from Dr. Shaffer (link to his CV)
Evaluation of BioCleanseTM Patellar Tendon Allografts for the Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligaments: A Prospective Randomized Investigation
Pending Submission
Full Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears in the Overhead athlete
Noah Raizman and Ben Shaffer
In: Sports Medicine of Baseball
Editors: Drs. Lewis Yocum, James Andrews, David Altchek and Neil ElAttrache.
In Publication
Anterior shoulder Instability: Suture Anchor technique
Operative Arthroscopy 4th Edition
Section Editor F Alan Barber MD
In Publication
Recurrent Posterior Dislocation of the Hip with a Bankart-Type Lesion: A Case Report
Patrick Birmingham, Jon Cluett and Ben Shaffer
American ournal of Sports Medicine
Vol. 38, No 2, February 2010, pp. 388-192
Viscosupplementation Treatment of Arthritis Pain
Pain Aspects of Arthritis section, Editor Dr. Andrew J. Holman
Current Pain and Headache Reports
Stephen D. Silberstein, MD and Lawrence C. Newman, MD: Academic Editors
Volume 13, Issue 6 (December 2009) Pain Aspects of Arthritis
Clinical update: MR imaging of the shoulder.
Murray PJ, Shaffer BS.
Sports Med Arthrosc. 2009 Mar;17(1):40-8. Review.
New Approaches to Diagnosis and Arthroscopic Management off Partial-Thickness Cuff Tears
J R Rudzki and Benjamin Shaffer
Clinics in Sports Medicine
Volume 27, No. 4, October 2008, pp 691-718
WB Saunders
Rudzki JR, Shaffer BS. In Wiesel S, ed.
Arthroscopic treatment of biceps tendinopathy.
Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, vol 1. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011:57–67.
Invited Presentations since 2008 (click here to see more)
Biceps tendon disorders of the shoulder
TRIA Annual Conference "The Aging Athlete"
June 3rd-4th, 2011
Minneapolis, Minnesota
SLAP tears - evaluation and management
TRIA Annual Conference "The Aging Athlete"
June 3rd-4th, 2011
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Partial Thickness Cuff Tears
TRIA Annual Conference "The Aging Athlete"
June 3rd-4th, 2011
Minneapolis, Minnesota
SLAP Repairs: Pushing the Envelope, Technique and Outcome
AAOS Annual Meeting
2/18/2011
San Diego, CA
General Hip Pain and Hip Arthroscopy
Advanced Team Physician Course
December 9-12, 2010
Washington, DC
Cartilage Injuries of the Knee
Advanced Team Physician Course
December 9-12, 2010
Washington, DC
Fixing SLAP Tears – Yes
Advanced Team Physician Course
December 9-12, 2010
Washington, DC
Grade III AC Injury - Yes
Advanced Team Physician Course
December 9-12, 2010
Washington, DC
How to Improve Outcomes in Anterior Shoulder Stabilization
Arthroscopy Association of North America
November 18,2010
Internal Impingement
Arthroscopy Association of North America
Instructional Course
May 22, 2010 Hollywood, FL
Arthroscopic Stabilization for Anterior Shoulder Instability
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Instructional course 130
March 10, 2010; New Orleans, LA
Arthroscopic stabilization for Anterior Instability – Pearls and Pitfalls
Speaker and Course Co-Chair
28th Annual Cherry Blossom Orthopaedic Seminar
April 2009, Falls Church, VA
Arthroscopic Cuff Repair: principles and Tips in Your transition
Speaker and Course Co-Chair
28th Annual Cherry Blossom Orthopaedic Seminar
April 2009, Falls Church, VA
Management of Rotator Cuff Tears in Throwers
Sports Medicine and Baseball: Injury Prevention and Treatment
Speaker and Course Co-Chair
Jan 8-10, 2009; Washington, DC
Traumatic Anterior Instability
Course 101 Shoulder
Arthroscopy Association of North America
27th Fall Course
November 20, 2008; Phoenix, AZ
Operative Treatment of SLAP tears
Injuries to the Shoulder and Elbow in the Throwing Athlete
October 24-25, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
Neurovascular Problems in the Throwing Athlete
Injuries to the Shoulder and Elbow in the Throwing Athlete
October 24-25, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
The Adolescent Elbow
Injuries to the Shoulder and Elbow in the Throwing Athlete
October 24-25, 2008, Las Vegas, NV
Arthroscopic shoulder portal Anatomy and Tips
Speaker and Master Instructor
AANA OLC Shoulder Arthroscopy Course,
October 10-12, 2008; Rosemont IL
Arthroscopic Bankart Repair
Speaker and Master Instructor
AANA OLC Shoulder Arthroscopy Course
October 10-12, 2008; Rosemont IL
Basic Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
Speaker and Master Instructor
AANA OLC Shoulder Arthroscopy Course
October 10-12, 2008; Rosemont IL
Arthroscopic Management of Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears
Speaker and Master Instructor
AANA OLC Shoulder Arthroscopy Course
October 10-12, 2008; Rosemont IL
The AC joint: New Concepts in Stabilization
Speaker and Master Instructor
AANA OLC Shoulder Arthroscopy Course
October 10-12, 2008; Rosemont IL
Shoulder Instability in the Contact/Collision Athlete
Moderator, Case Presentations
AOSSM/NHL Course: The Puck Stops Here: Comprehensive Management of Hockey Injuries - Speaker and Course Co-Chairman
The Westin Michigan Avenue
August, 2008 Chicago, IL
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Rationale and Technique
Speaker and Course Co-Chair
27th Annual Cherry Blossom Orthopaedic Seminar
April 2008, Falls Church VA
Arthroscopic Stabilization in Anterior Instability: Indications, Pearls and Pitfalls
Speaker and Course Co-Chair
27th Annual Cherry Blossom Orthopaedic Seminar
April 2008, Falls Church VA
Contraindications to Arthroscopic Stabilization: When NOT to use the scope
Speaker and Course Director
9th Annual AAOS/AOSSM Sports Medicine Course: From Amateur to All-Star
Feb 7-10, 2008, Phoenix, AZ
Partial Cuff tears: When and How?
Speaker and Course Director
Annual AAOS/AOSSM Sports Medicine Course: From Amateur to All-Star
Feb 7-10, 2008, Phoenix, AZ
AC Joint Injuries; Treatment Rationale, techniques and tips
Speaker and Course Director
Annual AAOS/AOSSM Sports Medicine Course: From Amateur to All-Star
Feb 7-10, 2008, Phoenix, AZ
Management of Partial Cuff Tears in Throwers
Sports Medicine and Baseball: A Comprehensive Approach
Jan 3-5, 2008, St. Louis, MO
The Role of Elbow Arthroscopy in Throwers
Sports Medicine and Baseball: A Comprehensive Approach
Jan 3-5, 2008, St. Louis, MO
Media Education
Lateral Meniscus transplant: Surgical Technique
AAOS and AANA Website Technical Videos
AAOS Orthopaedic Surgery Video Library, 2010
Intra-articular Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder: A Case Report
Journal of Arthroscopy and Related Research
accepted for publication 2010
Arthroscopic Cuff Repair Dual Row Technique
Journal of Arthroscopy and Related Research, 2009
Web Education
Baseball Injury Prevention
From “Your Orthopaedic Connection”
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
August 2009
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00185
Knee Arthroscopy
From “Your Orthopaedic Connection”
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
February 2008
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00299
Rotator Cuff Repair
AANA Website
Date Published: 1/30/2009
http://www.aana.org/members/index.aspx?tab=1〈=Englishπ=elPublic&l=1&mode=courseTopics&cid=202
Active Research
- Surgical techniques in meniscus transplantation
- Arthroscopic SLAP repair techniques
- Accuracy of intra-articular injections in adhesive capsulitis
