Department of Orthopaedics names Dietz chair

The West Virginia University School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics has named Matthew Dietz, M.D. as the new chair, effective July 1.

Dr. Dietz is a longtime clinician-scientist and orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hip and knee replacements. He has a particular interest in research around implant-associated infections and has a joint faculty appointment with the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology.

“It is an honor to have been named the chair of a department with so many talented individuals. The department’s culture is a blue-collared mentality that parallels that of the people of West Virginia we serve each day,” Dietz said. “Our goal is to keep West Virginia moving. In addition to educating and training the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons, our world-renowned faculty continue to explore and improve exciting and innovative developments to advance orthopaedic care. We strive to get better everyday so that WVU is synonymous with orthopaedic excellence.”

In addition to being a tenured faculty member, Dietz serves as a co-director of the West Virginia Clinical Translational Science Institute’s Pilot Core in which the group supports the growth of established and early-stage investigators in order to promote high-quality research by providing funding through several established and innovative programs.

“Dr. Dietz is an immensely talented faculty member, who places an emphasis on solving real world problems and offering solutions for patients with orthopedic issues, as well as being a great clinician and educator,” Clay Marsh, M.D., chancellor and executive dean for Health Sciences, said. “His leadership will position the department to grow in excellence and service to the state of West Virginia and beyond.”

Originally from South Park, Pennsylvania, Dietz holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Washington and Jefferson College. He received his medical degree from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at WVU, which included a research fellowship.  He completed his adult reconstruction fellowship at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served as an Instructor of Medicine. 

Dr. Dietz’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and has led him to bring first-in-human clinical trials to West Virginia. In addition to his research, he is a member of various professional organizations, including serving as a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association, member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dietz has authored over 150 manuscripts, books, chapters and abstracts. He frequently presents nationally on best clinical practices in orthopaedics and surrounding his research to prevent and treat prosthetic joint infection.

Dietz fills the position vacated by Sanford Emery, M.D., MBA, who retired in June after serving with the university for 20 years.

For more information on the Department of Orthopaedics, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/ortho.

-WVU-

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