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Luga Podesta
Summary
Throughout his impressive 26-year career, Dr. Luga Podesta has been dedicated to restoring his patient’s quality of life. He takes great pride in his ability to quickly and safely return patients to the life they want to live; whether that is playing a sport, working, or enjoying recreational activities. His typical patient is anything but typical and includes all who seek his expertise, including professional athletes, musicians, performing artists, as well as weekend warriors, high school, college, recreational and youth athletes.
Dr. Podesta is a nationally recognized sports medicine physician specializing in the non-surgical treatment of orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee, and spine, and brings with him a wealth of experience on and off the field. He is considered a pioneer in the new field of Regenerative Medicine, an area of medicine with the potential to fully heal damaged tissues, offering hope for individuals who are unable to or do not choose to undergo surgery.
Dr. Podesta serves as a consultant to the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, Major League Baseball Umpires and World Baseball Classic and as a sports performance consultant to Cirque Du Soleil-Iris. He is the head team physician for Suffolk College athletics and team physician and consultant to a number of Suffolk County, New York, high school athletic programs and elite sport clubs.
Dr. Podesta served as the medical director and head team physician for the Los Angeles Kiss (Arena Football League) from 2014-2015, as team physician for the Los Angeles Angels Baseball team (2010-2013) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990-2006). He also served as head team physician for the World Champion LA Xtreme (XFL) (2001), the Los Angeles Avengers, Arena Football League (2002-2008), the Los Angeles Riptide Major League Lacrosse (2006-2008,), Oxnard College, and as team physician for Loyola Marymount University. Past consultant roles have include the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and as a training camp consultant to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.
Dr. Podesta received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wagner College and earned his Medical Degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara and New York Medical College. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of NYC and post doctorate Sports Medicine fellowships at the Staten Island Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, Staten Island, NY, and at the world renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. He is board certified in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.
Dr. Podesta is a dedicated educator, clinician and researcher. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of PM&R and Sports Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. He is also a respected member of numerous medical societies including the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Arena Football Physician and Trainers Society and Major League Baseball Physicians Association.
Academically, Dr. Podesta remains active, lecturing nationally and internationally on topics specific to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries in the throwing athlete; on-field management of sports related spine injuries, biologic cell based therapies and regenerative medicine. He has authored textbook chapters, research journal articles and instructional videos. Dr. Podesta is a contributing writer to DRUM! Magazine, covering health-related topics specific to drummers, percussionists and performing artists and US News and World Report.
