Alexander R Vap, MD

Biography

Alexander R. Vap, M.D. specializes in knee, elbow and shoulder injuries in athletes and non-athletes.  

Dr. Vap does cartilage restoration and ACL and multi-ligament reconstructions for tears or injuries to the knee.  He also performs rotator cuff and labral repair in addition to shoulder replacement.  He does reconstruction of the UCL of the elbow with the “Tommy John” surgical procedure.

As part of the orthopedics team at VCU Health, Dr. Vap uses a multi-faceted approach to improve clinical outcomes, including surgical and/or non-surgical treatment.  

Dr. Vap has strong academic credentials.  After completing his orthopedic residency at Duke University, he was awarded a prestigious fellowship at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado, where he gained experience in arthroscopic and open surgery of the knee and shoulder. He also learned cutting edge medical techniques for treating sports injuries at Ulleval Hospital in Oslo, Norway, where he trained under the world-renowned knee surgeon, Lars Engebretsen, M.D.

An assistant professor at VCU, Dr. Vap explains that research remains a big part of his sports medicine practice.  “I like looking at clinical outcomes to evaluate how successful the surgeries are, and I develop new surgical approaches for unique and challenging cases that might not have been seen before,” he says.

Following up on this interest, he has written, or co-written dozens of articles published in medical journals on such topics as the treatment of torn hamstrings and rotator cuffs and injured Achilles tendons.

With patients of all ages and a wide range of sports injuries to treat, Dr. Vap points out that each patient is unique. “It’s important to recognize that and face each new patient with a clean sheet and treat them accordingly.”

Dr. Vap takes the time to explain to his patients, not only the scope of their injuries, but also the challenges they face and a plan of action for their recovery.

“At VCU Health, we are building a nationally recognized referral center for sports medicine, surgery and research.  We want VCU Health to be recognized in Virginia for its excellence and for its willingness to treat both athletes and non-athletes, who have sustained significant injuries”

Advice to patients: “There are a lot of options to help you, and not all of them require surgery.  With some time and patience, things often will get better.”

Professional affiliations:

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
• Arthroscopy Association of North America
• Piedmont Orthopaedic Society
• Editor for Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery

Professional activity/team coverage: 

• Team Physician Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics
• Team Physician Virginia Union University Athletics
• Team Physician Virginia State University Athletics
• Team Physician Richard Bland College Athletics
• Team Physician Maggie Walker High School
• Team Physician Longwood University Athletics
• Team Physician VCU Club sports
• Richmond Flying Squirrels
• U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Physician: 2015
• Team Physician Duke Men’s Basketball: 2013-2015
• Team Physician Duke Football: 2013-2014
• Team Physician Duke Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse: 2011-2013
• Team Physician Duke Men’s Soccer: 2011-2013
• Team Physician Duke Women’s Field Hockey: 2011-2012
• Team Physician Duke Women’s Basketball: 2012-2013
• Team Physician North Carolina Central University Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball: 2011-2013

For a list of publications, please visit PubMed.