Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Alumnus Dr. Marc Philippon '87 Establishes Scholarships
10/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 3, 2007
BOCA RATON, FL - Dr. Marc J. Philippon, a Florida Atlantic University soccer player from 1985-87 and a renowned orthopedic surgeon, is giving back to his alma mater with the establishment of two scholarships for current student athletes who aspire to become physicians. Zach Wichner and Robert St. Clair, both football players and biological science majors in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, will be awarded the scholarships this semester.
"When I returned last spring for the Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony, I decided to help current FAU student athletes," said Philippon. "FAU has such a positive environment that combines NCAA competition with academics. I'm hoping that other young people can benefit from the opportunity that FAU gave me as a student athlete."
A 1987 graduate of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Philippon earned his medical degree from McMaster University Medical School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1990 and completed his residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in 1995.
Philippon has been a partner at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado since 2005. Previously, he directed the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's sports-related hip disorders and golf medicine programs. Philippon is acclaimed for performing arthroscopic joint preservation surgery to treat painful hip injuries.
"It is truly a privilege and honor to see one of FAU's former student athletes give back to the University's athletics department," said Craig Angelos, FAU's athletics director. "Mark represents everything that is good about his alma mater. As an Owl soccer player, he honed his discipline and earned the education that allowed him to seek a higher degree. Mark has since become a highly successful medical doctor and his generous gift signifies his desire to make the dreams of other recipients of the Philippon Scholarship become possible. We are truly appreciative of his generous gift."
A surgical consultant for teams in the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, Philippon also has treated many recognizable names from the world of professional sports, including Greg Norman, Lynn Swann, Tara Lipinski, Mario Lemieux and Jay Fiedler.
Published widely, Philippon is a member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America and the Herodicus Society. He also is a fellow with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and remains on the University of Pittsburgh faculty. He lives in Colorado with his wife and three children.
