Dr. David Trofa '07CC to Serve as Head Team Physician
7/5/2023 1:06:00 PM | General
Trofa will take over for Dr. William Levine, who retired from his position in June
NEW YORK — Columbia Athletics has announced that David P. Trofa, MD '07CC has been named Head Team Physician. Dr. Trofa will replace Dr. William N. Levine, who retired from the position after a 25-year stint with the Lions.
Dr. Trofa, who graduated from Columbia in 2007 and was a member of the Lions' wrestling program, is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the operative and non-operative treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels. He is an expert in arthroscopic and open surgery of the knee and shoulder.
"First, we cannot thank Dr. Levine enough for all he's done for our student-athletes," said Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Peter Pilling. "He has provided tremendous care to our varsity programs, which will continue with Dr. Trofa. He is an extremely talented surgeon, and bringing an alumnus back in this role is truly special. We are grateful for our location in New York City, which provides our student-athletes access to some of the best doctors in the world."
A native of Wilton, Connecticut, Dr. Trofa is a former athlete who competed at the national level in soccer and wrestling. After receiving a B.A. in Biology from Columbia University, he graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine with Research Honors.
"It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Dr. Levine, as Columbia's next head team physician," said Dr. Trofa. "I am excited to work with the training staff, coaches and entire athletic department to provide the Columbia University student-athletes with the highest level of medical care possible."
He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was twice awarded the Ira Wolfe Award for Excellence in Sports Medicine Research. Following residency, Dr. Trofa completed a fellowship in sports medicine, shoulder, and elbow at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. While there, he served as a team physician for multiple professional and collegiate teams including the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Knights.
Dr. Trofa has been active in academic research throughout his career and serves as the Columbia Orthopedic Department's Director of Clinical Outcomes. He has authored over 125 peer-reviewed publications on various topics related to ACL reconstruction, cartilage transplantation, meniscus repairs, and the optimization of arthroscopic surgical techniques and post-operative physical therapy protocols. The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) recently recognized his work highlighting the benefits of ACL reconstructions using a novel hybrid transtibial technique with the 2020 AOSSM Excellence in Research Award.
Dr. Levine will continue to serve as Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and remain Columbia Athletics' shoulder surgeon.
Dr. Trofa, who graduated from Columbia in 2007 and was a member of the Lions' wrestling program, is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specializing in the operative and non-operative treatment of athletes of all ages and skill levels. He is an expert in arthroscopic and open surgery of the knee and shoulder.
"First, we cannot thank Dr. Levine enough for all he's done for our student-athletes," said Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Peter Pilling. "He has provided tremendous care to our varsity programs, which will continue with Dr. Trofa. He is an extremely talented surgeon, and bringing an alumnus back in this role is truly special. We are grateful for our location in New York City, which provides our student-athletes access to some of the best doctors in the world."
A native of Wilton, Connecticut, Dr. Trofa is a former athlete who competed at the national level in soccer and wrestling. After receiving a B.A. in Biology from Columbia University, he graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine with Research Honors.
"It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Dr. Levine, as Columbia's next head team physician," said Dr. Trofa. "I am excited to work with the training staff, coaches and entire athletic department to provide the Columbia University student-athletes with the highest level of medical care possible."
He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was twice awarded the Ira Wolfe Award for Excellence in Sports Medicine Research. Following residency, Dr. Trofa completed a fellowship in sports medicine, shoulder, and elbow at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. While there, he served as a team physician for multiple professional and collegiate teams including the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Knights.
Dr. Trofa has been active in academic research throughout his career and serves as the Columbia Orthopedic Department's Director of Clinical Outcomes. He has authored over 125 peer-reviewed publications on various topics related to ACL reconstruction, cartilage transplantation, meniscus repairs, and the optimization of arthroscopic surgical techniques and post-operative physical therapy protocols. The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) recently recognized his work highlighting the benefits of ACL reconstructions using a novel hybrid transtibial technique with the 2020 AOSSM Excellence in Research Award.
Dr. Levine will continue to serve as Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and remain Columbia Athletics' shoulder surgeon.
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