Dr. Scerpella is the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Chair, the Ballentine Endowed Professor of Orthopedic Research, and a professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. One of only a few women in the country to chair an orthopedics and rehabilitation department, she draws on her over 30 years of experience in the medical field to oversee and guide the educational, research, and clinical missions of the vibrant, experienced, and nationally-recognized department faculty.
Prior to being named Chair, Dr. Scerpella served as the Department’s Interim Chair, Senior Vice Chair, and Chief of the Division of Sports Medicine. She has received multiple honors throughout her career – most recently, the 2020-21 Slesinger Award for Excellence in Mentoring and the 2017 Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women's Association.
As team physician for the UW Badger Women's Hockey and Softball teams, Dr. Scerpella has extensive experience treating injuries in elite athletes and athletes of all ages and abilities. Further, as a former collegiate gymnast with an ACL tear, Dr. Scerpella has a deep understanding of the difficulty of recovering from a sports-related injury.
