MISSION AND VALUES
Caring for Our Community
At Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, we are dedicated to providing our community (residents and visitors) with the highest quality of musculoskeletal care. Our physicians individualize treatment for each patient, taking their lifestyle, fitness goals, and the unique presentation of their injury into consideration.
Every day, the staff at VSON provides our patients with compassionate treatment and follow-up care because we care about their personal circumstances and goals.
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Through innovation and ongoing education, we use evolving and pioneering techniques to improve the patient outcome and experience. VSON contributes to the communities in which we serve, believing to effectively care for a community, we must actively engage with its residents and contribute to its organizations.
These are the principles VSON holds, and the mission we strive for.
Providing Orthopaedic
Care Since 1979
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THE FOUNDING
Founded by Dr. John E. Gottlieb, Dr. Peter Janes, Dr. Paul Abbott, and Dr. Lonnie Chipman in 1979, VSON (then Vail Orthopaedics) was the first orthopaedic clinic in Eagle County. Prior to then, all orthopaedic injuries were sent to Denver for treatment. Despite the challenges of starting a practice in the mountains, VSON worked alongside Vail Health to bring a high standard of orthopaedic care to the local community.
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THE GROWTH
In 1989, Vail Orthopaedics became the Vail Center for Sports Medicine, growing so much that additional physicians were invited to join the practice. Dr. Scott Raub joined the organization in 1999, followed shortly after by Dr. Richard Cunningham in 2003.
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THE REBRAND
As the demand for orthopaedic care grew, Vail Center for Sports Medicine opened a clinic in Summit County, rebranding to Vail-Summit Orthopaedics. With the addition of Dr. Ernest Braxton in 2017, VSO added a much-needed neurosurgeon to its team and became Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery.
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THE PRESENT
Today, the doctors and staff at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery continue to provide world-class care to area residents and visitors, practicing in seven clinics across Colorado.
Our Promise to Patients
At Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, we are committed to compassionately treating your bone, joint, and muscle injuries and conditions as quickly and effectively as possible to get you back to doing the activities you love. Forty-four years after our founding, VSON still honors the legacy and values upon which our organization was established:
Our primary responsibility is to patients, whom we care for with kindness, understanding, dignity, and respect.
Surgery is a last resort, only pursued when all conservative measures have been exhausted.
Care begins with a conversation. Treatment is developed in partnership with the patient, taking their lifestyle and outcome goals into consideration.
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Orthopaedic care is comprehensive. Our physicians collaborate with radiologists, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure the patient recovers successfully.
Since 1979, VSON’s philosophy of care has been at the core of our organization. Our patients may be your neighbors and friends. Some are famous personalities, professional athletes, and members of the U.S. Olympic Team, but the most important patient in the world is you. At VSON, every patient is a star patient.
What We Treat
WE PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT IN THREE BRANCHES OF MEDICINE
ORTHOPAEDICS: Injuries and conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, which consists of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
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NEUROSURGERY: Conditions that impact the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
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SPORTS MEDICINE: Treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries and conditions.
All VSON patients receive an integrated approach to treatment and recovery that includes physical therapists, personal trainers, chiropractors, massage therapists, and others.
Thank you for the great care and follow-up. After missing an entire ski season, I am thrilled to be back hiking, biking, and playing tennis this Summer and Fall. Your team was great at returning messages and fitting me in for last-minute appointments.
Lauren B.
My first visit (2002) was for a fractured ankle. All the doctors at VSON are very professional and personal, answering any questions I had along with good bedside manners. They are the types of doctors everyone is looking for. Skillful, professional, and personal.
Jim E.
Our
Doctors
VSON specialists are among the most experienced fellowship-trained doctors in sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery. Trusted by locals and selected by professional athletes, our orthopaedic physicians care deeply about their patients, going above and beyond to provide personalized care and specialized treatment. All our doctors utilize innovative diagnostic and treatment techniques to help patients reach their goals and get back to the activities they love.
A Convenient Location
Near You
At Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, we are committed to compassionately treating your bone, joint, and muscle injuries and conditions as quickly and effectively as possible to get you back to doing the activities you love. Forty-four years after our founding, VSON still honors the legacy and values upon which our organization was established:
Work With Us
Our
Careers
The staff at VSON is united by a passion for providing world-class care, putting patients first, and giving back to our community. Whether you're an orthopaedic expert or a patient representative, you'll be a part of a culture that nurtures talent, fosters innovation, and transforms lives. Learn how you could thrive in a career at VSON!
Athletic Training Residency
Dedicated to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals, the Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery Athletic Training Residency Program prepares Athletic Trainers for a role in an orthopaedic and sports medicine clinical setting. Residents are taught by world-renowned orthopaedic physicians and their staff and gain an extraordinary advantage in their field.
Community
Outreach
Care doesn’t end at the clinic doors. Giving back is an integral part of the culture at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, and we're proud to be actively involved in the communities we serve. Through sponsorships, programs, and volunteerism, VSON partners with local organizations to increase access to orthopaedic care, drive economic progress, and improve the lives of local residents.
We're is at the forefront of introducing new technology and innovative techniques, moving orthopaedic medicine in the right direction. Through our Research and Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are conducting clinical studies to advance the care of patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders, improve treatment outcomes, and provide the best orthopaedic care possible.