Dr. Seiter developed his interest in sports medicine at an early age. When he was in high school, he and his father were involved in a serious car accident that left his father with severe injuries, including a fractured spine. Witnessing his father's road to recovery had a tremendous impression on him as a young man, and it was then that he decided to go to medical school.
After graduating with highest honors at The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Seiter attended medical school at the University of Texas’ UT Southwestern Medical School. His interests in orthopaedics were reaffirmed by the field's tangible nature, and the ability to return patients to doing what they love most. After medical school, he attended residency at the University of Miami, where he worked with collegiate and professional sports teams, including the Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Marlins.
"As an athlete myself, it was very inspiring for me to have the opportunity to return high-level athletes to their utmost level of performance," Dr. Seiter said. His on-the-field coverage included sideline support, daily clinic visits, and surgeries.
His residency training included thousands of surgeries performed at Jackson Memorial Hospital, a nationally renowned, Level 1 Trauma Center. His surgical procedures had an intense focus on trauma care, and provided robust experience with sports medicine and joint preservation and reconstruction.
After residency, Dr. Seiter went on to complete his fellowship at the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He expanded on his orthopaedic training at Steadman with a sub-specialty focus on sports medicine and complex procedures for the athlete. His fellowship gave him immersive experience with hip pathology and arthroscopy, and complex knee and shoulder procedures, including reconstruction as well as joint preservation.
Dr. Seiter continued working with top athletes throughout his fellowship, performing various knee ligament reconstructions, shoulder instability procedures, and hip scopes. Some of the athletes he treated during his fellowship include NFL players, which has been a motivating experience for Dr. Seiter.
"Watching patients we treated return to play at the highest level or progress through the draft and make it into the NFL was very impactful for me," he said.
It wasn't just his passion for returning athletes to the field that drove his love of sports medicine and orthopaedics; Dr. Seiter is quite the athlete himself. Since early childhood, he has excelled at a number of sports and physical activities, including football, track, baseball, and swimming. In college, he competed on the ultimate frisbee team.
Dr. Seiter is no stranger to the personal experience of sports-related injuries, either, having suffered a myriad of broken bones throughout his youth. He also sustained a serious shoulder dislocation during his ultimate frisbee career, which left him with recurrent pain and instability until he was treated by a shoulder specialist. After treatment, he returned to high-level athletics without any recurrent dislocations: another factor that reaffirmed his decision for sports medicine.
"I spent a lot of my youth in a cast, so I had an early experience with orthopaedics," Dr. Seiter said. "My own injuries and desire to compete in athletics and maintain an active lifestyle give me a unique perspective of the demands of the highly active sporting community where we live."
During winter when he's not in the clinic, you can find him out on the slopes at our local resorts.
In fact, Dr. Seiter first learned to ski at Breckenridge Ski Resort during a family trip to the area as a teenager. It was then that he not only fell in love with skiing but with our local communities as well. His dream was always to perform sports medicine in an active community with outdoor
enthusiasts, so it's no surprise that his path lead him back to the Colorado High Country.
Dr. Seiter is looking forward to serving the local community outside of the VSON clinic as well. He will be taking care of the Summit High School teams, Team Summit Colorado, and Team Breck, in addition to being regularly involved in the US Ski and Snowboard physician pool and assisting with their needs.
"I've been so excited to move to the High Country," Dr. Seiter said. "It's an absolutely gorgeous place filled with natural beauty, culture, and history. My wife and I look forward to becoming active members within the Eagle and Summit communities, and we are both looking forward to raising our first child in the mountains."
He and his wife reside in Breckenridge with their golden retriever, Birdie. They are also expecting a baby in the fall, who Dr. Seiter says he is excited to get on skis at an early age.
Dr. Seiter's experiences both as a physician and an athlete give him a deep understanding of sports medicine and our patients' needs. His community values and love of the Colorado mountain lifestyle make him an exemplary fit for Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery. We couldn't be more excited for him to join the team!
"We all live here because we enjoy the outdoors and Colorado activities," Dr. Seiter said. "Getting patients back to being able to do the things they love is what brings me the greatest joy as an orthopaedic surgeon."
Dr. Max Seiter specializes in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine: shoulder, hip, knee, fracture care, and orthopaedic trauma. Request him for your next appointment!