Ryan Ponton MD

RYAN P. PONTON, MD, FAAOS
ORTHOPEDIC HAND SURGERY

EDUCATION
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA  Aug 2018 – Jul 2019
Harvard Medical School
Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship

Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA Jul 2012 – Jun 2016
Orthopedic Surgery Residency

Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA Jul 2008 – Jun 2009
Orthopedic Surgery Internship

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD Aug 2004 – May 2008
F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Aug 2000 – May 2004
Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS
Oregon Medical License Jan 2020 – present
Nebraska Medical License July 2009 – Oct 2021
Massachusetts Medical License Mar 2018 – Nov 2020
DEA, Military Aug 2019 – Sep 2022
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Board Certified Jul 2018 – Dec 2028
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Fellow Oct 2020 - present
BLS expires Jan 2024
ATLS expires Feb 2025

FACULTY EXPERIENCE
ASSET+ and COTS+ Expeditionary Faculty 2021 – present
Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA
• Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma and Combat Orthopedic Trauma
Surgery Course
• Teach essential skills for expeditionary surgeons

Attending, Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program 2019 – present
Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA
• Selected as Associate Master Clinician for high clinical volume, proven excellent outcomes, sustained superior patient satisfaction, significant contributions to the profession, and outstanding professionalism
• Co-Chairman, Professional Education Committee

Orthopedic Hand Surgery Clinical Fellow 2018 – 2019
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Department of Surgery

Assistant Professor of Surgery 2017 – present
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD / San Diego, CA
Department of Surgery

PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Publications
1. Bernstein E, Taniguchi K, Tompane T, Kirby H, Ponton R, McDonald LS. Incorporation of Whipstitch Suture in Tibial Interference Fixation Improves Pullout in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Soft Tissue Grafts. Military Medicine, 2021 Jan; Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33459342.
2. Daly MC, He JJ, Ponton RP, Ko JH, Valerio IL, Eberlin KR. A Single Incision Anterior Approach for Transhumeral Amputation Targeted Muscle Reinnveration. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Apr 23;8(4):e2750.
3. Notermans JW, Lans J, Ponton RP, Jupiter JB, Chen NC. Factors Associated with Reoperation after Pyrocarbon Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthroplasty for the Arthritic Joint: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Hand and Microsurgery. 2020. 10.1055/s-0040-1709088.
4. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Cooper AN, Gluf WM, Tomlin JM. Rate of Return to Military Active Duty after Single and 2-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A 4-Year Retrospective Review. Neurosurgery. 2018 Jun. Epub ahead of print.
5. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Riccio AI, Gluf WM. Rate of Return to Military Active Duty after Single Level Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Retrospective Review. Neurosurgery. 2012 Aug;71(2):317-24.
6. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Riccio AI. Arthroscopic Techniques in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Closure of the Lumbar Fascia: Surgical Technique. Neurosurgery. 2011 Apr;68(4): 1092-4; discussion 1095.
7. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Garvin AN, Gluf WM. Arthroplasty in the Military: A Preliminary Experience with Prodisc-C and Prodisc-L: Algorithm for Return to Military Active Duty/Activity. Neurosurg Focus. 2010 May;28(5):E18.
8. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Gluf WM. Management of Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy in the Military: The Cost Effectiveness of Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. Neurosurg Focus. 2010 May;28(5):E17.

Book Chapters
1. Ponton RP, Harris EB. Upper Cervical Spine Trauma. In: Musculoskeletal Examination of the Spine: Making the Complex Simple. Eds. Rihn JA, Harris EB. 2011. Slack, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
2. Ponton RP, Harris EB. To Fuse or Not to Fuse: That’s the Question. In: Advanced Concepts in Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease. Eds. Pinheiro-Franco JL, Vaccaro AR, Benzel EC, Mayer HM. 2015. Springer Publishing Company, New York, NY.
3. Ponton RP, Saldua NN, Harrop J. Intra-Iliac Screw/Bolt Fixation, S2 Alar Iliac Screw Fixation. In: Spine Surgery: Tricks of the Trade, 3rd Edition. Eds. Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ. February 2016. Thieme Medical Publishers, New York, NY.

PRESENTATIONS
Podium
1. Bernstein E, Taniguchi K, Tompane T, Kirby H, Ponton RP, McDonald LS. Incorporation of Whipstitch Suture in Tibial Interference Fixation Improves Pullout in ACL Soft Tissue Grafts.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. December 2017.
• Resident Research Competition, Southwest US. San Diego, CA. May 2017.
2. LeClere LE, Mazurek MT, Riccio AI, Saldua NN, Ponton RP. The Impact of CT Scans on the Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Waikiki, HI. December 2009.
• Resident Research Competition, Southwest US. San Diego, CA. May 2009.
• Naval Medical Center San Diego Academic Research Competition. San Diego, CA. April 2009.
3. Ponton RP, Tumialán, LM, Garvin A, Gluf WM. Rate of Return to Military Active Duty after Single Level and Two Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A 4 Year Retrospective Review.
• Naval Medical Center San Diego/University of California San Diego Academic Research Competition. San Diego, CA. May 2013. Awarded 2nd place in clinical studies category.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons. Vail, Colorado. December 2013.
4. Ponton RP, Johnson AS, Morrissey PB, Asher DB, Dromsky DM, Kuhn KM. Reliability of Unilateral Clavicle Radiographs versus Panoramic Shoulder Girdle Radiographs in Evaluating Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fracture Shortening.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. St. Petersburg, FL. December 2015.
5. Rocchi VJ, Ponton RP, LeClere LE. Functional Outcomes After Suprascapular Nerve Decompression in a Young Active Population.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons 2015 Annual Meeting. St. Petersburg, FL. December 2015.
6. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Riccio AI, Gluf WM. Rate of Return to Military Active Duty after Single Level Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Retrospective Review.
• American Association of Neurologic Surgeons/Congress of Neurologic Surgeons Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Orlando, FL. February 2010.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons. Honolulu, Hawaii. December 2009.
7. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Garvin AN, Gluf WM. Arthroplasty in the Military: A Preliminary Experience with Prodisc-C and Prodisc-L: Algorithm for Return to Military Active Duty/Activity.
• Richard Lende Winter Neurosurgery Conference. Salt Lake City, UT. January 2010.

Poster
1. LeClere LE, Mazurek MT, Riccio AI, Saldua NN, Ponton RP. The Impact of CT Scans on the Treatment of Lisfranc Injuries.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 77th Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. March 2010.
• Orthopaedic Trauma Association 26th Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. October 2010.
2. Ponton RP, Tumialán, LM, Garvin A, Gluf WM. Rate of Return to Military Active Duty after Single Level and Two Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A 4 Year Retrospective Review.
• American Association of Neurologic Surgeons/Congress of Neurologic Surgeons Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Orlando, FL. February 2010.
3. Ponton RP, McDonald VS, Hurvitz A, Ignacio RC, Toledano JE. Concomitant Biceps Brachii Pyomyositis and Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder: A Case Report and A Review of the Literature on Pyomyositis.
• Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons. Scottsdale, AZ. December 2014.
4. Ponton RP, Johnson AS, Morrissey PB, Asher DB, Dromsky DM, Kuhn KM. Reliability of Unilateral Clavicle Radiographs versus Panoramic Shoulder Girdle Radiographs in Evaluating Mid-Shaft Clavicle Fracture Shortening.
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. March 2016.
• Naval Medical Center San Diego Academic Research Competition. San Diego, CA. April 2016.
• California Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting. Dana Point, CA. May 2016.
• Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting. National Harbor, MD. October 2016.
5. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Gluf WM. Management of Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy in the Military: The Cost Effectiveness of Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
• American Association of Neurologic Surgeons/Congress of Neurologic Surgeons Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Orlando, Florida. February 2010.
6. Tumialán LM, Ponton RP, Garvin AN, Gluf WM. Performance Status after Cervical Arthroplasty in the Military.
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. October 2010.

PROFESSIONAL COURSES
Tactical Combat Casualty Care for Advanced Providers, Naval Medical Center, San Diego 2020
Combat Extremity Surgery Course, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA 2015
William F. Enneking Musculoskeletal Pathology Seminar, University of Florida 2013
Basic Microvascular Surgery Course, Naval Medical Center San Diego 2015

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons

PRIOR MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS
Staff Orthopedic Hand Surgeon, Naval Medical Center San Diego 2019 – present
Staff Orthopedic Surgeon, US Naval Hospital Naples Italy 2016 – 2018
US Navy Flight Surgeon, Marine Corp Air Station Miramar 2010 – 201