Dr. Rhorer
Dr. Rhorer grew up in Chandler, Arizona. He graduated in the top five percent of his class at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe where he was the President of the National Honor Society. As a youth Dr. Rhorer was involved in extreme sports such as skateboarding and rock climbing. A skateboarding accident paved the pathway for his interest in orthopaedic surgery. He backpacked much of Arizona's back country and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Community service, public speaking and education have always been a strong facet in his life.
As an undergraduate at The University of Arizona, Dr. Rhorer Chaired a student organization called Camp Wildcat, which provides camping and outdoor experiences to underprivileged youth. He was also selected to participate in an exclusive research program funded by the Howard Hughes Institute called the Undergraduate Biology Research Program. Dr. Rhorer earned several honors at the University of Arizona and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He was accepted to several medical schools across the nation and ultimately chose Duke University.
As a medical student at Duke, Dr. Rhorer completed a year of basic science research studying the effects of cancer genes in orthopaedic tumors. His results were presented at national meetings. He studied surgery and medicine under some of the great names in American medicine, including the esteemed Dr. David C. Sabistion, Jr. His success as a Duke Medical Student afforded him many opportunities for surgical resident education. He chose the Duke orthopaedic surgery training program for its prestige and steeped tradition. His surgical training was rigorous and regimented including critical care, trauma, joint replacement, sports medicine and pediatrics. During his residency, Dr. Rhorer spent six months at the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children where he had a comprehensive education in children's orthopaedic maladies. When he graduated from his residency, his co-residents elected him to receive a prestigious award for teaching. He also received a research award and a grant from the Orthopaedic Research Foundation for resident education.
Dr. Rhorer has always been interested in complex trauma and deformity. During his residency, he was fortunate to be one of the first Americans to serve as a fellow at the Russian Ilizarov Science Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedics. The RISC is the birth place of the method of Ilizarov. Dr. Rhorer studied management of complex trauma and deformity correction using the tried and true methods of the original master, Professor G.A. Ilizarov. After returning to the United States, he furthered his interest in post-traumatic reconstruction and deformity correction by studying the Taylor Spatial Frame, a revolutionary technology using external fixation and computer software for fracture and deformity management.
Dr. Rhorer completed his residency training at Duke and was selected to be one of only four orthopaedic trauma surgery fellows at the prestigious Florida Orthopaedic Institute under the direction of the internationally renowned trauma surgeon Dr. Roy Sanders. While at the FOI, Dr. Rhorer studied fracture surgery under seven orthopaedic trauma surgeons at Tampa General Hospital. In the space of one year he performed over 1,000 cases including 100 pelvis and acetabulum procedures. There are only a handful of fellowship trained trauma surgeons in the state of Arizona. Dr. Rhorer is proud to dedicate his practice solely to complex fracture management.
Dr. Rhorer is the Medical Director of orthopaedic trauma at Scottsdale Healthcare, and he is working with the hospital to build a comprehensive orthopaedic trauma program. Since completing his fellowship, Dr. Rhorer has been invited to lecture and serve as faculty at national and local courses.
After a 14 year hiatus, Dr. Rhorer has returned to the valley with several objectives. He wants to develop an orthopaedic trauma service that aims to provide world class fracture care. He is passionate about fracture management and polytraumatized victims. He is particularly interested in fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum, calcaneus, tibial plateau and pilon. Many of these injuries are life changing, and Dr. Rhorer accepts the challenge of managing and operating on these difficult cases. He also treats non-unions and post-traumatic infections.
Dr. Rhorer is married with two daughters. His wife, whom he met at The University of Arizona, is an accomplished career counselor. They live in Scottsdale where they enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with family. Dr. Rhorer still loves the Arizona back country, and he strives to live by the Scout law and the Scout oath every day!
