Peter A. Cole, MD

Peter A. Cole, MD • Division Head, Orthopaedics, Regions Hospital
• Professor, University of Minnesota
• Leader in Ortho Trauma, Scapula Injury, & Chest Wall Injury

I am Chair of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department at Regions Hospital, Division Medical Director for HealthPartners Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Director of The NorthStar Trauma Network, and Director of the Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship at the University of Minnesota—Regions NorthStar Level I Trauma Center. Though my medical and surgical practice is based at Regions Level I Trauma Center, I am

a full-time University of Minnesota Professor. I have developed a worldwide reputation as an educator and researcher on advanced trauma topics including complex joint injuries, bone malunions and the broken pelvis. I have been recognized as a leading expert in minimally invasive fracture surgery, Rib Fractures and Chest Wall fixation, and have the largest experience on record for the treatment of Scapula fractures. Underlying these clinical, administrative and investigative accomplishments is a passion for innovative problem solving, whether for patient conditions, surgical instruments, or challenges in healthcare delivery. Lastly, I am a proud husband, father of three children, and my wife Nancy and I founded a mission in the Amazon Jungle of Peru for musculoskeletal needs in surgery and rehabilitation (www.scalpelatthecross.org).

Le Cause cèlébre!A 10 Year CWIS Anniversary The Chest Wall Injury Society turned 10 this year and eclipsed 800 surgeons ...
06/08/2026

Le Cause cèlébre!
A 10 Year CWIS Anniversary

The Chest Wall Injury Society turned 10 this year and eclipsed 800 surgeons worldwide. The Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota - Regions Hospital Chest Wall Institute team brought home lots of Gold, two Keynote presentations, and a boatload of memories in its most competitive field to date. Our Research Directors Sandy Vang & Jeff Winter have guided a myriad of research projects and a tight knit culture to blow the top off this year, and my partner David Weatherby crushed his Ortho Hollywood Squares gameshow. Thank you Team!

Beauty of DeformityAt a wonderful dinner affair in March at Scotch 80 Prime Steakhouse in Las Vegas, I was riveted by a ...
06/04/2026

Beauty of Deformity

At a wonderful dinner affair in March at Scotch 80 Prime Steakhouse in Las Vegas, I was riveted by a portrait on the far corner of the lavish private room.

A curious and striking portrait of a model on the wall with an absolutely stunning, left, chronic, anterior, dislocation of her Manubrio-Clavicular Joint.

Orthopaedic Outward-Bound in Cartagena It was awe-inspiring to take a tour of a striking new hospital on the coast of Co...
06/02/2026

Orthopaedic Outward-Bound in Cartagena

It was awe-inspiring to take a tour of a striking new hospital on the coast of Colombia, whose mission is to serve an impoverished country-side even while delivering the highest-end orthopedic care for ‘surgical tourists’ in the pulsating cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, and the coastal region of spectacular Colombia.

Dr. Juan David Lacouture, a true humanitarian and rising star in shoulder surgery & trauma, led the tour with his mentors, and my dear Bogotano friends Carlos Olarte Santos & Tatiana Almario AristizAbal. His heart for ‘la gente’ and desire for exceptionalism in care to all peoples was literally biblical, and matched his pride for this phenomenal new orthopedic & trauma facility.

The Bogota Santa Fe Foundation (Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá) project to build and run Hospital Serena del Mar revealed to me The Power of Benefaction. Carlos and Sonja Haime, prominent Cubo-Colombian business magnate-philanthropists who were inspired by their treatment at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, had a heart for seeing-through the same level of care in their country. HSS’s on-going partnership with Hospital Serena del Mar manifests in an annual educational event with HSS in Cartagena, to amplify the level of care everywhere.

The hospital seems to lack nothing and is a sanctuary for healing even in life and death. It provides tremendous freedom to learn what’s possible even unto frontiers we do not yet know.




05/04/2026

This JBJS Case Connector in Vol. 16, No. 2, April-June 2026. is important to me for three reasons:

1.) It represents an all-too-common pathology which is unfortunate and avoidable, The Forequarter Lateral Implosion malunions.

2.) I co-authored this project with two dear visiting fellows from Latino America, Drs. Dr. Carlos Moreno Castillo & Alejandra Huaco Aranguri.

3.) I affectionately call these reconstructions, The Whipple surgeries of my Ortho Trauma practice!

Access Here:
https://journals.lww.com/jbjscc/abstract/2026/06000/case_report_of_scapular_and_clavicular_malunion.23.aspx

Congratulations Jessica Xu, MD and Alejandra Huaco, MD!On behalf the entire Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University...
05/01/2026

Congratulations Jessica Xu, MD and Alejandra Huaco, MD!

On behalf the entire Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota NorthStar Orthopaedic Trauma Research Lab at Regions Hospital, I want to congratulate Jessica Xu, MD and Alejandra Huaco, MD on their residency matches. Jess will be joining the Orthopaedic Residency at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, CA, and Alejandra will begin her Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency at the University of Miami—Jackson Health System. Their stories represent incredible resilience and achievement and I am very proud of both these young stars. Over the past two years, Jess and Ále have become cherished members of the Regions NorthStar Team. Their dedication and tenacity have been inspiring. They have risen to every challenge, playing a vital role in advancing our research mission. Both have been involved in 1rst-of-its-kind research in Chest Wall Injury, Imaging and career series on malunion, nonunion, and sternoclavicular joint injuries.

While we will greatly miss them, I am excited to watch them take their next steps—they’ve made a great Team!

04/29/2026

Something new is coming

The Scapula Institute is a dedicated team advancing research and education in shoulder and chest wall injury, delivering the highest level of care to patients facing the most complex challenges in the space.

We’re proud to be partnering in building a platform that reflects this mission, one that positions The Scapula Institute as a global network: supporting the scapula, its patients, and the clinicians who care for them.

A refreshed brand. A new digital home. A step toward setting the global standard for scapula care.
The Strategic Brand Platform is coming soon.

Cleveland Clinic's Great Shoulder Team....joined up for my last lab before launching Advita Equinoxe, the only acromial ...
04/29/2026

Cleveland Clinic's Great Shoulder Team....joined up for my last lab before launching Advita Equinoxe, the only acromial fracture solution for reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. 1rst Case maiden voyage in Saint Paul tomorrow God willing!

https://advita.com/trauma-reconstruction/equinoxe-scapula-reconstruction-system/

We had a blast discovering, sharing, learning.....
The morning lineup of cars descending at the main pavilion for patients entering for the 130 operating rooms is just like airport pickup at Christmas Time--what a Buzz!

04/26/2026

Happy to share that our first paper together is now published in JBJS Case Connector.
A case developed during my AOTrauma fellowship with Dr. Peter A. Cole .peter.cole and his team at the University of Minnesota — a forequarter lateral implosion injury with scapular and clavicular malunions, addressed in a single-stage reconstruction, with six-year follow-up.

Grateful to Dr. Cole, Alejandra Huaco , and Jeff Winter for the support and mentorship.

First of many. Looking forward to what comes next.

DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.25.00690

What we did in Vegas will not stay in Vegas! 20 Ortho & Gen Trauma Surgeons came together with an incredible faculty to ...
04/01/2026

What we did in Vegas will not stay in Vegas!

20 Ortho & Gen Trauma Surgeons came together with an incredible faculty to learn next-level care for chest-wall-injured patients.

The 5-Labs facility across from The Palms is amongst the nicest labs I’ve hosted a course in—capacious, sunlit, well preserved bodies, well-stocked tables, and best staff ever.

Best Ever recognition also certainly goes to my Co-Chair Tom White and our faculty: David Weatherby, Mark Kryskow and Tommy Githens—incredible Ortho-Trauma hybrid teaching. I can tell you my own practice notches higher each time I log time with these guys. Thanks to the excellent & gracious KLS Martin Group for bringing it all to reality and setting the world aflame!
…..and oh by the way, The Sphere is nothing short of a mindblowing phenomenon!

The largest Gap in Surgery is between the standard of practice and the standard of care for rib fracture treatment and this crew is closing it!

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Saint Paul, MN
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