Dr. Michael Huang isn't just a leading orthopedic surgeon; he's a fellow Coloradan who understands the deep-seated desire to stay active and pursue your passions. Whether it's carving down a black diamond run at Mary Jane (his favorite resort, a nostalgic nod to his childhood) or navigating the challenging Fruita singletrack on his mountain bike, Dr. Huang - like so many of his patients - lives the Colorado lifestyle.
"I think that's what drew me to sports medicine," Dr. Huang says. "The patient population resonated with me. They're people like me – athletes, or just active individuals, who want to get back to performing at a high level."
Growing up in Littleton, Dr. Huang's path to medicine wasn't always clear-cut. He excelled in biological sciences and earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania. It wasn't until his third-year medical school clinical rotations that he found his calling in orthopedics.
"My personality matched orthopedic surgery the best," he says. His intellectual curiosity, combined with a knack for problem-solving – he describes himself as someone who "likes putting puzzles together" – made orthopedics a natural fit.
After medical school, Dr. Huang returned to Colorado for a prestigious sports medicine fellowship at The Steadman Clinic. There, he discovered a passion for hip preservation surgery, a relatively rare and specialized area of orthopedic surgery. This expertise, combined with his skills in arthroscopic techniques, allows Dr. Huang to offer patients cutting-edge solutions for a range of orthopedic issues. Today, his practice is split about evenly between hip arthroscopies and knee and shoulder surgeries.
"Arthroscopic surgery really changed orthopedics in terms of how quickly we were able to get patients into recovery and then rehabilitation," he says. He finds immense satisfaction in being able to tell a patient, "We can fix your rotator cuff or repair your ACL with just a couple incisions ... that means you're going to be home the same day."
Dr. Huang’s expertise in hip preservation has also allowed him to work directly with companies on the front line of developing new products specific to the specialized hip procedure. That means working with biomedical engineers on the design of new implants using new materials, and applying those advancements to new surgical techniques.
But Dr. Huang's understanding goes beyond the technical aspects of surgery. He's also been on the receiving end of orthopedic care, experiencing firsthand the challenges and frustrations of injury and recovery. He's dislocated a finger, herniated a disc in his neck, and torn the meniscus in his right knee – all from mountain biking falls.
"Honestly, the experiences have humbled me, and I hope that they have also increased my empathy for the patients I am treating," he says. "The injuries that required surgeries were the most difficult, as you realize how much control you give up when undergoing a procedure. In addition, the length of recoveries for each injury were different and the impact of being away from normal daily function or athletic pursuits were extremely difficult to deal with mentally."
This personal experience has also reinforced the importance of physical therapy in the recovery process. Dr. Huang emphasizes the critical role of PT in patient outcomes and actively works to connect his patients with the best therapists in the area.
"I had to advocate for myself and switch therapists halfway through my neck surgery rehab," he shares, highlighting the importance of finding the right fit. "I have worked hard in my community to identify excellent PTs and will often insist my patients go to them."
For Dr. Huang, the most rewarding moments come when patients express their gratitude and share how his care has improved their lives.
"The most impactful moments are when a patient just stops and says 'thank you' and tells me what they are able to accomplish after we treated them," he says. "And sometimes our treatments are non-surgical. Realizing that we can take a person from a very debilitated state to a very high-functioning state is very satisfying. Getting an athlete back to their sport also gives me a great amount of fulfillment."
As a newer member of the CommonSpirit Orthopedics North Nevada team in Colorado Springs, Dr. Huang is excited to bring his expertise and patient-centered approach to the community. He's committed to providing personalized care, detailed communication, and innovative solutions to help patients of all ages and activity levels get back to doing what they love.
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Huang finds joy and fulfillment in his family.
"I have been extremely fortunate on many fronts," he says. "I am extremely proud of my two children. They are both individuals with a great degree of integrity, humility, and intelligence. I am looking forward to seeing how their lives unfold."
