Tzu-Shang T. Liu, MD

Dr. Liu is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. Dr. Liu has special skills in ACL reconstructions, shoulder instability and rotator cuff repairs, hamstring repairs and medical management of concussions.

Philosophy of practice:
Just because I'm a well-trained orthopaedic surgeon, it does not mean that I always recommend surgery. Part of my job is to explain which diseases have good conservative treatment options, and which ones would be better treated surgically.

The minimum goal that I aim to achieve is to make the patient and the family understand the underlying condition that brought the patient to see me. I always take time to explain the anatomy and the natural history of the disease. After that, I will explain the appropriate treatment options.

My ultimate goal is to educate the patient and enable him to choose the right treatment option for himself. Even though surgery can be the best option for one person's condition does not always mean that it is the right choice for everyone with that condition, as there are complexities to each individual case.

There are always risks, benefits, and alternatives to every surgery, and I customize my recommendation based on the balance of the three for each individual patient.

Biggest reward:
There is no greater reward than seeing the patients return to the activities that they enjoy before their ailment and to help them achieve their goals. It is incredibly satisfying to see patients come back and tell me they can walk without a limp or finally have a good night's sleep without shoulder pain.

Similarly, it is wonderful to help an athlete return to play and help the team win a championship. To me, that is the meaning of life, which is to positively affect the life of others.

Selecting a career in medicine:
At an early age, I was inspired by my father, who was a fledging orthopaedic surgeon. I saw how hard he worked, but I also saw the joy he received as he helped patients recover from their conditions. He knew I was interested in his profession and encouraged me to follow his footsteps. Armed with his teachings and imbued with his hard-working ethic, I was able to achieve the career that I have today, having trained under some of the giants of our field and taken care of championship teams at different levels.

Patients Age Limitations: Over 11 years old

We provide general orthopedic care and specialize in sports medicine and concussion care.

What are some activities/hobbies you like to participate in during your free time?
Passionate about high school football and is the team physician for local college and high school.