George F. Rick Hatch III, MD

Dr. Hatch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He specializes in sports medicine, with a focus on disorders and injuries affecting the shoulder and knee. He uses advanced arthroscopic and open surgical techniques to restore damaged joints, ligaments, and bones. He is highly regarded for his expertise related to the treatment of single and multiple ligament knee injuries as well as articular cartilage and meniscus injuries about the knee. He is also well recognized for his expertise in the field of complex shoulder surgery, including arthroscopic as well as total shoulder replacement. Dr. Hatch also provides care for USC intercollegiate athletes. He has served as an assistant physician for several professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, Galaxy, Kings and Angels, as well as the Anaheim Ducks. Dr. Hatch is very active in research with over 44 peer-reviewed publications, 9 textbook chapters and multiple national research awards. His research interests focus on knee and shoulder instability, stability of the reverse total shoulder prosthesis, treatment of infected shoulder prosthesis, outcomes following multiligament knee injuries and testosterone supplementation in orthopaedic post-operative rehabilitation. Dr. Hatch is active in the national orthopaedic community where he is a member of multiple orthopaedic societies including: The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, The American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine, The Western Orthopaedic Association, and The Arthroscopic Association of North America. In addition, Dr. Hatch is an elected member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, the most exclusive and prestigious specialty society in the United States for shoulder and elbow surgeons. Dr. Hatch serves as Director of the USC Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine Fellowship. Voted a Top Doctor by Pasadena Magazine for multiple years, Dr. Hatch received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed his first fellowship in sports medicine, knee, shoulder and elbow surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles and his second fellowship in complex shoulder reconstruction at Harvard Medical School.