Dr. Morrison
David S. Morrison, M.D.

Dr. Morrison is a specialist in the treatment of disorders of the Shoulder and Elbow. He received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City in 1979 and then trained in General Surgery at the University of Utah from 1979 to 1981. He then returned to New York and the New York Orthopaedic Hospital at Columbia University to begin his specialization in Orthopaedic Surgery from 1981 to 1984. Upon completion of his General Orthopaedic training, Dr. Morrison decided to specialize in the treatment of Shoulder and Elbow disorders. He continued his education under the direction of Dr. Charles S. Neer, a world-renowned pioneer and innovator in reconstructive surgery of the shoulder and elbow and the inventor of the worlds' first widely used Total Shoulder prosthesis. He completed his Fellowship with Dr. Neer in 1985 and came to The Southern California Center for Sports Medicine to work with Dr. Douglas W. Jackson and start the Shoulder and Elbow clinic here.

Dr. Morrison's practice is now, and always has been, limited to the treatment of disorders of the shoulder and elbow. He was one of the first surgeons in the world to limit his practice to shoulder and elbow surgery. He is co-director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Center and has helped to train more than 50 Sports Medicine and Shoulder Specialists over the years. The author of numerous scientific articles and chapters in at least 12 Medical Textbooks, Dr. Morrison directs an active clinical and surgical research program where new Arthroscopic and Joint Replacement techniques are developed and refined. During his career he has performed over 10,000 surgical procedures on the shoulder and elbow but was also the author of one of the largest research studies in the literature on the non-operative treatment of Rotator Cuff injuries.

Dr. Morrison believes that surgery is always a last resort. He makes extensive use of home and gym exercise programs and supervised rehabilitation. For most shoulder and elbow problems early surgery rarely has an advantage over that performed after a rehabilitation program. In fact, an exercise program performed before considering surgery can often enhance surgical results. One of his favorite sayings is "You can always do an operation later, but you can never take one back."

In addition to medicine Dr. Morrison has many other interests. Having worked his way through college as an auto mechanic he has an ongoing interest in cars. He restores and rallies pre-WWII Rolls-Royce automobiles and races vintage Indianapolis and Formula Libra race cars. He does all his own work on his Race cars and his Classic cars and has a full machine shop at his home in Long Beach. As an expert skier, he worked on the Snowbird and Deer Valley ski patrols when he lived in Utah. He is a 3-time NCAA Division 1 All-American in Track and Field and was a candidate for the 1972, 1976, and 1984 United States Olympic Team in the Hammer Throw

Dr. Morrison treats patients from all over the United States and the world with complex and difficult problems. As such, his office schedule is very busy and it may be difficult to get a convenient appointment date and time. If you have an emergency and cannot wait for an appointment, you may want to consult with one of the other doctors in the office and then follow up with Dr. Morrison at a later date, if you wish.

If you are interested in more information about Dr. Morrison's training, research, and publications, you can (CLICK HERE) to view his Curriculum Vitae (Latin for "Life's Work").


Dr. Morrison Racing

Classic car
Race cars

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