Christopher A. Hawkins, MD
Board Certified Orthopedist with American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
Biography
“As a doctor and an athlete, I focus on orthopaedic care with a team approach. I gather information from my patient’s symptoms, their physical examination, and imaging studies, then discuss their individual goals and how we can succeed in reaching them. Once this is completed, a game plan can be established and followed using both my orthopaedic skills and the commitment of the patient to reach a positive outcome.”
As an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Hawkins has committed his professional career to providing an individualized care experience for his patients. This includes streamlining the office experience for young and old athletes alike, integrating specialized nonoperative treatments into his patients’ care, and adopting cutting edge, outcome driven surgical technologies in the operating room. He understands that these actions provide the foundation for patient CHOICE in selecting their BEST orthopaedic care.
A particular focus for Dr. Hawkins has been his commitment to giving back to the sports community, and he has constantly and consistently donated his time and expertise outside of the office for sideline coverage and training room management.
Over his 19 years in Pennsylvania, he volunteered as the team physician for DeSales University, Emmaus High School, Saucon Valley High School, Southern Lehigh High School, and Lehighton High School to name a few. Additionally he provided coverage for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the AAA team of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the minor league team for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dr. Hawkins was a four-year letter winner and a senior captain of the Georgetown University swim team and uses this experience as a Division I athlete to help his patients overcome their musculoskeletal problems. He understands that their recovery, like success in athletics, requires commitment and dedication both from the coach (surgeon) and the player (patient).
He also has a unique perspective on patients from a diverse background, having been raised as the son of a Naval officer with time spent living in Boston, Virginia Beach, southern California, and Washington DC. His interest in medicine brought him to Georgetown University where he obtained an undergraduate degree in biology and then was fulfilled after putting himself through medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. His success as the salutatorian of his medical school class led to an acceptance into one of the largest and most prestigious orthopaedic residency programs at the Hospital for Joint Diseases and Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. Dr. Hawkins was named as one of the two Chief residents during his final year, and was in charge of scheduling and organizing the educational activities for the 48 physicians in the residency program.
Following his five years in New York, he and his wife, along with their young daughter, took a large leap to Salt Lake City, where he completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Utah with Dr. Robert Burks. He and the family then moved back to the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania in 2001, where he joined a group of six orthopaedic surgeons. With his work and assistance over the last 19 years, this group developed a sports medicine program that grew to include four sports medicine orthopaedic surgeons, three primary care sports medicine specialists, and a total group size of over 25 musculoskeletal physician providers.
Dr. Hawkins’ practice is focused on the management of athletic injuries with a strong emphasis on shoulder and knee problems. He has performed tens of thousands of arthroscopic procedures over his career and is particularly focused on both primary and revision ACL reconstruction of the knee, rotator cuff repairs of the shoulder, and complex shoulder labral surgery. He has continued over the years with an active role as a teacher and instructor in these areas for fellow orthopaedic surgeons, athletic trainers, and physician assistants, both in Pennsylvania and nationally.
Education
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Undergraduate Degree, Georgetown University, Cum Laude
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Medical Degree, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Magna Cum Laude
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Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Hospital for Joint Diseases & Orthopedic Institute
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Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Utah Medical Center
Society Memberships
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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
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Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society
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Arthroscopy Association of North America
Honors
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Alpha Omega Alpha, National Medical Honor Society
Appointments
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Clinical Associate Professor – Physician’s Assistant Program DeSales University 2002-Present
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Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation Penn State College of Medicine July 1, 2007-June 30, 2010
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American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Evaluation Committee 2002-2008
Team Associations
- 1995 – 1999 Alvin Ailey Dance Theater New York, New York – Staff Physician
- 1995 – 1997 United States Open Tennis Tournament Flushing, New York – Staff Physician
- 1995 – 1997 New York City High School Football. Staff Physician
- 2000 – 2001 West High School – Team Physician
- 2000 – 2001 University of Utah Women’s Basketball – Team Physician
- 2000 – 2001 University of Utah Football – Team Physician
- 2001 – 2018 Emmaus High School – Team Physician
- 2003 – present DeSales University – Team Physician
- 2005 – 2018 Lehighton High School – Team Physician
- 2008 -2016 Saucon Valley High School – Team Physician
- 2016 – 2019 Muhlenberg College – Assistant Team Physician
- 2015 – 2020 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs – Assistant Team Physician
- 2020 – Present W.F. West High School – Team Physician
- 2020 – Present Centralia College – Team Physician
- 2022 – Present Tumwater High School – Team Physician
Specialty Areas
Sports Medicine
Arthroscopic Surgery of Knee and Shoulder
Primary & Revision ACL Reconstruction
