Matthew Zapf, MD, MSc, FAAOS

About Matthew Zapf, MD, MSc, FAAOS

I am a sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and a Southern California native.

I completed my undergraduate education at the University of California at Berkeley and, after a few years living in Lake Tahoe, CA, moved on to Georgetown University for my masters. I attended New York Medical College for my Medical Doctorate. I was a founding member of the orthopedic surgery residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles before completing an ACGME accredited sports medicine surgical fellowship at the Taos Orthopedic Institute in Taos, NM.

My surgical career began in the Coachella Valley in 2018, where I developed extensive experience treating high-energy injuries and complex multiligament knee pathology. In 2025, I joined SMaRT Health & Wellness in Aliso Viejo, CA drawn to its mission of integrated, forward-thinking care. There, I found a team of like-minded professionals committed to whole-person healing, empowering patients with every available non-operative modality before pursuing surgical solutions.

My practice has involved to include complex sports (or life)-related injuries, total joint replacement, and advanced arthroscopic reconstruction of the shoulder and knee. I serve on the team physician pool for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team. As a consultant for Arthrex, I aim to shape surgical technique and product development while mentoring the next generation of surgeons through my role with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Fellowship Committee.

I have been a patient many times. Thus my approach to orthopaedic care is collaborative, respectful, and grounded in human connection. Each patient is an extension of my family. We form a partnership to create an evidence based team approach to achieving your goals. I see patients as the people they are. My goal is not just to treat a specific injury, but to optimize all aspects of their health and get them back to the activities they love.