Christopher R. Sforzo, M.D. is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in hand and upper extremity surgery. That is, his expertise is in the treatment of problems involving the shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. See his curriculum vitae. Dr. Sforzo performs many procedures via a minimally-invasive approach, from endoscopic carpal tunnel release to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and arthroscopic wrist and elbow procedures. Dr. Sforzo was the first surgeon to perform an endoscopic carpal tunnel release at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. He also treats many pediatric patients, and has expertise in fracture care. Dr. Sforzo has medical appointments and admitting privileges at many local medical facilities, including Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, IMG (Intercoastal Medical Group) Ambulatory Surgical Center, and Doctors SameDay Surgical Center. Dr. Sforzo began his education at the University of Notre Dame where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree. At Notre Dame he also was a monogram letterman in lacrosse. He then went on to Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where he graduated with honors and gained entrance into Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the national medical school honor society. Dr. Sforzo then honed his orthopaedic skill as a resident in orthopaedic surgery at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, and stayed in Gainesville to complete his Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship training under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Dell, Dr. Larry Chidgey, and Dr. Tom Wright, all of whom he owes a great deal of thanks for their continued unparalleled teaching skills and guidance.

Dr. Sforzo is the team physician for the Out-of-Door Academy, the Lakewood Ranch Lightning Lacrosse Club, the Manasota Monsters Lacrosse Club, as well as a consulting physician for the Manatee Meteors, Sarasota Sun Devils, and the Mike Wilton Junior Tennis Academy.

Dr. Sforzo has been selected to be the Director of Sports Medicine for the new Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, located just east of Lorraine Road on SR 70. The campus is home of the Lakewood Ranch Lightning Lacrosse Club, Manasota Monsters Lacrosse Club, the Clearwater/Sarasota Chargers Soccer Club; amateur events such as the Nike Blue Chip 3d Lacrosse Camps, professional teams which train there such as US Soccer and MLS clubs. With its beautiful state of the art 22 fields it will soon be the destination for athletes and tournaments from around the world.

Dr. Sforzo is the official orthopaedic surgeon and hand surgeon to the Sarasota Orchestra, who are based right here in Sarasota, Florida. He is honored to be involved in the healthcare and well-being of such talented world-class musicians and looks forward to a long and lasting partnership.

Dr. Sforzo is a special consultant for the IMG Academies and the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, a world-class training facility located in Bradenton, Florida. IMG Academies trains and rehabilitates hundreds of professional, collegiate, and high school athletes each year, including tennis greats Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, Serena and Venus Williams, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Max Myrni, Tommy Haas, Anna Kournikova, and Pete Sampras. In addition to professional athletes at IMG, Dr. Sforzo is consulted to treat their other Academy athletes, including those training for the NFL Combine, and for golf, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, and football.

Medical Tourism is a new development in the world today, where patients from around the world will be coming to Sarasota to receive top of the line care in a nurturing, beautiful environment. Dr. Sforzo is humbled and excited to be a part of this growing industry. A group of select physicians were chosen to be a part of this unique organization, and Dr. Sforzo was one of them. He will be the official surgeon performing upper extremity and hand surgery for these clients. Please visit the official website for more information!

Dr. Sforzo was the chairperson for the 2007 University of Florida Hand Fellows Annual Meeting, held at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, in August 2007. Over 30 surgeons attended. The guest professor and lecturer was Dr. David P. Green, world-renowned hand and upper extremity surgeon and author, from San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Sforzo has been in practice in the Sarasota/Bradenton area for 8 years and has distinguished himself as an excellent surgeon with unparalleled bedside manner. He is also a leader in the community. Dr. Sforzo serves as an assistant clinical professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine, Sarasota Campus; he is the medical director and team physician for the Out-of-Door Academy. Dr. Sforzo is involved in many local and national charities, including the Payton Wright Foundation, benefiting pediatric cancer research, the Dick Vitale Gala for Cancer Research, benefiting the Jimmy V Foundation and providing cancer research grants to All Children's in St. Pete and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL.  He has also written medical articles for local publications on such topics as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tennis Elbow, Wrist Fractures, and Thumb Arthritis.

Dr. Sforzo is a proud board member for the esteemed Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, a private, non-profit land trust that works with landowners and regional government to protect and preserve the bays, beaches and barrier islands that define the character and ecology of our region. Dr. Sforzo is an active member in many local and national medical societies and academies, including the Sarasota and Bradenton Medical Societies, the Florida Medical Association (FMA), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), and the Florida Orthopaedic Society (FOS).

Dr. Sforzo has written and published articles in esteemed medical journals such as Hand Clinics, the Journal of Hand Therapy, and the Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances.

Dr. Sforzo is originally from Long Island, NY, whereby most of his family still resides. He came to Sarasota/Bradenton in 2004 with his wife, Terri, and his two children, Sydney and Ryan. His wife Terri is a St. Stephens High School graduate and All-American tennis player at the then Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now known as IMG Academies). Terri graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in business, and then graduated Magna Cum Laude earning her MBA from ND’s Mendoza School of Business. Sydney and Ryan are both students at the Out-of-Door Academy. Sydney is a budding tennis player who also enjoys swimming, lacrosse, soccer, piano, and playing with her dog, Rex. Ryan is an aspiring lacrosse and baseball player who also enjoys soccer and everything Star Wars and Lego.