Dr. Stefan Turkula is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a specialist in sports medicine. His practice centers around both surgical and non-surgical approaches to managing injuries and disorders of the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow. Dr. Turkula possesses advanced training and technical expertise in intricate arthroscopic techniques, as well as in procedures related to cartilage/meniscus restoration, joint preservation, shoulder, and knee replacements. His experience extends to serving as a team physician for professional sports leagues including the NHL, MLB, and NCAA. Furthermore, Dr. Turkula, a former national champion freestyle skier, maintains an active role as a team physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team. 

Dr. Turkula’s educational journey began with an undergraduate bachelor of science degree in biology at the University of Utah, where he also participated in football and lacrosse. Subsequently, he earned his medical doctorate (MD) at Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed an intensive five-year orthopedic surgery residency at Cooper University Hospital, a prominent level 1 trauma center on the east coast, where he honed his skills in managing complex fractures. Following his residency, Dr. Turkula pursued a Sports Medicine and Shoulder fellowship at the University of Minnesota and TRIA Orthopedic Center. During this fellowship, he contributed to medical and surgical care for events such as the X-Games and provided support to sports teams like the Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Twins, University of Minnesota, and Gustavus Adolphus College. Currently, Dr. Turkula remains committed to academic pursuits, research, and educational activities through his involvement with various national and local medical societies. 

Beyond his professional life, Dr. Turkula, along with his wife Janet, and children Leif and Juniper, together with their golden retriever Walter, is delighted to be a part of the Teton Valley community. When not in the operating room or clinic, he enjoys skiing, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, and relishing the outdoors to the fullest. 

“I strive to provide empathetic and compassionate care to a wide variety of patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Having been a lifelong athlete myself, I have experienced many similar injuries and understand the frustration with setbacks of everyday life and lifestyles. I center my care on education and want every patient to understand their diagnosis and the treatment options available to them. This allows us to jointly make decisions about what is best for their individual situation. I want to tell patients what they can do, not what they can’t do.”

Dr. Turkula earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Utah. He was awarded a Medical Sciences Post Baccalaureate Certificate and earned his Doctor of Medicine from the Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvanian. Dr. Turkula completed an Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. He also completed his Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Shoulder Fellowship from the TRIA Orthopaedic Center at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Turkula joins our growing Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Team working alongside Drs. David Christensen and Kevin Lee, and Physician Assistant Michael Haskell.

WATCH DR. TURKULA’S LUNCH AND LEARN COVERING MODERN TREATMENTS FOR COMPLEX SHOULDER AND KNEE INJURIES