Dr. Richard Cunningham is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and partner with Vail•Summit Orthopaedics, the oldest orthopaedic clinic in the Vail Valley. He joined Vail•Summit Orthopaedics in 2003 after completing his sports medicine fellowship. Dr. Cunningham’s practice excels in the diagnosis and latest treatment of knee and shoulder conditions. He is an expert in arthroscopic ACL reconstructions, PCL reconstruction, patellofemoral surgery, arthroscopic meniscus repair, meniscal transplantation, cartilage restoration surgery, (to include autologous chondrocyte implantation, ostearticular transplantation and microfracture), arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic shoulder stabilization surgery, and minimally invasive partial or total knee replacement. Dr. Cunningham does more partial or total knee resurfacing than any other orthopaedic surgeon in the Vail Valley. He is a referral source for complex knee and shoulder injuries that have failed treatment elsewhere.
Dr. Cunningham is a member of various professional orthopaedic organizations including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Dr. Cunningham is Chair of Surgery at Vail Valley Medical Center. In 2010, he was honored to receive the Clinical Excellence Award from his physician colleagues at the Vail Valley Medical Center.
Dr. Cunningham has treated professional athletes competing in skiing and hockey. As a fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, he worked as an associate physician with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the Team Physician for the semi-pro Freedom F.C. Soccer Team based in the Vail Valley. He serves as the team physician to local highschools and helps provide medical coverage to the TEVA Mountain Games, Vail Rugby, Vail Lacrosse Tournament, and Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. He provides free sports medicine physicals every school year to highschool athletes. He provides a significant amount of charitable orthopaedic care for patients who are without insurance or have lost their insurance as he feels that this is central to his duties as a physician. He regularly gives orthopaedic lectures to primary care and emergency medical physicians with whom he works as well as giving a series of community lectures every year.
Dr. Cunningham is married and has four children. He enjoys attending his kid’s soccer games, basketball games, and swim meets. When he has the opportunity, he enjoys Nordic or Alpine skiing in the winter months as well as mountain and road biking in the warmer months.
Education
• Undergraduate: Amherst College, Amhurst, MA
• Medical: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Training
• Orthopaedic Surgery Residency: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• Knee, Shoulder, and Sports Medicine Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Center for Sports Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Professional Affiliations
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Medical Association
Hospital Affiliations
• Vail Valley Medical Center
• Summit Medical Center
