Polly Porter joins NSMI as a Physician Assistant after working in the Northern Virginia area as a Surgical Physician Assistant at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria.
After graduating from DePauw University and Indiana University, Polly worked as a College Professor and Head Athletic Trainer at Skidmore College, Dean College, and Sweet Briar College.
She has sports medicine experience at all levels of competition from recreational to professional. She was a host athletic trainer for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, World Track and Field Trials and the Pan Am Games.
Polly is the President Elect for the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants and is a Regional Director for the Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery. She is very active in her profession and serves as the Liaison for the National Athletic Training Association and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Polly enjoys cycling, hiking, cross country skiing, and travel. 
Educational Background
Undergraduate
DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
B.A. Physical Education/ Education
Graduate
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
M.S. Physical Education/Athletic Training
Physician Assistant Education
South University, Savannah, GA
B.S. Physician Assistant, Magna Cum Laude
Graduate PA Training
University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
MPAS, Physician Assistant Studies
Specialization: Orthopaedic Surgery/Sports Medicine
Sports Coverage/ Volunteer Activities
- Sports Physicals, Fairfax County Public Schools,VA
Cherry Blossom 10-Miler, Washington, DC - Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Volunteer Athletic Trainer - 1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, GA
Host Athletic Trainer, Field Hockey - Vail/Avon Lacrosse Tournament, Vail, CO
- National Field Hockey Festival, West Palm Beach, FL Medical Manager
- Virginia Roadsters Professional Softball, Newport News, VA
- Pan American Games, Indianapolis, IN
- US Olympic Track and Field Trials, Indianapolis, IN
- World Indoor Track and Field Championships, Indianapolis, IN
- Indiana White River Park State Games, Indianapolis, IN
Publications
Porter PA “ Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Focal Articular Cartilage Defects of the Knee”, submission
Porter PA “Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Colon Surgery Using the Lap Disc” Surgical Physician Assistant Nov 2004.
Saddler SC Porter PA “Case Report: Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for Focal Chondral Defect of the Patella” Poster Presentation at the Johns Hopkins University Department of Orthopaedics conference” 3rd Annual Joint Preserving Treatment of the Hip and Knee , Ocean City, MD, October 2004
Porter PA “ Zyvox” Advance for Physician Assistant, Oct 2003
Porter PA, Vacala MR, Wilson JW, Whitaker GW “Leiomyomas of the uterus presenting as hip pain” Poster presentation at the American Academy of Physician Assistants National Convention, Anaheim, California, May 2001
Weesner C, Porter PA, Albohm MJ, Ritter MA "Effects of Exercise on Cruciate Ligament Laxity in Male and Female Basketball Players", Sports Training, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1991, (2)97-102
Presentations
Porter PA “ Evaluation of Acute Orthopaedic Injuries in the Primary Care Setting”, Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants Summer Conference, Virginia Beach, VA, July 27, 2009.
Porter PA Stein W“ Snap, Crackle, Pop: Orthopaedics in the Dialysis Unit”, Spring Clinical Meetings, National Kidney Foundation, Nashville, TN, March 26, 2009
Porter PA “ Rehabilitation following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair”, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital lecture series Arthroscopic Repair of Rotator Cuff Tears”, September 29, 2007
Porter PA “ Management of Proximal Humeral Fractures”, presented at Orthopaedics on the Eastern Seaboard, Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Conference, Norfolk, VA, October 7, 2005
Porter PA “Female Athlete with Medial Knee Pain: Case Report”, presented at the Virginia Athletic Training Association Annual Meeting, January 15, 2005
Porter PA, Dare TJ, Northup JD “Hepatocellular Carcinoma without Cirrhosis in a Patient with Hereditary Hemochromatosis” Poster presentation at the American Academy of Physician Assistants National Convention, Boston, MA, May 2002