About Dr. MacLean
Dr. Ian MacLean is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. Originally from New Jersey, he grew up heavily involved in athletics, where competition and teamwork shaped his approach to life and medicine. After sustaining several sports-related injuries himself, he discovered a passion for orthopedics—a field that allowed him to combine his love of sports with his interest in science, performance, and recovery.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with additional minors in Music and Chemistry. As a student-athlete, he walked on to the university’s heavyweight crew team and embraced the challenges of balancing elite academics with intense physical training.
Dr. MacLean attended medical school at the University of Virginia, where he was inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He received multiple academic awards, including the Merck Manual Award, given to the top four students in the pre-clerkship curriculum.
He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago—nationally recognized as one of the top orthopedic training programs in the country. There, he trained under leading experts in the field and worked alongside the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. During his residency, he achieved a 100th percentile score on the Orthopedic In-Training Examination.
Dr. MacLean then returned to the University of Virginia to complete a fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine. There, he further refined his surgical expertise while working with nationally respected specialists in arthroscopic and reconstructive techniques.
He remains deeply committed to lifelong learning and clinical excellence. He has written book chapters and published extensively on topics including ACL reconstruction, revision ACL reconstruction, meniscus repairs, rotator cuff repairs, and shoulder replacements. He currently serves as a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine. “Orthopedic surgery is a constantly evolving field,” says Dr. MacLean. “When new treatments are supported by strong evidence and shown to improve outcomes, I want to bring those advances to my patients.”
Equally important to him is patient education. “Seeing a surgeon can be intimidating. I take time to explain the cause of pain or dysfunction and help each patient understand why a specific treatment—surgical or non-surgical—makes sense. When patients feel informed and involved in their care, outcomes are better.”
Dr. MacLean is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at VCU Health (Richmond, VA) and is Team Physician for William and Mary athletics (Williamsburg, VA). He and his wife have 3 daughters. In his free time he enjoys reading, cycling, and making pizza.