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Mikhail A. Klimstra, M.D.

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My goal is to form a partnership with my patients, working together to create a treatment plan that best addresses their concerns and achieves their goals. Helping patients recover from their injuries, and getting them back to pursuing activities and sports is why I love my job.

Specialties

Team

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Mikhail Klimstra, M.D., is a sports medicine surgeon who focuses on helping active people with knee, hip, or shoulder problems optimize their strength, function, and quality of life.

Dr. Mikhail Klimstra’s background

Dr. Klimstra earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency training, followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. While there, Dr. Klimstra and his colleagues had the opportunity to support athletes at the college and high school levels.

During medical school, Dr. Klimstra was drawn to the surgical specialties and found the best fit in orthopedics. “Orthopedics represented the type of medicine I wanted to practice: The patient has a problem, and as a physician I identify the problem and offer a potential fix,” he said. “The turnaround time between when the patient comes in with a problem and when the patient feels improvement is pretty quick, and that’s gratifying. That resonated with me, and it was what I wanted to do in medicine.”

Dr. Klimstra chose to specialize in sports medicine because he likes treating active patients. “Whether it’s gardening, running, tennis, or soccer, everyone has something they like to do. If they can do that activity without pain, they’re happier, healthier, and their quality of life is improved,” Dr. Klimstra said.

Dr. Mikhail Klimstra’s practice philosophy

Ultimately, patient care is a partnership for Dr. Klimstra. “The core of my practice is sitting down and talking with patients about their individual concern or problem, offering my insight and guidance about that problem, then working together to find the best option or treatment strategy for them,” Dr. Klimstra said. “It’s important to note that the best strategy may not be surgery.” It’s all about what will work best for the patient, the patient’s lifestyle, and the patient’s condition or injury.

Dr. Klimstra serves as a guide for the full range of treatment strategies available for a given situation. Part of that guidance is taking time to counsel patients and have open discussions with them. “I like to have the opportunity to have a discussion, educating patients so they know what is going on with their bodies and what options they have,” Dr. Klimstra said. “My hope is that the patient and I arrive together at the best choice.”

Fellowship
Sports Medicine Fellowship
University of New Mexico Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Residency
Orthopedic Surgery Residency
University of Minnesota —Minneapolis, Minnesota

Medical School
Doctorate of Medicine
University of Minnesota Medical School — Minneapolis, Minnesota

Undergraduate Studies
Bachelors of Science | Biochemistry
University of St. Thomas — St. Paul, Minnesota

  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Chau MM, Klimstra MA, Wise KL et Osteochondritis dissecans: Current understanding of epidemiology, etiology, management, and outcomes. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2021. Jun; 103(12):1132-1151. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.20.01399
  2. Klimstra MA, Beck NA, Forte ML, Van Heest Did a minimum case requirement improve resident surgical case volume for close wrist and forearm fracture treatment in orthopedic surgery? Journal of Surgical Education. 2019. Jul-Aug; 76(4): 1153-1160. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2019.02.005.
  3. Donato JJ, Klimstra MA, Byrnes JR, White RJ, & Marsh TC. The introduction of metagenomics into an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course yielded a predicted reductase that decreases triclosan susceptibility in coli. DNA and Cell Biology. 2012, Jun; 31(6): 968-973. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 22339268.

Peer Reviewed Book Chapter

  1. Tompkins M, Coene RP, Klimstra MA, & Milewski (2021). Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee and elbow. In JE Martus (Ed.), Orthopedic Knowledge Update Pediatrics 6 (pp. 503- 513). Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
  2. Klimstra MA & Tompkins (2020). Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for management of instability. In Tanaka MJ (Ed.) Surgical Insights Sports Medicine Knee Surgery [online course]. Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
  3. Marsh TC, Henseler ZM, & Klimstra MA. (2013). Morphological heterogeneity of supramolecular G-DNA polymers derived from guanine In W. Fritzsche & Spindler (Eds.), Guanine Quartets: Structure and Application (pp. 48-62). Cambridge,The Royal Society of Cambridge.

Poster Presentation

  1. Klimstra MA, Beck NA, Forte ML, Van Heest (2018). Did a minimum case requirement increase resident surgical volume of closed wrist and forearm fracture treatment in orthopedic surgery? 2018 AOA Annual Leadership Meetings; Boston, MA.
  2. Klimstra MA & Marsh (2012). General sequence and environment parameters for G-wire self-assembly Poster presented at: 243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition: Undergraduate Research Poster Session; San Diego, CA.
  3. Klimstra MA & Marsh (2011). A comprehensive study of the general parameters for G- wire self-assembly Poster presented at: University of Minnesota MRSEC Undergraduate Research Expo; Minneapolis, MN.
  4. Klimstra MA & Marsh (2011). A comprehensive study of the general parameters for G- wire self-assembly. Poster presented at: Minnesota Academy of Science Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium; Brooklyn Park, MN.

LECTURE/TEACHING PRESENTATIONS

  1. Klimstra MA. Pediatric ACL Injuries and Reconstruction: A Review of Current Concepts. Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Grand Rounds, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. March 2022.
  2. Klimstra MA & Smith L. Organization and Efficiency in Orthopedic Residency. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Residents as Teachers Lecture Series. February, 2021.
  3. Klimstra MA. Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries: A Review on Evaluation and Management. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. December, 2020.
  4. Klimstra MA. Pediatric ACL Injuries and Reconstruction: A Review of Current Concepts. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. October 2019.
  5. Klimstra MA. Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: Review of Evaluation and Management. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. May 2019.
  6. Klimstra MA. Predicting Poor Outcomes in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Prevention is the Best Medicine. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. February 2019.
  7. Klimstra MA. Transitional Pediatric Ankle Fractures. Department of Orthopedic Surgery Grand Rounds, Regions Hospital, Saint Paul, MN. January 2018.

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