Constance Chu, MD

Dr. Bruce Reider sits down with Dr. Constance Chu to trace her path from West Point and U.S. Army intelligence to a career advancing cartilage restoration and joint preservation. Professor of Surgery at Stanford University in California, Vice Chair of Research in Stanford's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the Joint Preservation Center at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, Dr. Chu discusses the mentors and clinical experiences that shaped her work, along with emerging approaches to detecting and preventing post-traumatic osteoarthritis—including advanced MRI, gene therapy, bioprinting, and vagus nerve stimulation. She also shares practical insights on joint health, grant-writing, perseverance, and the surprising story of her childhood football championship.