GOOD
IN
HANDS
When NASCAR legend Tony Stewart needs care, he puts his trust in Dr. Phillip Surface and the team at Thomas Orthopedic Hospital.
By Chuck McGill
During his NASCAR career, Stewart became one of racing’ s biggest stars, winning 49 races and three NASCAR Cup Series championships. Today, the 54-year-old competes in National Hot Rod Association( NHRA) Top Fuel drag racing, where races last less than four seconds and place enormous strain on drivers. But when it comes to health care, Stewart prioritizes trust over convenience.
For the past five years, Stewart has traveled to WVU Medicine’ s Thomas Orthopedic Hospital in Charleston, WV, to receive care from orthopedic surgeon Phillip Surface, D. O., who also serves as the NHRA’ s chief medical officer.
“ After a couple of years around each other, we became friends and built a level of trust,” Stewart says.“ As drivers, that’ s an important deal to us.”
Surface has performed shoulder surgery on Stewart and removed a ganglion cyst from his wrist, helping keep the racing legend healthy and competitive. Stewart says the comfort and confidence he feels at Thomas Orthopedic Hospital make the cross-country trips worthwhile.
“ I’ m a big wimp when it comes to needles,” Stewart says.“ Coming here takes the nervousness and anxiety away. With Dr. Surface, you realize you’ re in good hands.” Their relationship began through professional racing, where Surface’ s background as both a physician and lifelong racing enthusiast gives him unique insight into the physical demands drivers face. The son of a mechanic, Surface spent his childhood around cars before racing motorcycles and go-karts himself.
“ This isn’ t just a guy doing a job to make a paycheck,” Stewart says.“ He’ s truly passionate about driver safety.”
That expertise matters in NHRA Top Fuel racing, where drivers can experience forces up to six Gs during acceleration and again when parachutes deploy at the finish line. Stewart says Surface understands not only injuries, but also the stress racing places on the body.
As NHRA chief medical officer, Surface oversees on-track safety and works with paramedics, firefighters, accident specialists and engineers to improve race car safety and protective equipment.
At Thomas Orthopedic Hospital, Surface and his team treat fractures, shoulder injuries, ligament tears and other musculoskeletal conditions. Since opening, the facility has attracted patients from across the country— including 21 professional race car drivers.
“ We really appreciate patients trusting us to care for them,” Surface says.“ We try to live up to that trust the best we can.”
Learn more at ThomasHospitals. org