Press Release

12/17/2008
For Immediate Release

South Bend Orthopaedics Brings Experience to Plymouth with Ex-Football Playing Doctor

For Brian Ratigan, M.D., the final whistle may have blown on the gridiron in 1995. But the South Bend Orthopaedics (SBO) surgeon is now answering another lifelong passion, knowing full well his patients' needs.

"Playing football at Notre Dame and in the NFL were great, that's for sure," said Dr. Ratigan. "But I have to admit, the view is much better for me looking down on the table than up from it."

While Dr. Ratigan enjoyed life on defense and special teams for the Fighting Irish (1989-1993) and the Indianapolis Colts (1993-1995), multiple surgeries in six years made him appreciate the need for what he is doing these days.

"I had it all done to me," Dr. Ratigan says with a slight chuckle. "Each shoulder, knee, back. And that's why I understand and appreciate the need to educate people about the options they have in order to maximize their potential and get them back to doing what they normally do."

And now he's doing that two days a week in Marshall County at SBO's new location at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center/Plymouth. Dr. Ratigan is joined in Plymouth by SBO's doctors Fred Ferlic, M.D., Willard Yergler, M.D., and Thomas Landino, D.P.M.

"Working with all these great doctors is kind of like what life was like in the NFL," said Dr. Ratigan. "It's high intensity; constant focus; very fast-paced; high intelligence; and you have to be a team player."

Residents of Marshall County no longer have to travel far to receive that unique blend of care that defines SBO. The location at SJRMC/Plymouth offers office visits and consultations with SBO physicians; joint replacement and minimally invasive surgery performed at SJRMC/Plymouth; post surgery and follow-up care; referral to rehabilitation and physical therapy.

"We offer the convenience of the ability to take care of people locally," said Dr. Ratigan. "That's important, especially in a place like Marshall County and the surrounding areas where the high school sports and outdoor activities are so important."

Dr. Ratigan can relate to that, having grown up in the Midwest's Council Bluffs, Iowa, lettering as a four-sport athlete in baseball, basketball, track, and of course, football. It was the latter that brought him to Notre Dame, in spite of being drafted by Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. While living a dream under the Golden Dome as a football player, Dr. Ratigan realized a solid Plan B would likely be his lifetime career.

"So I took every pre-med class possible and then in my sophomore year I chose some business classes," Dr. Ratigan explained. "Then when I got to the Colts, every off season I would take classes at IUPUI, chipping away at med school.

"It's really all worked out great," he continued. "My wife, who I met at Notre Dame, is teaching law there, we have four children, and we love the Midwest."

And while he had the rare opportunity of fulfilling his dream inside of stadiums, he is now living another dream of caring for people at the same place that operated on him three times during his playing days.

"I love what I am doing and where I am doing it," said Dr. Ratigan said with a smile. "My Mom was a nurse and my Dad was a forklift mechanic. You could say that at South Bend Orthopaedics, I'm combining both medicine and carpentry tools to restore patients' functions."

To schedule an appointment at South Bend Orthopaedics at SJRMC/Plymouth or for more information, call (574) 247-9441 or call toll-free (800) 424-0367.