Luis Alvarez, Ph.D. represents a new generation of orthopedic CEOs—someone whose background and expectations are different from the leaders who emerged in the 1980s and 1990s.
In some respects, he may be what orthopedics will look like in 10-15 years.
For one thing, he has more degrees than a protractor.
For another, he’s a decorated veteran of the Iraq war. Retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Bachelor’s in chemistry from West Point, MS in chemical engineering and Ph.D. in biological engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
A Hertz Foundation fellow at MIT.
Dr. Alvarez, the founder and CEO of a very interesting emerging growth company named “Theradaptive, Inc.,” is particularly well suited for a future centered around regenerative, precision and data driven medicine.
From Miami to MIT to Iraq and back to start one of orthopedics more interesting regenerative medicine companies (and capturing the interest of top researchers like Cleveland Clinic’s George Muschler) Dr. Alvarez’s journey is an incredible story.
The Boy From Miami
Alvarez’s father is from Spain, his mother fled Castro’s Regime in Cuba. His father ran a successful Miami construction company, building buildings and houses and his mother ran a successful family.
Alvarez’s interest in science started early and was fueled by, in his words, exceptional teachers from elementary school through middle school and then a co-ed Catholic school. Luckily, his high school offered an atypical level of science curriculum including two semesters of organic chemistry.
Miami wasn’t going to hold onto Alvarez. “I had early stirrings to leave Miami. I wanted to serve in the military and study science. That prompted me to seek out opportunities outside of Miami.”
From Miami, Alvarez earned a place at an institution founded in 1802 along the Hudson River in New York state.
Duty, Honor, Country
When Alvarez told OTW that he joined the Army to get an engineering education, it didn’t make immediate sense. Then he said two words. West Point.
Four years at the Military Academy. It’s hard. The Plebe Alvarez had his share of doubts and second thoughts. But West Point forges leaders while educating them with an Ivy-League caliber education.
Persevering in the face of incredible challenges paid off.
Shortly after graduating from The Point, Alvarez applied for and was granted a fellowship courtesy of the Hertz Foundation to continue his engineering education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Not many West Pointers ends up at MIT. Another who did also walked on the moon—Buzz Aldrin.
Alvarez spent two years at MIT. As he explained to OTW, due to Army time limits on graduate education he could “only” get a master’s degree in chemical engineering. After that, he returned to active U.S. Army duty for six years—an obligation he had incurred even though it did not come with a paid-up MIT tuition.
He served in armored and infantry units as an intelligence officer. He was stationed for a while in South Korea. Later he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, with the 1st Cavalry Division. And then he was deployed to Iraq. For his service, he was awarded a Combat Action Badge and the Bronze Star.
