Penn State Football: Sebastianelli Leaving Position as Team Doctor

A well-known figure on the sidelines at Penn State football games will be missing next season. Penn State says Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, the team doctor, will no longer serve as the team’s primary physician. However, Sebastianelli will remain director of athletic medicine for Penn State and continue to care for student-athletes. He will also oversee all sports medicine services for the University.

The change in physicians was made after a review of procedures and personnel by Coach Bill O’Brien and is part of “an on-going re-organization of the football staff,” a university spokesperson said.

Peter Seidenberg, M.D., will take on the role of team physician for the Penn State football program. Seidenberg is an associate professor of orthopedics and a primary care sports medicine physician for Penn State Hershey’s orthopedic practice in State College. Scott Lynch, M.D., will serve as the football program’s orthopedic consultant. Lynch is associate professor of orthopedics and director of orthopedic sports medicine at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Sebastianelli has been a familiar sight at Penn State games over the past 11 years. He’s developed a reputation as one of the area’s most respected sports physicians. Most notably, Sebastianelli, is credited with being a guiding force in the recovery and rehabilitation of Penn State defensive back Adam Taliaferro. Taliaferro suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2000. A jarring collision during the Ohio Sate game left Taliaferro unable to feel anything below his neck. Taliaferro’s full recovery is considered by many to be a remarkable medical success story.

Most recently, Sebastianelli performed reconstructive surgery on incoming freshman tight end Adam Breneman’s torn ACL.