Bert Mandelbaum, MD, Named US Soccer Chief Medical Officer
Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Surgeon Brings Decades of Experience in Athlete Health, Injury Prevention and Performance to National Role
Orthopedic surgeon and prominent sports medicine expert Bert Mandelbaum, MD has been named chief medical officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Mandelbaum was appointed interim chief medical officer earlier this year and served in the role during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He will continue to lead the federation’s medical strategy, oversee its network of physicians and guide efforts related to clinical care, athlete wellness, injury prevention and long-term performance.
Mandelbaum has worked with U.S. Soccer since 1989 and has supported the U.S. Men’s National Team at every FIFA World Cup since 1994. A veteran of nine FIFA World Cups and six Olympic and Paralympic Games, he has extensive experience caring for elite athletes on the world’s largest sporting stages.
Mandelbaum is vice chair of Network Development at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and serves as medical director of the Cedars-Sinai FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, one of only three FIFA Medical Centres of Excellence in the United States.
“U.S. Soccer has been part of my life for more than three decades, so stepping into this role is both an honor and a responsibility,” Mandelbaum said. “This is an opportunity to help shape how medicine, health and performance are integrated across an entire national system. It’s about building systems that last and creating standards that improve care not only for elite athletes, but for people at every level of sport and throughout their lives.”
As chief medical officer, Mandelbaum will help establish and advance medical policies and standards across U.S. Soccer. His responsibilities will include supporting the health and performance of national team athletes, strengthening collaboration among medical professionals and developing strategies focused on injury prevention, recovery, resilience and longevity.
Mandelbaum’s approach to athlete care is grounded in what he calls “play span”—a philosophy focused on preserving performance and extending an individual’s ability to participate in the activities they value. The approach emphasizes building capacity and resilience, rather than simply treating injuries after they occur.
“It’s not only about whether someone can perform today,” Mandelbaum said. “Can we increase their capacity and resiliency? Can we prevent injury and help them maintain their performance over time? We look at how someone lives, eats, thinks, trains, recovers and performs.”
Through the Cedars-Sinai FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Mandelbaum and his colleagues collaborate with sports medicine leaders around the world to advance research, education and clinical care for athletes.
“Dr. Mandelbaum has been a trusted and invaluable partner to U.S. Soccer for more than 30 years, helping shape an environment where athlete health, safety and performance are always at the forefront,” said Oguchi Onyewu, U.S. Soccer assistant sporting director. “His expertise spans the highest levels of the sport, but what stands out most is his unwavering commitment to supporting athletes throughout every stage of their journey. His experience, innovation and vision for the future of sports medicine make him exceptionally qualified to lead our medical program.”
Mandelbaum hopes his work will contribute to lasting improvements in athlete care and create models that benefit broader communities.
“Ultimately, the impact will not be measured only in wins or championships,” he said. “It will be measured in healthier people, better care models and stronger communities.”
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