Matthew Provencher, MD, MBA, MC USNR (Ret.) MED ’98
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sports Medicine Leader, Former Head Team Physician for
the New England Patriots, Director of Military Human Performance Programs
A relentless leader in military medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and global sports health, Captain Matthew T. Provencher, MD, MBA, MC USNR (Ret.), MED ’98, has shaped the trajectory of musculoskeletal care for service members and athletes around the world. Throughout his 27-year Navy career, Dr. Provencher’s unwavering dedication to service, scientific rigor, and team-based care has resulted in innovations now critical to military and professional sports medicine.
Dr. Provencher’s Dartmouth Medical School training instilled in him a lifelong commitment to outcomes-driven research. Drawing on these lessons, he co-founded MOTION (Military Orthopaedic Tracking Injuries Network)—now the world’s largest musculoskeletal outcomes database focused on military performance and injury prevention, currently supported with $50 million in annual research funding. His work has fundamentally advanced injury prevention protocols, rehabilitation strategies, and return-to-duty guidelines for U.S. warfighters, saving lives and optimizing readiness on a global scale.
As director of surgical services aboard the USNS Mercy, Dr. Provencher led a 650-member multinational team through multiple humanitarian and disaster relief missions in the Asia-Pacific, directly enhancing the well-being of underserved populations and strengthening international alliances. His vision also birthed the Navy SEALs’ Tactical Athlete Program—now a model for human performance, wellness, and longevity programs throughout the military, safeguarding the health of America’s elite warriors.
After his military tenure, Dr. Provencher broke new ground as Head Team Physician for the New England Patriots, designing a pioneering wellness and injury prevention program that supported their 2014 Super Bowl Championship. He continues to serve as a trusted resource for organizations including the NBA, NFL, MLB, and U.S. Olympic teams.
The author of over 455 peer-reviewed publications and seven textbooks, a decorated researcher and educator, and a dedicated mentor, Dr. Provencher’s impact is felt across continents and generations. From elite athletic fields to humanitarian theaters, his leadership exemplifies the Dartmouth ideals of excellence, teamwork, and service. Through every challenge and triumph, Dr. Provencher’s legacy endures not in accolades, but in lives transformed, in teams empowered.
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