Jacob E Tulipan, MD

For Dr. Jacob Tulipan, orthopaedic surgery offers a daily opportunity to do work that helps people live active, healthy lives. His interest in the practical application of science led him to study bioengineering as an undergrad. He committed to medicine when he realized that orthopaedics and engineering have a lot in common.

“I love science and working with my hands, using tools to solve problems. I wanted to become either a doctor or a scientist. As a surgeon, I can be both. For a physical, mechanical person, like me, each case is like a challenging puzzle to put together,” Dr. Tulipan says.

Dr. Tulipan received his biomedical degree magna cum laude at Yale University. He earned his M.D. at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He served his residency at Thomas Jefferson University and completed a hand and upper extremity fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. As a student, he witnessed the power of surgery in India, where he volunteered to help provide eye care to the rural poor. “Cataracts is a big problem. Yet the surgery takes minutes and costs about $30. Some patients were blind 10 years or more and in 10 minutes, they have their sight restored. That’s the promise of surgery. It makes terrible problems go away,” he says. His area of expertise is community orthopaedics, focused on the hand, wrist and elbow. From pediatric fractures to arthritis and reconstruction, he treats just about any problem between the elbow and fingertips – carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, fractures and other trauma. He has authored many journal articles and presents regularly at professional conferences. “We are privileged to deliver cures, week after week. Our patients do well, they’re happy to get back to work, sports and hobbies. I take great pride in helping my patients get back to all the things they want to do,” he says.

Dr. Tulipan lives in Northfield with his wife, son and rescue boxer.