Forty Under 40: Ramon Ylanan

Ramon Ylanan developed an interest in medicine and the human body when he was 9 or 10 years old.

“Growing up, I was a baseball player,” he said.

By the time he was in high school he knew he wanted to be a physician. He chose sports medicine to remain active in athletics.

Ylanan, a Philippines native, has been a physician since 2007 when he completed his family medicine residency at the University of Missouri, and in 2008, a sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama.

His career began at the University of South Carolina as assistant team physician.

In 2012, he left South Carolina to become head sports medicine physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He also joined Advanced Orthopaedic Specialists, where he has a private practice.

“I specialize in non-operative treatment,” Ylanan said. “How can I try to get them better without surgery?”

His focus is on Razorback football, but he also sees baseball, basketball, track and cross country athletes.

The best part of the job is the athletes, he said. “They’re really great kids.”

A career highlight is that he’s cared for the Razorbacks who recently qualified for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Another highlight came in 2010 when the South Carolina baseball team won the College World Series title in the final game at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska.

In his free time, Ylanan plays sports with his son and home brews beer. He also volunteers at area sporting events, such as the Hogeye Marathon, and is head team physician for Shiloh Christian School.

Ylanan is director of the first board-certified primary care sports medicine fellowship in Arkansas.