ABOUT US

About Topical Gear

Topical Gear was formed in 2010 by a team of professionals from the orthopedic sports medicine field. Collectively, this team has over two centuries of knowledge in athletic training, biomechanics, product development, manufacturing, orthopedic sports medicine, arthroscopy and the pioneering of products in the orthopedic sports medicine market.

Our team is constantly on the field or in the gym, getting feedback directly from parents, players, coaches and athletic trainers as part of our continuing effort to develop products that keep female athletes healthy. All of our products are backed by professional published research and tested by real athletes.

Team Bios

Bill Bue (President)

Bill has grown up with the Orthopedic Surgeons in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy.  Bill’s interaction with people in the market ignited what are still some of the most dominant sales forces in North America today, establishing companies like Don Joy and Breg as leaders in the sports medicine industry. His primary roles during a 37-year career focused on assessing market needs, hiring extremely productive sales people and pioneering neoprene in the 70’s, off-the-shelf functional bracing in the 80’s, portable continuous cold therapy in the 90’s and Topical Gear in the 2000’s.

Dr. Jeff Dugas

Dr. Jeff Dugas, M.D. is an Orthopedic Surgeon currently practicing at the Andrews Sports Medicine Institute. Education at North Carolina State University and Duke University School of Medicine.  Residency at the Hospital of Special Surgery. Fellowship at American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI). Dr. Dugas took over his mentor Dr. Jim Andrews practice in Birmingham when Dr. Andrews moved to Pensacola.

Mike Decker, Ph.D.

Dr. Decker is currently a Senior Research Scientist in the Bioengineering Laboratory at the University of Denver.  He has had 15 years combined experience in orthopedic biomechanics and private industry where he has received several awards for excellence in research and education and published over 25 articles in prominent sports medicine journals.  His primary research interest is rehabilitation science and his goal is to keep people active throughout their lifetime.

Dr. Joe Tipppett, M.D.

Dr. Joe Tipppett, M.D. is an Orthopedic Surgeon, who studied at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the University of Florida for his Surgical internship.  He did a four year residency at the University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas.  He practiced orthopedic surgery for 33 years in San Antonio, Texas.  He was President of the Arthroscopy Association of North America in 1997.  He retired in June 2005.

Bob McCune (Product and Market Consultant)

Bob spent his first decade in Orthopedics involved in product development, marketing and sales with the #1 brace company in the world. His next 6 years were spent with the largest distributor in North America. The last 4 years he has been functioning as the VP of Top Shelf, a new brace company.

Ed Orr, ATC (Product and Market Consultant)

Ed started his career in Athletic Training at the University of Arizona. His next position was as the head athletic trainer at Bowling Green State University and his next stop was head athletic trainer at Arizona State University. An orthopedic distributor realized Ed’s talents as an athletic trainer could extend into the business world. the last 6 years he has managed a sales group for that distributor.

Betsy Russell, ATC (Product Development and Market Consultant)

Betsy started her career as an athletic trainer under Andy Massey at Appalachian State University. She was a graduate assistant at Tulane University and is now at Hays High School south of Austin. Her hands-on experience, knowledge of anatomy as it relates to our product designs and market awareness make her very valuable to Topical Gear.