Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer on Tennis: Reminiscing the Top 3 Career Highlights of Rafael Nadal

Those who are in the field of neurosurgery is pretty much aware of who Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer is. Having been in the practice for over 20 years, he has mastered general neurosurgery–performing peripheral nerve operations, spine surgeries, and brain surgery. On a side note, it is pretty interesting to learn that he has a huge amount of interest in tennis. And one of his favorite players is Rafael Nadal.

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer

Born in Majorca, Spain, the 25-years-old tennis superstar, Rafael Nadal, has been playing tennis since the age of five. In 2005, at 19 years old, he joined the list of youngest players to ever reach the Top 10. Presently he is ranked number 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals and has already won 10 Grand Slam singles titles (a feat admired by tennis fans like Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer).

Photo Credit: www.rafaelnadal.com

Throughout his illustrious career in tennis, there are three matches which can be considered as defining moments for Rafael Nadal:

2002: Against Ramón Delgado, ATP match

At the young age of 15, Nadal, who is ranked No.762 then, defeated Delgado and became the ninth player below 16 years old to win his first ATP match.

Photo Credit: www.rafaelnadal.com

2005: Against Robin Soderling, French Open

Nadal is a heavy favorite going to his matchup against Soderling. However, the Swede managed to defeat Nadal and end his 32 consecutive sets victory-- one of the biggest upsets in tennis history at the French Open.

Photo Credit www.rafaelnadal.com

2005: Against Roger Federer, French Open

In this year, Nadal, who just turned 19 years old, defeated Federer in the semi-finals and became one of the only four players who defeated the top-seeded player that year. He eventually won the finals of the tournament by defeating Mariano Puerta.

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Wine, Sports, and Photography: Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer's Other Subjects of Fascination

Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer is an authority figure on neurological matters – he has been featured in national television, as well as in numerous medical literature. He specializes in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures and has helped countless patients overcome spinal and neurological diseases and disorders. Due to the nature of his job, long hours and stressful situations are inevitable, which is why when he has free time, he makes sure to spend quality time with his family and enjoy the other things that fascinate him, aside from the human brain – wine, sports, and underwater photography.

A wine connoisseur, the neurosurgeon is passionate about proper wine pairing. Wine lovers, such as Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer, stick to the tried-and-tested rule in wine pairing, which is to pair white wine with white meat and other dishes with more delicate flavors, while red wines complement red meat and dishes that are richer, those with thicker sauce, and those with an earthy flavor.

Dr. Oppenheimer also spends a great deal of time underwater – he is an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer. Spending time underwater can promote a feeling of peace and help de-stress, which benefits people who are in jobs that are physically and mentally taxing in nature.

Dr. Oppenheimer stays in shape by regularly engaging in physical activity – he is an accomplished martial artist, with a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and mixed martial arts. When he has time, he plays tennis, which gives him a good cardiovascular workout.

More information on Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer may be found on his Facebook page.

Red or White: Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer on Wine Pairing

When it comes to wine pairing, there is no absolute rule for what wine goes with what meal. Even wine enthusiasts like Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer may make unconventional wine and food pairings.


WiseGeek.Com says that white wines are perfect for white meat, while red wines complement red meat. This means that white wine is preferable with seafood, chicken, turkey, pork, and Chinese food, while red wine should accompany beef, lamb, sausages, pastas, veal, and duck well.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: Neeta Lindr

Thankfully, Wine-In-A-Glass.Com offers a more comprehensive guide for wine pairing. Wine enthusiasts should consider the following before deciding on wine and food pairings:


1. Balance—a wine-and-food combination is said to be good when the flavor of the wine balances the natural essence of the food. Wine lovers such as Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer may favor a mild, neutral wine to complement a mild, neutral dish, while a savory and flavorful wine would be perfect for a savory and flavorful meal.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: Jeremy Jenum

2. Acidity—the acidity level of a wine should match the acidity of the food. A dish with an acidic lemon sauce could be paired with a Sauvignon Blanc of the same flavor, while pasta with tomato sauce could be complemented by Chianti.


3. Palate Cleansing—wines contain natural tannins which cleanse the drinker’s palate of the fats. This means that the diner is now free to fully enjoy the next bite because the fatty residues of the last bite were washed away by the wine. Wines with high levels of acidity could also take away the salty aftertaste of some meals.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: vmiramontes

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer, a neurosurgeon who loves wines, agrees that there are no set rules for food and wine pairing. In the end, the food and wine pairing is still left to the diner’s preferences and tastes.


Additional information on Dr. Oppenheimer are available at his blog.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: Phillie Casablanca

National Neurosurgery Awareness Week: Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Discusses Head Injury Prevention from the AANS

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer says that with National Neurosurgery Awareness Week around the corner (officially held at April 10-16, 2011), the talk turns back to avoiding neural damage through related injuries. The year’s theme is: There’s Always Another Game, but You Only Have One Brain. American Association of Neurological Surgeons spokesperson Gail L. Rosseau, MD, emphasized that need for better public awareness in activities and other incidents that could possibly incur head and spinal cord injuries, especially in the field of sports.

This year’s NNAW, still focusing on the anti-sports-injury theme, is to be kicked off with the Community Kids Bike Helmet Day. This is followed by the evening sport-related themed AANS Opening Reception at the INVESCO field. Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer adds that a full gamut of sports-related activity stations, ranging from team sports, summer sports, winter sports, and the like, have been planned. There would also be streaming video presentations, special exhibits, and sports celebrity appearances.

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer

The reason the AANS had placed so much emphasis on sports-related brain and spinal injuries this year is the mounting number of cases of the kind treated in US hospitals today. In 2009 alone, an estimated 446,788 sports-related head injuries were treated, representing an increase of nearly 95,000 from the prior year.

Statistics from 2008 to 2009 are:

•Water Sports - 11,239 to 28,716
•Cycling - 70,802 to 85,389
•Baseball and Softball - 26,964 to 38,394
•Basketball - 27,583 to 34,692
•Football - 40,825 to 46,948
•Soccer - 19,252 to 24,184


AANS advises the use of helmets and protective gear approved by the ASTM International for a specific sport. Athletes must make sure they fit properly to get maximum protection.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer’s stance against brain diseases and injuries comes in no small part to his expertise in neural and spinal surgery. His full details can be found at www.premierorthoneuro.com.

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer

Lights, Camera, Action! The Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Quest for Excellence

Whether he is in the operating room, underwater, or tackling the biggest slopes, Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer has only one philosophy: do everything exceptionally well.


He graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Cornell University College of Arts and Science (Neurobiology and Behavior), and an MS with Distinction in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He took Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine and became a General Surgery Intern at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles. He was also a Neurosurgical Resident at the same institution.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: Yatedo.Com

Dr. Oppenheimer is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon with over two decades worth of practice and experience. He continues to pioneer less invasive methods for major spine surgery and remains to be one of the elite few to perform a minimally invasive two level lumbar fusion on an outpatient basis including cages and pedicle screws.


Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer is a multilingual neurosurgeon who is fluent in English, German, and Spanish. His personal commitment to excellence is echoed by his impressive curriculum vitae and experiences. Even his familial life is picturesque in perfection—with a part-Columbian wife, two stunningly gorgeous daughters, and two handsome sons.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: USF Health

During downtime from surgery, Dr. Oppenheimer makes it a point to spend time with his beautiful family by taking them out to play tennis, to ski, to bond, and to relax and bask in each other’s affection and attention. Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Oppenheimer manages to balance his work and familial duties, and still has time to go after his passions, which are diving, underwater photography, and acting.


Additional information on Dr. Oppenheimer is available at facebook.com/jeff.oppenheimer.

Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer Photo Credit: University of Colorado, Denver

What Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer Does When He's Not In His Scrub Suit

Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer is a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 20 years of neurosurgical expertise. He is an expert in treating spinal disorders using outpatient techniques, allowing his patients to resume their daily activities in a timely manner. The very nature of his job demands that he stays focused; there's no room for errors that may put the patient's life at risk. Needless to say, his job can definitely cause a fair amount of stress.

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer

This doctor, however, knows how to have fun. During his spare time, he spends time with his family – his wife and their four children. He loves skiing and playing tennis.

From Dr. Jeffrey Oppenheimer courtesy of knightsbridgeinvest.com

Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer also spends a great deal of time underwater, as he is an avid scuba diver. Spending time underwater makes him feel at peace and de-stressed. He is also a budding underwater photographer who takes great pride in his colorful pictures of the awesome marine underwater scene. He was once a part-time actor who has appeared in several commercials, television shows, and plays staged in his local community theater. He is also an accomplished martial artist, with a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and mixed martial arts. He enjoys listening to music by John Mayer, James Taylor, and Billy Joel, among other artists, and makes it a point to catch the latest episodes of his favorite TV shows, House and Madmen.

From Dr.Jeffrey Oppenheimer courtesy of stanford.edu

More information on Dr. Jeff Oppenheimer, in and out of his practice may be found on his Facebook page.