Dr. Murtagh earned his BS Degree from Nicholls State University in 1978. He graduated Magna cum Laude and was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He received his MD from LSU in New Orleans in 1983, and was class president for three years. He completed an internship at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport and an orthopaedic residency. He served as chief resident of Orthopaedic Surgery from July – October of 1987.

He was certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1990. He has served as Chairman of the Orthopaedic Leadership Committee and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at OLOL Regional Medical Center as well as a clinical instructor for LSU Medical School. Society memberships include the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Arthroscopy Association of North America. Subspecialty interests include arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgical reconstruction.