Orthopedic surgeons across the country are advancing joint replacement, sports medicine, foot and ankle surgery and upper-extremity care while taking on new roles in research, education and healthcare leadership.
The following 15 orthopedic surgeons are making an impact on the specialty through surgical innovation, clinical expertise and efforts to improve patient care.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a physician for a future list, contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- George Chimento, MD. Ochsner Health (New Orleans): Dr. Chimento is system chair of orthopedic surgery at Ochsner Health. He specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacement and has led the system’s orthopedic department since 2018. He is also a professor of orthopedic surgery at the Ochsner Clinical School of the University of Queensland School of Medicine in Brisbane, Australia.
Dr. Chimento’s research focuses on value-based orthopedic care, and he has published peer-reviewed studies and presented at national and international conferences. He serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Arthroplasty, is a past president of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association and previously served as chief of orthopedic surgery at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, La.
- Charles DeCook, MD. Total Joint Specialists (Cumming, Ga.): Dr. DeCook is co-founder of Total Joint Specialists and specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacement, with expertise in anterior hip replacement, complex reconstruction and outpatient joint replacement. His work focuses on advancing surgical techniques, rapid-recovery protocols and efficient joint replacement care.
Dr. DeCook has contributed to 19 publications and has been involved in improvements to implant design and perioperative care. He has been recognized by Orthopedics Today as a leader in joint replacement and named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor from 2017 through 2026.
- Justin Deen, MD. Florida Orthopaedic Institute (Tampa): Dr. Deen specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacement. His expertise includes partial and total knee replacement, total hip replacement, minimally invasive and muscle-sparing techniques, outpatient joint replacement and technology-assisted surgery. He also treats complex cases involving failed joint replacements.
Dr. Deen is an associate professor at the Tampa-based University of South Florida College of Medicine and previously served on the faculty at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He has received teaching and quality awards, contributed to orthopedic research publications and serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Arthroplasty. He also holds leadership roles in professional organizations, including the Florida Orthopaedic Society and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
- L. Nathan Gause, MD. University Health KC (Kansas City, Mo.): Dr. Gause specializes in foot and ankle surgery and serves as chief population health and patient experience officer and medical director of health equity at University Health. He is also vice chair of clinical operations and an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. His leadership focuses on improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare disparities and advancing value-based care.
Dr. Gause’s research examines ankle arthritis, foot and ankle reconstruction outcomes and the impact of social drivers of health on musculoskeletal care. He has developed educational curricula on healthcare business and health equity and serves on the board of directors of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society. He also holds committee and leadership roles within the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Arianna Gianakos, DO. Yale Medicine (New Haven, Conn.): Dr. Gianakos specializes in foot and ankle sports medicine, with expertise in minimally invasive surgery, in-office needle arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction and treatment of complex sports injuries. She is an assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine and completed international fellowship training in foot and ankle sports medicine and needle arthroscopy.
Dr. Gianakos has authored more than 85 peer-reviewed publications, with research focusing on cartilage restoration, orthobiologics, sports injuries and sex-related differences in orthopedic outcomes. She is a founding member of #SpeakUpOrtho, an initiative focused on improving the culture of surgical training, and has received the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Courage Award for her advocacy work.
- Peter Gold, MD. Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center (Golden, Colo.): Dr. Gold specializes in hip and knee replacement, with expertise in robotic-assisted surgery, minimally invasive techniques and muscle-sparing approaches. His practice includes anterior hip replacement, quadriceps-sparing knee replacement and partial and total knee replacement. He also collaborates with surgeons nationally to advance robotic-assisted joint replacement techniques.
Dr. Gold has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and presented research nationally and internationally. He serves on committees within the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons’ Young Arthroplasty Group and previously served as an AAHKS Health Policy Fellow, advocating for patients and surgeons. He also co-founded Strong City, a nonprofit supporting youth and community organizations in New Orleans.
- Carlos Higuera-Rueda, MD. Cleveland Clinic Florida (Weston): Dr. Higuera-Rueda chairs the Levitetz Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and serves as director of research for the Integrated Surgical Institute at Cleveland Clinic Florida. He specializes in primary and revision hip and knee replacement, robotic-assisted surgery and complex joint reconstruction, with particular expertise in periprosthetic joint infections.
Dr. Higuera-Rueda holds the Amy and David Krohn Family Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Outcomes. His research focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of joint replacement infections, patient optimization and surgical outcomes. He has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and is a past president of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society.
- Tamara Huff, MD. Vigeo Orthopedics (Columbus, Ga.): Dr. Huff is the founder of Vigeo Orthopedics, which she established in 2019 to expand access to musculoskeletal care in underserved and under-resourced communities. She has more than a decade of experience providing orthopedic care in rural and urban settings, with a focus on reducing healthcare disparities and improving access to treatment.
Dr. Huff is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. She also serves as a qualified medical evaluator in California.
- Dawn LaPorte, MD. Johns Hopkins Medicine (Baltimore): Dr. LaPorte is the Thomas M. Brushart, MD, Professor in Hand Surgery and vice chair of education in the department of orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins. She also serves as director of the orthopedic surgery residency program. Her clinical expertise includes hand and wrist injuries, arthritis, nerve compression syndromes and Dupuytren’s contracture.
Dr. LaPorte’s research focuses on wrist disorders, peripheral nerve conditions and improving orthopedic resident education. She serves on the governing council of the Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors and has held leadership roles within the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, including chair of its Resident Education Committee and program chair for its 2020 annual meeting.
- Elizabeth Lieberman, MD. Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists (Portland, Ore.): Dr. Lieberman specializes in hip and knee replacement, with particular expertise in complex primary and revision procedures and robotic-assisted surgery. Her practice also includes treating arthritis, fractures and acute musculoskeletal injuries.
Dr. Lieberman has contributed to peer-reviewed research, book chapters and scientific journal reviews. She serves on committees with the Oregon Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, advocating for patients and orthopedic professionals. She was also named a Portland Monthly Top Doctor for 2027.
- Kevin Lutta, MD. OrthoVirginia (Richmond): Dr. Lutta specializes in foot and ankle surgery, with expertise in total ankle replacement, complex foot reconstruction, minimally invasive bunion correction and treatment of fractures, ligament injuries and tendon disorders. He has also contributed to the design of orthopedic devices and implants aimed at improving surgical treatment.
Dr. Lutta has provided sports medicine expertise to professional and collegiate athletic programs, including serving as a consultant for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, MLS’ D.C. United and George Mason University athletics. He completed fellowship training in foot and ankle reconstruction at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
- Mark Schultzel, MD. United Medical Doctors (San Diego): Dr. Schultzel is director of orthopedic surgery specializing in shoulder and elbow reconstruction, arthroscopy, fracture care and upper-extremity sports medicine. His expertise includes shoulder and elbow replacement, rotator cuff and labral repairs and treatment of complex shoulder and elbow injuries.
Dr. Schultzel has published extensively in peer-reviewed orthopedic journals and presented at national and international conferences. He is a member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association. He also volunteers as a sports medicine physician with the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Kendo, and mentors medical students and residents in the San Diego area.
- Marie Walcott, MD. Tufts Medicine (Boston): Dr. Walcott focuses on individualized musculoskeletal care, with an emphasis on diagnosing and treating shoulder conditions. She uses in-office diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound to evaluate sources of shoulder pain and guide treatment decisions, which may help patients avoid delays associated with advanced imaging.
Dr. Walcott is an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, where she teaches and mentors medical students and residents. Her approach emphasizes shared decision-making, patient education and tailoring surgical and nonsurgical treatments to patients’ individual needs and activity goals.
- Angela Wang, MD. University of Utah Health (Salt Lake City): Dr. Wang is a professor of orthopedic surgery and section chief of hand and microvascular surgery at the University of Utah. She specializes in hand, upper-extremity and microvascular surgery for children and adults, with particular expertise in congenital hand conditions, brachial plexus injuries and complex peripheral nerve reconstruction. She also serves as fellowship director, training the next generation of hand surgeons.
Dr. Wang has held national leadership roles in orthopedic education and research, including serving as hand and wrist section editor for the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. She has presented at national and international conferences and participates in medical missions providing reconstructive surgery to underserved communities in Nepal, Morocco and Bolivia.
- Rick Wright, MD. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.): Dr. Wright is the Dan Spengler, MD, Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he also serves as chief medical officer and senior vice president for clinical affairs. A sports medicine specialist, he has held national leadership positions, including president of the American Orthopaedic Association and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Wright has authored more than 300 publications and is a founding member of the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network research group. He also serves as principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health-funded Multicenter ACL Revision Study, which examines outcomes following revision ACL reconstruction. His research has earned multiple national honors, including the Orthopaedic Research Society’s Kappa Delta Ann Doner Vaughn Award. He has also been recognized as an American Orthopaedic Association Pillar of the Orthopaedic Profession.
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