Our Mission

Since its founding in 1970, Rothman Orthopaedics has remained steadfast in its mission: to provide communities with high quality, compassionate, and affordable musculoskeletal care that is grounded in evidence-based medicine. This commitment has allowed us to exceed expectations and simultaneously grow into one of the nation’s largest and most respected orthopaedic practices.

As an organization that is focused solely on the treatment of both routine and complex musculoskeletal issues, we devote the entirety of our resources to the development of new treatments, the advancement of clinical care, and the pursuit of excellence in education and research.

A distinguishing feature of Rothman Orthopaedics is our emphasis on specialization both in clinical practice and research. Our joint surgeons focus on joints. Spine surgeons on spines and so on. This practice ensures that our patients receive unparalleled care from a physician who is an expert in their field and who is committed to providing the best outcomes possible. Care is provided in an environment that emphasizes respect and compassion.

Vision Statement

Rothman Orthopaedics strives to be the global standard for the provision of musculoskeletal care by achieving excellence in patient outcomes, research, teaching, and innovative healthcare technology.

Research is one of the pillars upon which Rothman Orthopaedics has built its long-standing success. For more than 50 years, we have participated in ground-breaking research and clinical trials with the goal of advancing knowledge, developing treatments, and improving outcomes for the benefit of our patients. Working in partnership with Thomas Jefferson Hospital, we have built one of the world’s most robust foundational science programs in orthopaedics. Together we are leading the way in groundbreaking research in the areas of post-operative thromboprophylaxis, back pain, joint infection, fibrosis, and regenerative medicine. Over the years, Rothman Orthopaedics has moved from following protocols to establishing them. Whether it’s determining the proper use of urinary catheters or aspirin prophylaxis, our physicians are setting the pace in orthopaedic care.

Go To Research

As a young surgeon, Richard H. Rothman, MD, PhD, had an ambitious goal: to create an orthopaedic center of excellence that would provide communities with access to high-quality musculoskeletal care. Over his long and distinguished career, Dr. Rothman accomplished this and so much more.

It’s a story that began five decades ago in 1970, when Dr. Rothman—then a member of Pennsylvania Hospital’s surgical faculty—operated on philanthropist and businessman Walter Annenberg. Impressed by his ambition and technical skill, Mr. Annenberg gifted Dr. Rothman the funds needed to bring his dream to reality.

In 1985, Dr. Rothman was named Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and brought his entire Center of Excellence with him. He recruited a fresh team of surgeons—all of whom he had observed in training—who were dedicated to research, outcomes, and who shared his vision for the future. And he hired a CEO, Mike West, to help drive the practice’s growth and success.

Over the next three decades, Rothman Orthopaedics grew exponentially in both size and reach and stands today as the largest full-service orthopaedic practice in the world. We have more than 40 offices      in four states, offer both surgical and non-operative services, and partner with sports teams at all levels of competition—from high school to professional—to provide treatment both on and off the field.

Yet despite this growth, we stand firm in our commitment to continue to provide our patients with high-quality, compassionate, affordable treatment that is supported by the latest evidence-based medicine.