Take note of our Q & A for patients of Eastern Orthopaedics.

Joel Sorger, MD

For as long as he can remember, Dr. Sorger knew he wanted to be a doctor. Majoring in biology at the University of Richmond, Virginia was a logical first step. Deciding a field of specialty was not as easy.

After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Sorger moved to Cincinnati for a residency in general surgery. Two years later, "I knew general surgery wasn't for me. The work is very broad, involving all of the internal organs and blood vessels. I realized what I enjoyed most was working with muscles and bones. The mechanics of orthopaedics intrigued me." A year of working as a research fellow in the Noyes-Giannestras Biomechanics Lab at the University of Cincinnati Department of Aerospace Engineering confirmed his passion for orthopaedics.

Several years of training in Cincinnati and Boston opened Dr. Sorger's eyes, and his heart, to the challenges of orthopaedic oncology. Today he divides his work between orthopaedic cancer patients and those needing general orthopaedic surgery including total joint replacement. Both are rewarding.

"The nice thing about general orthopaedics is that patients recover quickly. An arthritic patient who can barely walk can be pain-free just six weeks after a hip replacement. It's wonderful to help make that happen. Treating bone and soft-tissue tumors is a greater challenge. It also can be mentally draining on the patient and the surgeon." Dr. Sorger's work with tumors includes Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and other malignancies that involve the musculoskeletal system.

Dr. Sorger lives in Montgomery with wife, Kathy, and their three children.

Certifications

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Societies

  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Musculoskeletal Tumor Society

Current Offices / Positions

  • Assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and director of the Division of Muscular-Skeletal Oncology, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Cincinnati

Education

Undergraduate

  • Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia

Medical School

  • Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University

Residencies

  • General surgery resident, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
  • Orthopaedic surgery resident, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Post Graduate Studies / Additional Training

  • Fellowship in management and treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcomas, Harvard Combined Orthopaedics Residency Program
  • Orthopaedic research fellow, Noyes-Giannestras Biomechanics Lab, University of Cincinnati Department of Aerospace Engineering