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(804) 828-7069 Jessica A Frankenhoff, MD
Hand and Wrist Orthopaedics
Locations
9000 Stony Point Parkway
Richmond,
VA
23235
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11958 West Broad Street
Henrico,
VA
23233
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1001 E. Leigh Street
Richmond,
VA
23219
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VCU Health Way finder
Education
Medical School
Tufts University School of Medicine
Internship
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Residency
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Fellowship
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Biography
Expertly caring for the hand and wrist with a listening ear
When it comes to the hand and wrist, Jessica A. Frankenhoff, M.D., has seen it all, from tendonitis to complex fractures. A hand and wrist surgeon at VCU Health, she brings more than two decades of specialized expertise to one of the body’s most intricate and essential structures.
Dr. Frankenhoff specializes in the full range of hand and wrist disorders, caring for patients with arthritis in the fingers and wrists, tendon problems like trigger finger, ganglion cysts and other lumps and bumps of the hand. She frequently explores non-operative options like injections and therapy before recommending surgery, including for patients with Dupuytren's contracture, a thickening of the skin in the palm that can cause fingers to curl. She also treats patients with carpal tunnel syndrome with a form of minimally invasive surgery called endoscopy in which a tube with a camera and light is used to examine and perform surgery.
As a surgeon at a Level I Trauma Center, Dr. Frankenhoff is often called upon for some of medicine's most technically demanding work. "When a trauma comes in and, for example, a finger needs to be reattached, the technical aspects of microsurgery — working on tiny nerves and vessels under a microscope — are very challenging, but also rewarding," she says.
At the heart of Dr. Frankenhoff's practice is a conviction that good medicine begins with genuine listening. "The most important thing a doctor can do is listen to the patient," she says. "Not everyone presents with the same symptoms, and not everyone has the same needs. Getting to know my patients allows me to design a treatment plan that is tailored for them and their specific goals." That patient-centered philosophy comes through clearly in her feedback, with patients consistently praising her thoroughness, communication and willingness to make them feel like partners in their own care.
The multidisciplinary environment at VCU Health also means Dr. Frankenhoff's patients benefit from a deep bench of specialized support. "It's wonderful to have neurologists, radiologists, sports medicine doctors, certified hand therapists and rheumatologists all contributing to my patients' care," she says.
Dr. Frankenhoff earned her bachelor’s and medical degrees from Tufts University in Boston and completed her surgical internship and residency at UConn Health. She went on to complete a fellowship in hand surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University, with additional pediatric hand and upper extremity training at Scottish Rite for Children in Texas.
Along with being certified in hand surgery by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Frankenhoff holds active memberships in the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Medical Society of Virginia and the Richmond Academy of Medicine. She was voted Richmond's Best in Hand Surgery eight years in a row by Richmond magazine and has been named a Virginia Living magazine “Top Doc” three times. Local media outlets that have featured her expertise include the Richmond Times-Dispatch, WTVR-TV and Henrico Monthly magazine.
In addition to her clinical work at VCU Health, Dr. Frankenhoff serves as an associate professor in VCU’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, teaching residents throughout their five years in the program. “It is so satisfying to see their development in both technical skills and knowledge, knowing that I contributed to their growth,” she says.
Outside of work, Dr. Frankenhoff enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and dog. She is an avid reader and stays active through running, weightlifting and kayaking.
