By Leigh Farmer 

VCU Medical Center is the No. 1 hospital in Virginia and No. 44 in the country for orthopaedics, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals list.

The rankings affirm what patients and providers already know to be true — from traumatic injuries to joint replacements; the program provides the most comprehensive orthopaedic care for all.

"We are proud to be part of an academic health system that values the individualized care of each patient,” said Wilhelm Zuelzer, M.D., interim chair of Orthopaedic Surgery for VCU Health. “Our team has the depth of experience that positions us to care for the most complex orthopedic cases. This keeps us near the top of the rankings year after year.”

Consistency matters when it comes to the quality of patient care.

For the third year, U.S. News ranked VCU Medical Center in the Top 50 nationally for orthopaedics, and, like last year, the hospital continues to be the top ranked program in Virginia. It also received a "High Performing" designation for three orthopaedic procedures and conditions: hip replacement, hip fracture and back surgery (spinal fusion).

The national publication’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals list also named VCU Health’s flagship medical center as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia as well as the No. 1 hospital in Richmond for the 16th consecutive year.

Stephen Kates, M.D. (center), interim dean of VCU School of Medicine and an orthopaedic surgeon at VCU Health, is recognized for his work to standardize practices for geriatric fracture surgeries. (Daniel Sangjib Min, MCV Foundation)

What makes VCU Health the best place for orthopaedics care in Virginia

Advanced specialty care is not done in a silo. Each member of the orthopedic team is part of a larger system of heathcare clinicians who work together on the most complex cases.

VCU Health orthopaedics has comprehensive expertise in the following subspecialties:

• Foot and ankle
• Hand conditions
• Infection
• Joint pain treatment
• Nerve injury
• Orthopaedic oncology
• Osteoporosis/ metabolic bone
• Pediatric orthopaedics
• Podiatry
• Shoulder and elbow
• Spine injuries and conditions
• Sports medicine
• Trauma

From diagnosis to rehabilitation, patients are able to get the full scope of treatment at VCU Health.

“It doesn’t matter if patients come to us in an ambulance or after years of deliberation. Our team is successful in performing both routine and complex surgeries, including revising joint replacement surgeries done elsewhere,” said Greg Golladay, M.D., division chief of adult orthopaedic reconstruction. “It’s always gratifying to see patients who were suffering and in pain — some for several years — get better and back to doing what they love.”

VCU Health offers the most advanced joint care

Excellent health begins with education and prevention. The goal of the VCU Health orthopaedics team is to get patients back to living their best lives. To do that, doctors develop customized treatment plans with their patients’ individual needs and care goals in mind.

If possible, that plan begins with non-surgical treatments for joint and bone preservation. This can look like appropriate braces, injections and physical therapy. There are also specialists in women’s health who aim to keep women’s bones healthy as they age and go through menopause.

Over time, patients may need joint revisions and complex surgeries. Fortunately for older adults in our care, VCU Health orthopaedic doctors are known for redefining the field of geriatric fracture care, by specifically focusing on a framework that emphasizes safety and efficiency while minimizing complications. This type of work is especially important to older patients who may not tolerate multiple surgeries.

The orthopaedics team is also closely aligned with VCU Medical Center’s Level I trauma center. Alongside doctors from other life-saving medical specialties, they provide unparalleled care to patients with complex fractures and traumatic injuries.

Minimally invasive diagnostics and surgery help patients heal faster

With advanced technology to diagnose and treat orthopaedic aliments, our patients can often heal at home with less pain and less scarring.

Minimally invasive procedures, such as arthroscopic surgery, are offered at all VCU Health hospitals, providing patients in rural areas with the same level of care that patients receive at our academic medical center in downtown Richmond.

Seth Cheatham, M.D., medical director of VCU Health sports medicine (right), with former VCU Men’s Basketball player Joe Bamisile. (Jonathan Haff, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Expert orthopaedic care on the sidelines and in your community

Local high school and college athletes like former VCU Men’s Basketball standout Joe Bamisile trust VCU Health orthopaedists to keep them in the game.

“If the sports medicine doctor hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been able to close out the game and help win the A-10 Championship,” Joe said.

When injuries do happen, the VCU Health orthopaedics team is there to provide treatment and follow up care that helps patients get back to doing what they love.

“There is a misconception that our clinic is only for athletes. In reality, we take care of everyone at any age, from the weekend warriors to just someone trying to get back into shape. Our team is here to treat any sports injury that can occur,” said Seth Cheatham, M.D., medical director of VCU Health sports medicine.

Convenient orthopaedic care, closer to home

While VCU Health orthopaedic teams are known to be among the best in the nation, they are dedicated to the health of the communities they live in with locations across Central Virginia.

The team offers same day care across the Richmond region, including Saturday appointments at the Short Pump Pavillion. The communities of South Hill, Tappahannock and Williamsburg also benefit from having this award-winning expertise at their doorstep.

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