Our History

A Half-Century of Superb Care

2022

• Rajeev Pandarinath, MD joined OrthoBethesda as a Sports Medicine Specialist, specifically specializing in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, hip, and knee. Dr. Pandarinath is a native of North Carolina and attended Duke University for his undergraduate education, followed by medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He completed his orthopedic residency at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and did a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, where he worked with athletes at all levels, including professional (Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers, 76ers, Phillies) and collegiate (St. Joseph’s University).
• Marc Gruner, DO joins OrthoBethesda as the first interventional physiatrist. Dr. Marc Gruner, DO, MBA, RMSK is a Mayo Clinic trained Sports Medicine Physician. He attended VCOM/Virginia Tech for his joint medical and business degree. Dr. Gruner completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Georgetown University/National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington DC. He then completed his Sports Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
• OrthoBethesda partners with Shady Grove Orthopaedics to create the region’s leading multi-subspecialty orthopedic platform.
• OrthoBethesda announces partnership with Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (WOSM). The combination creates the leading orthopedic care services provider in the region with 27 world-class orthopedists.
• Suzanne J. Walters, MD joined OrthoBethesda as a specialist in Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine. Dr. Suzanne Jaffe Walters holds a BA from Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, where she lettered in both swimming and tennis, and graduated in 3 years. She moved to NYC where she received a MS in Biochemical Nutrition from Columbia University.  She received her medical degree from MCP-Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and stayed on to complete her Residency at MCP- Hahnemann as well.  She then went on to complete fellowships in Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine at Harvard’s Boston Children’s Hospital, and Pediatric Orthopaedics at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Walters is board certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, and formerly served as the Director of Sports Medicine at Children’s National Medical Center.  

2021

2019

• Andrew S. Holmes, MD joined OrthoBethesda as our third joint replacement fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon.  A graduate of Duke University, Dr. Holmes completed an orthopedic surgery residency at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. He then went on to complete advanced fellowship training in total joint replacement surgery at the Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute.

2018

• Eric J. Feuchtbaum, MD joined OrthoBethesda as our third spine fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. A graduate of Brown University and University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Feuchtbaum completed his orthopedic surgery training at the nationally renowned Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He then pursued fellowship training in spine and scoliosis reconstructive surgery at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

• OrthoBethesda expands its footprint in the Camalier Building to occupy 21,000 sq. ft. This expansion and renovation feature a third-floor state-of-the-art physical therapy suite, a stand-alone billing suite, additional fifth-floor clinical space, and a third proprietary x-ray generator.

• Christopher J. Cannova, MD was awarded The John Carroll Society Pro Bono Health Care Award for the free health care services provided to the poor and homeless in the Archdiocese of Washington.

2017

• OrthoBethesda hosted it’s first-ever, “Great Strides 5k” benefiting Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartomas.

• Joseph R. O’Brien, MD joined the group as our second spine fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. Dr. O’Brien specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and revision of failed spine surgery. A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the George Washington School of Medicine, Dr. O’Brien completed his training at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center with a fellowship in spinal reconstructive surgery. Dr. O’Brien has previously served as an associate professor for Orthopaedic Surgery & Neurological Surgery and the Medical Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at the George Washington University.

2016

• OrthoBethesda Physical Therapy was awarded The John Carroll Society Pro Bono Health Care Award for the free health care services provided by our therapists to the poor and homeless in the Archdiocese of Washington.

2015

• Craig A. Miller, MD joined OrthoBethesda as our second sports medicine, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. A graduate of Tufts University, where he also played football, he then attended George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. where he graduated with honors. Dr. Miller completed an internship in general surgery at the New York University Medical Center and an orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York. He then went on to complete advanced fellowship training in sports medicine at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. Since 2008, Dr. Miller has been an assistant team physician for the Washington Nationals.

2014

2013

• Edward J. Bieber, MD was awarded The John Carroll Society Pro Bono Health Care Award for the free health care services he provided to the poor and homeless in the Archdiocese of Washington.

2012

• Sridhar M. Durbhakula, MD joined the group as our second joint replacement fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. A graduate of Northwestern University School of Medicine, Dr. Durbhakula completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Albany Medical Center in New York. He then went on to complete a fellowship in total joint replacement at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital, in affiliation with Harvard Medical School.

2010

• Robert R. Buber, MD joined OrthoTraumaBethesda as our second trauma fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. A graduate of LaSalle University and the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Dr. Buber completed an orthopedic surgery residency at SUNY Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. He then went on to complete a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ.

2009

• • OrthoTraumaBethesda opened its doors in Suite 506 with the addition of Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD, the first trauma fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon to practice in Bethesda. A graduate of Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Dr. Bhattacharyya completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Boston University / Boston Medical Center. He then went on to complete a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Bhattacharyya assumed the role of Director of Orthopaedic Trauma at Suburban Hospital and OrthoTraumaBethesda took over the responsibility for the hospital’s orthopedic call schedule.

• • The practice’s renovation was complete in the spring of that year.

• The Joint Center at Suburban Hospital, under the leadership of Dr. Caulfield, performed 900 joint replacement surgeries over the course of the year.

2008

• • Therapy Services expanded again, doubling the square footage of Suite 210.

• • The practice began a significant expansion and renovation project on the fifth floor as well. The business office moved to a new suite to allow for a larger waiting room and clinic. The conversion to Digital Radiography occurred that year to eliminate the time patients previously had spent waiting to have their X-rays taken.

2007

• • The practice opened a suite on the second floor to accommodate a larger staff of Physical and Occupational Therapists.

• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Orthopaedic Associates began trading as OrthoBethesda, a less cumbersome moniker, and a logo for the practice were crafted representing stylized surgeon hands.

2006

• • Christopher J. Cannova, MD joined the group. Following his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Cannova completed a fellowship in Joint Reconstruction at the Hospital for Special Surgery / Cornell University Medical Center in New York.

• Dr. Cattell retired at the end of that same year.

2005

• • B.C.C.O.A. expanded its footprint in the Camalier Building and opened a Therapy Services department.

• Suburban Hospital opened its Joint Center in June with Dr. J. Patrick Caulfield as its Medical Director.

1999

• Andre R. Gazdag, MD joined the practice. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, and Duke University Medical School, Dr. Gazdag trained in orthopedic surgery at the UCLA Medical Center and subsequently completed a Foot and Ankle Fellowship at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia.

1997

• Kurt C. Schluntz, MD joined the group. A graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Schluntz received his orthopedic training at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Program and completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute under Dr. James Andrews.

1992

• Ira D. Fisch, MD joined the practice. A graduate of Queens College and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Fisch trained in orthopedic surgery at the Montefiore / Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and received spine training at the Spinecare / St. Mary’s / Stanford Combined Spine Fellowship Program.

1991

• B.C.C.O.A had outgrown its Cedar Lane offices and moved to its present location in the Camalier Building on Fernwood Road in Bethesda.

1985

• • Drs. Kindred and McNamara retired due to health reasons.

• • Edward J. Bieber, MD joined the practice. Board-certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Dr. Bieber attended Yale University and Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his training in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Bieber was the first fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in Bethesda.

• Later the same year, Hereward S. Cattell, MD, and Lewis A. Ottenritter, MD joined Drs. Bieber and Caulfield, incorporating as Bethesda-Chevy Chase Orthopaedic Associates (B.C.C.O.A). Interestingly, this fortuitous acronym corresponded with the first letters in each of the founding partners’ last names.

1984

• Dr. Spicer retired to Lewes, Delaware.

1975

• Suburban Hospital established the Montgomery County Regional Trauma Center with Drs. Caulfield, Kindred, McNamara, and Spicer served as the primary orthopedic surgeons.

1974

• The practice expanded to four orthopedic surgeons with the arrival of William A. McNamara, MD Dr. McNamara had previously served as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve.

1972

• J. Patrick Caulfield, MD joined the practice after serving two years on active duty as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve during the Vietnam War. A native of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Dr. Caulfield graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine, completing his orthopedic residency there in 1970. On October 6, 1972, Dr. Caulfield performed Suburban Hospital’s first-ever total hip replacement. To date, over 10,000 joint replacements have been completed at Suburban. Dr. Caulfield has been featured in every Top Doctors issue of The Washingtonian Magazine since its inception.

1965

• The practice was formed when Robert G. Kindred, MD, and Robert F. Spicer, MD combined their solo orthopedic practices in a single office at the Georgetown Doctors’ Park on West Cedar Lane in Bethesda, Maryland.