Chatham Orthopaedic Associates welcomes two new surgeons to its highly skilled team, Joseph Romano, M.D. and Michael R. Wolverton, M.D. Established in the 1950s, Chatham Orthopaedic Associates has grown to a practice of 15 physicians in Savannah and the surrounding areas of Richmond Hill, Pooler, Effingham County, and Claxton, Georgia as well as Bluffton, South Carolina.

Joseph Romano, M.D.

An orthopaedic spine surgeon, Dr. Romano brings top-tier expertise to the Savannah area with this philosophy: help patients get back to doing what they love as quickly and safely as possible. Dr. Romano believes that surgery should always be the last option and encourages his patients to first explore non-operative treatments like physical therapy, injections, and other conservative measures. When those approaches don't deliver the relief patients need, he can step in with surgical solutions and treat each patient with the same care and attention he would give a member of his own family. Dr. Romano's specialties are spine, herniated/ruptured disc, neck and back pain, lumbar radiculopathy/sciatica, cervical radiculopathy, spinal stenosis and myelopathy, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, low back pain, minimally invasive surgery, and sacroiliac joint pain. 

Originally from Chicago, Dr. Romano was a walk-on football player at the University of Notre Dame, where he learned the value of hard work and determination—principles he brings into his practice every day. After graduating from Notre Dame, he attended Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, then completed his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a fellowship at the Norton Leatherman Spine Center at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Dr. Romano's professional affiliations include North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Michael R. Wolverton, M.D.

A native of Savannah, Dr. Wolverton is a board-eligible and fellowship-trained surgeon specializing in orthopaedic trauma and treating all injuries of the lower extremity, especially nonoperative and operative treatment options for knee and hip arthritis. His other specialties are general orthopaedics, lower leg, hip, knee, anterior total hip replacement, robotic total joint arthroplasty, partial knee replacement, total knee replacement, revision total hip arthroplasty, revision total knee arthroplasty, and knee arthroscopy.

Dr. Wolverton completed his undergraduate studies and graduate program in biomedical science at the University of South Carolina. He fell in love with the field of orthopaedics at that university's School of Medicine. During Dr. Wolverton’s orthopaedic residency at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, he spent half of his residency training at the Mayo Clinic Florida and served as his program’s chief resident. After his residency, he attended Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center for a hip and knee reconstruction fellowship. Dr. Wolverton's professional affiliations include the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and American Medical Association.

Chatham Orthopaedic Associates' team of doctors utilizes the most advanced surgical techniques and rehabilitative protocols to provide patients with the finest care available to fit each patient’s unique needs, all while stressing the importance of communication and education between patient and physician. The physicians at Chatham Orthopaedic Associates are on staff at Candler Hospital, Memorial University Medical Center, and St. Joseph’s Hospital. In addition, some physicians have staff privileges at Effingham Hospital. The physicians practice at the main location at 4425 Paulsen Street, Building A, as well as at Chatham Orthopaedic Associates’ many satellite facilities. For more information, please visit www.ChathamOrthopaedics.com.