In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Biggs to explore a powerful shift in orthopedic care, moving from traditional opioid-heavy pain management to a more effective, patient-centered, non-opioid approach.

From his journey into joint replacement surgery to building a thriving private practice, Dr. Biggs shares real-world insights on what it takes to evolve as a surgeon in today's changing healthcare landscape. The heart of this conversation looks into perioperative pain management and how a multimodal strategy is transforming patient recovery.

Goal of episode: To develop a baseline knowledge of non-opioid pain management in orthopedic patients.

Dr. H. Kurtis Biggs' interest in surgery was cultivated at an early age, being the son of a general surgeon. This exposure provided him a view into the world of orthopedics and joint replacement surgery that has continued to drive him to this day.

Dr. Biggs began his medical career performing joint replacements in private practice in Ohio, while also teaching at the orthopedic surgery residency program at Doctors Hospital of Stark County. His Ohio medical practice also served as a multicenter investigational studies site for developing new implants and procedures. He relocated to Florida in 2006 and founded the Joint Replacement Institute in Naples, Florida two years later.

Dr. Biggs performs 900+ joint replacement surgeries per year. He is a national leader in the development and use of cutting-edge surgical techniques, customized implant design, and post-operative patient care. He hosts surgeons from around the country who come to learn about direct anterior hip replacement, outpatient total joint replacement, and patient-specific knee replacement surgeries.

Direct anterior hip replacements are a passion of his. Dr. Biggs has successfully performed more than 6,000 of these minimally invasive procedures that involve skillfully maneuvering around muscles and tendons for less post-op pain and scarring as well as a faster recovery.

Since moving to Florida, Dr. Biggs, his wife, and six children have enjoyed becoming active members of the community and look forward to living in Naples for many years to come. The Biggs family enjoys many outdoor activities ranging from golf to motocross.

Education & Training

Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio (1996)

Residency: Orthopedic Surgery, Doctors Hospital of Stark County, Massillon, Ohio (2001)

Fellowship: Adult Reconstruction, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (2002)

Board Certification

Orthopedic Surgery – American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery

Specialties

• Direct anterior total hip replacement

• Knee arthroscopy

• Outpatient joint replacement

• Partial knee replacement

• Total knee replacement

In this episode, we discuss:

• The evolution from high opioid use to minimal (and even zero) narcotics

• Practical, evidence-based techniques to reduce pain and swelling

• The role of cryotherapy, nerve blocks, and emerging non-opioid solutions

• How to improve patient experience while maintaining excellent outcomes

Whether you're a resident, early-career physician, or seasoned clinician, this episode offers actionable strategies to rethink pain management and elevate patient care.

Are you heading to AAOS 2026 in March? Stop by booth 830 and chat with the consultants at St. John Associates Physician Recruiting. Their orthopedic surgery team, one of the top national recruiting teams in the ortho market, has over 30 years of combined experience in the market and hundreds of matches in all ortho subspecialties. Their services are always free to job seeking physicians.

Stop by booth 830 at AAOS 2026 in New Orleans, March 3rd through the 5th or visit them at StJohnJobs.com/ortho.

Orthopedic surgery is in the middle of a quiet but powerful shift. Procedures that once required hospital admission are increasingly being performed in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs), and this change is transforming patient experience, physician autonomy, and the business of orthopedic care.

In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Spector joins us to discuss why ASCs are becoming a dominant force in modern orthopedics. In this episode, we break down:

• Why more orthopedic procedures are moving out of hospitals.

• How ASCs are transforming patient experience, efficiency, and recovery.

• OrthoCarolina's bold strategy to double down on ASCs and physician-led care.

• The real financial differences between ASCs and hospitals for patients, insurers, and providers.

• Certificate of need, and the role it plays in ASCs.

• How ASCs and hospital partnerships work.

A board-certified fellowship-trained Orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Spector has enjoyed a 17-year tenure with OrthoCarolina, holding multiple leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Quality Officer, member of the Executive Committee, chairman of the Quality/Value Committee, and co-fellowship director at the OrthoCarolina Spine Center. In 2020, Dr. Spector earned his MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business and was previously selected to participate in the American Orthopedic Association Leadership Program, conducted in collaboration with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Dr. Spector currently serves as a Board Member of the Lumbar Spine Research Society and previously held the position of President of the North Carolina Spine Society.

Dr. Spector began serving as CEO of OrthoCarolina in 2024. Dr. Spector has continued to practice orthopedic surgery while active as the OrthoCarolina CEO.

The goal of these episodes is to go over the most cited articles in a certain topic over the past 15-20 years to give learners an idea of what articles are being read and what are some of the important studies out there to read!

In this episode we have Dr. Samuel Fuller, a resident at University at Buffalo, Matthew Corsi, a resident at Corewell East/Beaumont RO, Jalen Warren, a resident at Case Western Reserve University, Matthew Alben, a resident at University at Buffalo, and Danil Chernov, a second-year medical student at University at Buffalo. They discuss Injuries in Throwing Athletes.

Enjoy!

Ortho Essentials 101: The #1 prep course for orthopaedic surgery rotations and intern year. Join over 100 others and learn Orthopaedics! courses.naileditortho.com

Today we discuss Alternative revenue streams for physicians! So what are some things doctors can do outside of the clinic to make some revenue? We discuss some things in this episode!

Alfred Atanda Jr., MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine Program, and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He serves as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Atanda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completed an internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and fellowships in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Nemours Children's and in sports medicine at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University. He performs arthroscopic surgery of the knee, elbow, ankle and shoulder, as well as general orthopedic and trauma surgical procedures. His research interests are in upper extremity overuse injury prevention and general orthopedic trauma. Recently, he has developed an interest in technology and digital health innovation and routinely uses telemedicine in his sports medicine practice. He is working with several stakeholders in the organization to re-imagine the process by which pediatric orthopedic patients are triaged, navigated, evaluated and treated during the continuum of their health care experience. Provides care in Wilmington, Del., and Abington, Pa.

We answer questions you may have on the things you will encounter when it comes to billing, like:

• What is an IME?
• Expert Witness
• + more

We dissect the hidden truths of orthopedic practice, from team building to practice management, physician burnout, and more. We explore insights with Dr. Atanda about the skills that aren't taught in medical school but are crucial for success.

We discuss some of the general things and concepts you need to know about billing and. coding. Dr.Atanda gives us a great overview of some things that you may not have known!

Alfred Atanda Jr., MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine Program, and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He serves as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Atanda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completed an internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and fellowships in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Nemours Children's and in sports medicine at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.

He performs arthroscopic surgery of the knee, elbow, ankle and shoulder, as well as general orthopedic and trauma surgical procedures. His research interests are in upper extremity overuse injury prevention and general orthopedic trauma. Recently, he has developed an interest in technology and digital health innovation and routinely uses telemedicine in his sports medicine practice. He is working with several stakeholders in the organization to re-imagine the process by which pediatric orthopedic patients are triaged, navigated, evaluated and treated during the continuum of their health care experience. Provides care in Wilmington, Del., and Abington, Pa.

We answer questions you may have on the things you will encounter when it comes to billing, like:

• what is coding and billing

• should you know the people who bill in your department?
• coding tips + more

PART 2I

n this episode, we're joined by Dr. Andrew Zhang, and we explore Lumbar Interbody fusion. We discuss indications, relevant anatomy, differences between ALIF, OLIF, XLIF, + much much more.

Dr. Zhang is a board-certified, dual fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery. He has a clinical interest in treating complex spinal deformity in adult and pediatric patients, including scoliosis and kyphosis, as well as robotic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and the latest technology such as endoscopic spine surgery. His patient-centered approach involves empowering patients by educating them on their individual spinal conditions and developing a specific evidence-based treatment plan together with them as if they were his own family members. Dr. Zhang also has a particular interest in teaching residents and medical students and is actively involved in several research studies. He has been published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks, and he has presented posters and on podiums at several national and international conferences.

Dr. Zhang earned dual undergraduate degrees in biology and economics with highest honors from The George Washington University and obtained his medical degree with distinction in research from the same institution. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Louisiana State University. He then completed an advanced spine fellowship at Brown University, followed by additional spine training at Yale University and the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia and Shreveport. Dr. Zhang completed a second fellowship in advanced adult and pediatric comprehensive spine surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University/Cornell University, training with the world's foremost experts in spine surgery. He served as an Assistant Attending and Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as a Clinical Instructor of Orthopedic Surgery in Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. His higher education culminated in graduating with distinction from the Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard University. Prior to joining Penn Medicine, Dr. Zhang was the Chief of Adult and Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, as well as an Assistant Professor and the Associate Program Director to the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

• Medical School: George Washington University
• Residency: Montefiore Medical Center
• Residency: Louisiana State University Hospital
• Fellowship: Brown University
• Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
• Fellowship: Harvard University

Goal of episode: To develop a baseline knowledge of Lumbar Interbody Fusion

In this episode, we cover a wide array of topics including:

• Lumbar interbody fusion vs posterolateral fusion
• indications for interbody fusion
• danger and surgical pearls for ALIF, OLIF, XLIF, PLIF
• pertininent lumbar spine surgical anatomy

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Andrew Zhang, and we explore Lumbar Interbody fusion. We discuss indications, relevant anatomy, differences between ALIF, OLIF, XLIF, + much much more.

Dr. Zhang is a board-certified, dual fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery. He has a clinical interest in treating complex spinal deformity in adult and pediatric patients, including scoliosis and kyphosis, as well as robotic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and the latest technology such as endoscopic spine surgery. His patient-centered approach involves empowering patients by educating them on their individual spinal conditions and developing a specific evidence-based treatment plan together with them as if they were his own family members. Dr. Zhang also has a particular interest in teaching residents and medical students and is actively involved in several research studies. He has been published in numerous peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks, and he has presented posters and on podiums at several national and international conferences.

Dr. Zhang earned dual undergraduate degrees in biology and economics with highest honors from The George Washington University and obtained his medical degree with distinction in research from the same institution. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Louisiana State University. He then completed an advanced spine fellowship at Brown University, followed by additional spine training at Yale University and the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia and Shreveport. Dr. Zhang completed a second fellowship in advanced adult and pediatric comprehensive spine surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University/Cornell University, training with the world's foremost experts in spine surgery. He served as an Assistant Attending and Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as a Clinical Instructor of Orthopedic Surgery in Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. His higher education culminated in graduating with distinction from the Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard University. Prior to joining Penn Medicine, Dr. Zhang was the Chief of Adult and Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, as well as an Assistant Professor and the Associate Program Director to the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

• Medical School: George Washington University
• Residency: Montefiore Medical Center
• Residency: Louisiana State University Hospital
• Fellowship: Brown University
• Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
• Fellowship: Harvard University

Goal of episode: To develop a baseline knowledge of Lumbar Interbody Fusion

In this episode, we cover a wide array of topics including:

• Lumbar interbody fusion vs posterolateral fusion
• indications for interbody fusion
• danger and surgical pearls for ALIF, OLIF, XLIF, PLIF
• pertininent lumbar spine surgical anatomy

In this episode, our guest, Dr. Atanda, discusses the administrative tasks you will need to complete as a new attending, from credentialing and licensing to insurance setup and beyond, to stay compliant and start your new role with confidence.

Alfred Atanda Jr., MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine Program, and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He serves as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Atanda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completed an internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and fellowships in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Nemours Children's and in sports medicine at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.

He performs arthroscopic surgery of the knee, elbow, ankle and shoulder, as well as general orthopedic and trauma surgical procedures. His research interests are in upper extremity overuse injury prevention and general orthopedic trauma. Recently, he has developed an interest in technology and digital health innovation and routinely uses telemedicine in his sports medicine practice. He is working with several stakeholders in the organization to re-imagine the process by which pediatric orthopedic patients are triaged, navigated, evaluated and treated during the continuum of their health care experience. Provides care in Wilmington, Del., and Abington, Pa.

The goal of these episodes is to go over the most cited articles in a certain topic over the past 15-20 years to give learners an idea of what articles are being read and what are some of the important studies out there to read!

In this episode we have Dr. Samuel Fuller, a resident at University at Buffalo, Dr. Alexander Macfarlane, a current shoulder & Elbow fellow, Teja Polisetty, a resident at Harvard University, Brad Hawayek, a resident at the University of Buffalo, Matthew Corsi, a resident at Corewell East/Beaumont RO, Jalen Warren, a resident at Case Western Reserve University, and Matthew Alben, a resident at University at Buffalo. They discuss SLAP Tears.

Enjoy!

Ortho Essentials 101: The #1 prep course for orthopaedic surgery rotations and intern year. Join over 100 others and learn Orthopaedics! courses.naileditortho.com

We dissect the hidden truths of orthopedic practice, from team building to practice management, physician burnout, and more. We explore insights with Dr. Atanda about the skills that aren't taught in medical school but are crucial for success.

Alfred Atanda Jr., MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine Program, and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. He serves as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Atanda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completed an internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and fellowships in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Nemours Children's and in sports medicine at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University.

He performs arthroscopic surgery of the knee, elbow, ankle and shoulder, as well as general orthopedic and trauma surgical procedures. His research interests are in upper extremity overuse injury prevention and general orthopedic trauma. Recently, he has developed an interest in technology and digital health innovation and routinely uses telemedicine in his sports medicine practice. He is working with several stakeholders in the organization to re-imagine the process by which pediatric orthopedic patients are triaged, navigated, evaluated and treated during the continuum of their health care experience. Provides care in Wilmington, Del., and Abington, Pa.

We answer questions you may have on the things you will encounter when you go into practice as a physician, like:

• What is an efficient way to do your job as a physician?

• How do you utilize different members of your team for efficiency?

• How do you prevent burnout?

• And more.