Roland A. Howard, MD

My approach to patient care centers on understanding every patient on an individual level so I may purposefully counsel them on injuries, allowing them to feel comfortable making an informed decision on a treatment plan that best provides for return to the activities they desire. I am a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty focus in sports medicine at St. Luke’s University Health Network. My expertise spans acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries requiring arthroscopic or open shoulder, elbow, hip and knee surgery.

My undergraduate studies in biochemistry and advanced exercise physiology were completed at Rutgers University, affording me an early appreciation of functional human anatomy. Afterward, I completed medical school at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. I was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, a distinction bestowed to the top medical students in each graduating class. I completed my residency training at the University of California San Diego, where I received the Chief Resident Teaching Award for my skill in teaching and mentoring junior residents. For my fellowship, I attended the esteemed Rothman Orthopaedics Institute, where I had broad, high-volume training, including complex procedures such as knee realignment osteotomies, multi-ligamentous knee reconstruction, cartilage restoration, hip arthroscopy, elbow UCL reconstruction, shoulder tendon transfers and revision shoulder arthroplasty.

In addition, I have extensive sports coverage experience, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies. I also provided coverage for Division I football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and wrestling teams for several universities, including Villanova, Saint Joseph’s and Drexel. Likewise, I covered high school football in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. I have been published in numerous research publications, contributed several chapters to books and presented at national orthopaedic surgery conferences.

Staying active ensures quality of life, and to that end, I maintain an active training certification through the American College of Sports Medicine to keep abreast of current physical training techniques employed by athletes of all ages. I have a special interest in giving back to underserved communities. As a member of the Gladden Society, I serve as a mentor for several medical students. I volunteer with the BONE Academy - an organization that exposes high school students in underserved communities to careers directly or peripherally related to orthopaedic surgery. I maintain Spanish proficiency and have incorporated this into my medical practice. I have previously made a medical mission trip in Peru through the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children. I recently traveled to the Dominican Republic with the Philadelphia Phillies to assist with minor league team athlete care. I am a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and The Arthroscopy Association of North America.