US News & World Report: Orthopaedics

Orthopaedics

What We Treat

As one of the leading pediatric orthopaedic programs in the country, we specialize in medical and surgical treatment for conditions and injuries of the musculoskeletal system— the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves. Specific conditions we treat include:

Upper body

Neck, spine and back

  • Back pain
  • Bone health disorders
  • Burns
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Dislocations
  • Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
  • Fractures
  • Hemophilia
  • Kyphosis
  • Lordosis
  • Musculoskeletal tumors

Lower body

  • Limb length inequality
  • Musculoskeletal tumors
  • Myelodysplasia/spina bifida
  • Nerve injuries
  • Patello-femoral stress syndrome
  • Polydactyly (extra fingers or toes)
  • Overuse injuries
  • Osgood-Schlatters disease
  • Sever's disease
  • Shin splints
  • Short stature syndrome
  • Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease
  • Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
  • Snapping hip
  • Sports injuries
  • Sprains and strains
  • Syndactyly (finger or toes joined)
  • Tendon lacerations


Services We Offer

Our team works with other specialists so that we can provide individualized care for your child. Treatment will be tailored for your child's needs, and we'll work with you at every stage so you will know what to expect.

  • Adaptive Sports Program: Our Adaptive Sports Program helps children and teens with special needs find a sport they love and can play safely.
  • Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program: Our team offers a full range of treatment options for patients. 
  • Brachial Plexus Program: Our Brachial Plexus Program team works to diagnose brachial plexus injuries early and treat them properly— so your child can have a better recovery.
  • Cerebral Palsy Program: Our cerebral palsy program provides comprehensive, multispecialty care to children and teens with cerebral palsy. 
  • Concussion Program: Our Concussion Program offers a dedicated nurse coordinator to help children and teens get specialist care they need. 
  • Fracture care: We treat more kids with broken bones than any hospital in Georgia. Our team works closely with pediatric radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons who know how to diagnose and treat broken bones in growing bodies.
  • Hand and Upper Extremity Program: Our Hand and Upper Extremity Program combines the expertise of pediatric hand surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, and specialists in sports medicine, orthotics and prosthetics to restore or preserve use of the hand and fingers.
  • Hip Program: We have extensive experience with hip conditions in infants, toddlers and older children —experience that is not likely to be matched at a hospital that treats adults. We are focused on and treating hip issues early in life so that they do not become bigger problems as children grow.
  • Orthotics and Prosthetics: We works with children with physical challenges of the muscles, bones or limbs who may benefit from orthoses or prostheses. 
  • Limb Deficiency Program: The Limb Deficiency Program works with children and teens who have limb loss or who were born with an arm or leg missing. Our team helps fill emotional as well as physical needs.
  • Scoliosis and Spine Program: We offer evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for children and teens with scoliosis, back pain and other conditions of the spine. We perform more posterior spinal fusions than any other pediatric hospital in the U.S. and have the shortest length of stay in the hospital following the surgery.
  • Sports Medicine Program: We combine the expertise of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine specialists, primary care physicians, physical therapists and certified athletic trainers. We can help make your young athlete stronger than before the injury. Your child can have a therapist that specializes in his sport.

Our Unique Approach

U.S.News & World Report ranks us among the top pediatric orthopaedic programs in the country. Our program combines the latest proven technology and research with a caring, child-friendly approach, making Children’s a top choice for treatment of orthopaedic conditions and injuries.

Meet the team

  • Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Michael L Schmitz, MD

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    Michael L Schmitz, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Internship: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens at Scottish Rite
    • Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Jed R Axelrod, MD

    Jed R Axelrod, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Jed R Axelrod, MD

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    Jed R Axelrod, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: State University of NY Upstate Medical University
    • Internship: SUNY Upstate Medical University (aka SUNY Health Science Syracuse)
    • Residency: State Universtiy of New York at Buffalo
    • Fellowship: Childrens Orthopaedics of Atlanta, PC

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

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    Robert W Bruce, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Fellowship: Shriners Hospital
    • Fellowship: Minnesota Limb Length Center
    • Medical School: Vanderbilt University
    • Internship: University of Minnesota Hospitals
    • Residency: University of Minnesota Hospitals
    • Fellowship: Gillette Children's Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Michael T Busch, MD

    Michael T Busch, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Michael T Busch, MD

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    Michael T Busch, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Internship: Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
    • Residency: Northwestern University
    • Medical School: Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens at Scottish Rite

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Melissa Ann Christino, MD

    Melissa Ann Christino, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Melissa Ann Christino, MD

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    Melissa Ann Christino, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: New York Medical College
    • Residency: Brown University Program
    • Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
    • Fellowship: Brown University Program

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Bronier L Costas, MD

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    Bronier L Costas, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Fellowship: Harvard Medical School
    • Residency: University of Minnesota
    • Internship: University of Minnesota
    • Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Sayan De, MD

    Sayan De, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Sayan De, MD

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    Sayan De, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Internship: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Dennis P Devito, MD

    Dennis P Devito, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Dennis P Devito, MD

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    Dennis P Devito, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Residency: Duke University Medical Center
    • Residency: Duke University Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Children's Hospital
    • Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Gilbert Shawn Duxbury, MD

    Gilbert Shawn Duxbury, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Gilbert Shawn Duxbury, MD

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    Gilbert Shawn Duxbury, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
    • Residency: Atlanta Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Emory University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

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    Jorge A Fabregas, MD

    Education

    • Medical School: Ponce School of Medicine
    • Internship: Temple University Hospital
    • Residency: Temple University Hospital
    • Fellowship: Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Jill Caplan Flanagan, MD

    Jill Caplan Flanagan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Jill Caplan Flanagan, MD

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    Jill Caplan Flanagan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine
    • Residency: George Washington University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Childrens Orthopaedics of Atlanta, PC

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

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    Nicholas D Fletcher, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

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    Bryce T Gillespie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
    • Residency: University of Rochester
    • Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Fellowship: Brigham & Women's Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

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    Jeffrey Klugman, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
    • Internship: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
    • Residency: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
    • Fellowship: Harvard University Brigham & Womens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Justin R Kunes, MD

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    Justin R Kunes, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
    • Residency: University of Kentucky Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
    • Fellowship: Florida Orthopaedic Institute

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Gary M Lourie, MD

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    Gary M Lourie, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Residency: Mount Sinai Hospital
    • Residency: Duke University
    • Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Indiana Ctr for Surgery & Rehab of the Hand
    • Internship: Mount Sinai School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Peter L Meehan, MD

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    Peter L Meehan, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Joshua S Murphy, MD

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    Joshua S Murphy, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Atlanta Medical Center

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Dana C Olszewski, MD

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    Dana C Olszewski, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Buffalo
    • Internship: Boston University Medical Center
    • Residency: Boston University Medical Center

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Timothy S Oswald, MD

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    Timothy S Oswald, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine
    • Internship: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Emory University School of Medicine

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Allan E Peljovich, MD

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    Allan E Peljovich, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
    • Internship: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
    • Fellowship: MetroHealth Medical Center
    • Graduate School: Emory University School of Public Health

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Albert M Pendleton, MD

    Albert M Pendleton, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Albert M Pendleton, MD

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    Albert M Pendleton, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: University of Utah Program
    • Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Joshua A Ratner, MD

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    Joshua A Ratner, MD

    Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Jefferson Medical College
    • Fellowship: The Philadelphia Hand Center
    • Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    • Fellowship: Shriners Hospital for Sick Children

    The Children's
    Care Network

    E William Schmitt, Jr, MD

    E William Schmitt, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    E William Schmitt, Jr, MD

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    E William Schmitt, Jr, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Residency: Harvard University School of Medicine
    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Research Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Internship: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Tim Schrader, MD

    Tim Schrader, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Tim Schrader, MD

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    Tim Schrader, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Tulane University Medical Center
    • Residency: Raymond Morrissy, MD
    • Fellowship: Boston Childrens Hospital

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart
    Joseph Daniel Stone, MD

    Joseph Daniel Stone, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Joseph Daniel Stone, MD

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    Joseph Daniel Stone, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Residency: University of Kentucky
    • Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
    • Fellowship: Children's Hospital Colorado
    • Internship: University of Kentucky

    The Children's
    Care Network

    Samuel Clifton Willimon, MD

    Samuel Clifton Willimon, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Samuel Clifton Willimon, MD

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    Samuel Clifton Willimon, MD

    Orthopaedic Surgeon

    Education

    • Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
    • Residency: Duke University Medical Center
    • Residency: Childrens Orthopaedics of Atlanta, PC
    • Fellowship: Steadman Hawkins Clinic

    The Children's
    Care Network

    MYchart

Some physicians and affiliated healthcare professionals who perform services at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta are independent providers and are not hospital employees.

*U.S.News and World Report

**Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS), 2014