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About Us

Welcome to Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder

An orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Higgins, wearing a white lab coat over blue scrubs, carefully examines a patient's hand and wrist, which is wrapped in a purple cast

The physicians at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder are highly skilled hand specialists who focus on the treatment of hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder conditions in both adult and pediatric patients.

As Maryland's leading physician-led orthopedic and plastic surgery group, Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder's expertise extends to providing total care for acute trauma and chronic orthopedic conditions affecting the upper extremities. We also provide comprehensive care for:

The team of orthopedic hand specialists at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder recognizes the challenges associated with physical discomfort. Our dedication to patient care begins from the very moment an appointment is scheduled. Our practice is committed to delivering exceptional clinical care while ensuring a remarkable patient experience.

Our surgeons are skilled in providing both surgical and nonsurgical interventions. This is a testament to our commitment to participating in ongoing scientific and clinical research and supporting the advancement of orthopedic and plastic surgery through educational courses, lectures, journal publications, and fellowship and residency training.

As a private practice, Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder has established a longstanding collaboration with the Raymond Curtis National Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. Our hand specialists extend their services to various prominent medical facilities, including:

  • Carroll Hospital Center
  • Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC)
  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
  • University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UM UCH)
  • MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Maryland
  • Union Memorial Hospital

Conveniently located in Lutherville, Maryland, our primary office serves as a comprehensive orthopedic facility for hand and upper extremity conditions. We take pride in offering streamlined patient care encompassing personalized office assessments, outpatient surgical procedures at the Lutherville SurgiCenter, physical therapy services through the Raymond Curtis National Hand Center, and a variety of on-site diagnostic services. Similar services are extended to our other locations in Bel Air, Clarksville, Pasadena, and Westminster, Maryland.

Meet Our Hand Surgeons 

Making a Difference Beyond the Clinic

Since 1987, Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder has been a prominent provider of upper extremity orthopedic and plastic surgery care in Maryland.

Our surgeons are dedicated to advancing academic medicine, actively engaging in teaching and research opportunities, and the publication of journal articles. As esteemed researchers and educators, we are at the forefront of pioneering orthopedic and plastic surgery techniques and treatments, striving to set the standard for contemporary care. Our active involvement in local, state, and national medical societies, as well as our participation in specialty seminars and lectures, underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of the latest developments in our field.

Many of our highly specialized orthopedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, and hand specialists hold faculty appointments at the esteemed Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. They take a hands-on approach in providing fellowship and residency training to fellow physicians at:

  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Georgetown University Medical Center
  • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
  • MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

Our team's dedication to helping others extends beyond our practice. Many of our physicians volunteer their time and expertise in hopes of providing a positive impact in their communities, both locally and internationally.

The physicians and staff of Greater Chesapeake Hand Specialists, P.A. (also known as Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, or “GCHS”) are here to help individuals with complex hand and upper extremity problems.

Our mission is to treat each person with understanding, respect, and compassion while providing medical, diagnostic, and surgical treatment of their hand and upper extremity problems and advocating for prevention and safety through patient education. We demand from ourselves a high level of excellence that allows us to offer individuals high-quality, cost-efficient care that promotes optimal outcomes.

Our History

Before World War II, upper extremity care was often uncoordinated and lacked specialized focus.

Dr. Sterling Bunnell’s groundbreaking work during the war established hand surgery as a distinct discipline, defined by anatomy rather than organ systems. This new field required expertise across orthopedics, plastic surgery, neurology, rheumatology, neurosurgery, pediatrics, and vascular medicine. As knowledge advanced and hand therapy became more effective, the complexity of care made it increasingly challenging for any single physician to address all aspects of upper extremity health.

Dr. Raymond M. Curtis responded to this need by founding the first Hand Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, bringing together specialists from various fields who had additional training in hand surgery to offer comprehensive care.

In 1987, Greater Chesapeake Hand Specialists, PA, expanded on Dr. Curtis’ vision by uniting nine board-certified surgeons from different specialties into one group. This collaborative approach has enhanced patient access to specialty healthcare and set a new standard for upper extremity care in the region. As the practice grew, it became Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, reflecting its expanded focus on providing full-spectrum care for the entire upper extremity.

Call Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder at (410) 296-6232 or request an appointment online at one of our Maryland locations in the Greater Chesapeake area.