Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists
Leading Orthopedic Care in Hampton Roads for 105 Years
Leading Comprehensive Orthopaedic Care in Hampton Roads for 105 years
With 24 physicians and 19 physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners on staff, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists (AOS) is the largest, most comprehensive orthopaedic practice in the region. The company, whose founder is credited with bringing the practice of orthopaedic medicine to southeastern Virginia, has an extensive history of serving orthopaedic patients in Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, and Northeastern North Carolina for over a century.
In 2023, AOS served more than 150,000 patients in orthopaedics and physical therapy at four locations, two in Virginia Beach, and one each in Norfolk and Chesapeake. In 2024, AOS was named by Coastal Virginia Magazine readers as the #1 Overall Gold Best Orthopaedic Practice for the eleventh consecutive year and the #1 Overall Gold Best Physical Therapy Practice for the fourth consecutive year.
In addition to physical therapy, all four AOS practices also offer AOSNOW clinics (previously called ORTHONOW) with same-day, walk-in orthopaedic clinics available Monday through Friday. AOS specialists treat minor orthopaedic injuries like sprains, strains, fractures, and sudden onset back, neck or leg pain or sports or work-related injuries. AOSNOW clinicians can take x-rays, offer bracing and casting, and help with pain relief.
Luke H. Balsamo, MD, FAAOS (right) an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in orthopaedic oncology and joint replacement, consults with his medical assistant Amanda Adams.
Traci Winslow, AOS director of marketing, explains, “We started our AOSNOW clinics in 2015 to provide patients with more direct orthopaedic care without having to first go to the emergency room to get a referral. In some cases, you are better suited going directly to an orthopaedic doctor. We’ve had great feedback from patients who appreciate being able to walk into the clinic and be seen the same day.”
Atlantic Orthopaedic physicians are board certified either by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or the American Board of Pain Management and specialize in one or two orthopaedic specialty areas, which include hand to shoulder; spine, neck and back; hip and knee; foot and ankle; sports medicine; orthopaedic oncology; and pain management. All AOS surgeons are fellowship-trained in the latest cutting-edge technologies and surgical techniques.
AOS has five hand surgeons on staff as well as seven occupational therapists, three of whom are certified in hand therapy. With fewer than 6,000 hand specialists in the U.S., hand surgery and rehab is a highly sought after specialty and one for which AOS is a recognized leader.
In addition, AOS recently added orthopaedic oncology to its list of sub-specialties, which is a great help to area patients in need of an oncology consult who previously had to travel to other markets.
Cecil Morris, AOS administrator for 22 years, explains, “For the last three years, we have had the only orthopaedic oncologist in this area on staff. Before we brought Doctor Balsamo on board, everyone was being sent to Richmond, Charlottesville, Raleigh, or some other university group for any type of oncology related to the bone. Cancer scenarios are not prevalent enough to make up a full practice – he also does joint replacements. We are fortunate to have orthopaedic oncology covered in our market.”
Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists got its start back in 1919 when Dr. Foy Vann, a native of Ahoskie, NC, and a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, brought the practice of orthopaedic surgery to the Tidewater area. Vann’s son, Dr. John A. Vann, joined his father’s Norfolk practice in 1947, and together they worked to ensure the community had comprehensive orthopaedic care.
Increasingly focused on sports medicine and serving area athletes, AOS are the team physicians caring for players from the Norfolk Tides, Old Dominion University athletics, Norfolk Public Schools and Bryan and Stratton College. As team physicians, AOS provides care on and off the field for all of the athletes whether professional, college or high school and regardless of the sport.
Alexandra Fackrell, Occupational and Hand Therapist, providing care to a patient.
AOS became a member of TowneBank last summer, in part due to a previous banking relationship Cecil had with Phil Smith, private banker. “One of the issues we had with our previous bank was they kept changing our representative,” explains Cecil. “It seemed like every two or three years, we’d get someone new. They didn’t know us and so we were constantly retraining them as to our needs and how things operate. TowneBank’s fees are lower and the service is excellent – it’s been better from day one. We’re very happy with the staff and the support we’re getting. TowneBank is obviously a very well-run bank and widely respected in the local community,” he adds. “And we like supporting the community.”
For more information, visit AtlanticOrtho.com.