Harris Regional Hospital has announced the addition of Paul Ulrich, DO, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and Sylva native, to its medical staff. Dr. Ulrich will begin seeing patients on September 1 at Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Dr. Ulrich’s expertise includes joint replacement surgery such as total hip and knee replacements, complex revision procedures, and fracture care. He is trained in advanced techniques including anterior hip replacement and kinematic alignment for knee replacement.
He joins an existing team at Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine that includes Douglas Gates, MD; Larry Supik, MD; Josh Patton, DO; Ryan Slechta, MD; John Songer, MD; Alexis Willey, PA-C; and Jared Schoeberl, PA-C.
“Dr. Ulrich’s return to Sylva brings both personal and professional value to our hospital and community,” said Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital. “His advanced training in joint replacement, paired with his roots in this region, will enhance the depth of care we’re able to provide while continuing our commitment to treating patients like neighbors, because they are.”
Dr. Ulrich completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute after a five-year orthopaedic surgery residency at McLaren Greater Lansing in Michigan. During his training he contributed to peer-reviewed publications, presented research at meetings on both regional and national levels, and served as a resident representative for the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative.
He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
“It’s meaningful to return to the community that helped shape my path into medicine,” Dr. Ulrich said. “I’m honored to join the team at Harris Orthopaedics and look forward to bringing new techniques and surgical approaches to help patients stay active and independent.”
Born at Harris Regional Hospital and a graduate of Smoky Mountain High School, Dr. Ulrich was first introduced to medicine through local health sciences programs before returning for clinical experiences during college studies. He returns now with his wife—an emergency medicine physician—and their daughter.
Appointments can be made by calling 844.414.DOCS or visiting HarrisMedicalGroup.com. More information about hospital services is available at MyHarrisRegional.com.
