Dr. Thomas A. McDonald, MD, FAAOS

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Get to know Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Thomas A. McDonald, who serves patients throughout the State of Connecticut.

A Connecticut-based orthopedic surgeon, Dr. McDonald is affiliated with Orthopedic Associates of Hartford, serving patients in the Enfield and Hartford areas. He is interested and trained in all aspects of foot and ankle reconstruction, from toe malalignment to sports injuries to complex reconstruction of arthritic, diabetic, and neurologic deformities. His surgical treatments cover a wide range of options including total ankle replacement, minimally invasive soft tissue and forefoot procedures, arthroscopic treatment of sports injuries, and complex reconstructive and limb salvage procedures.

“Injury, immobility, and pain are worrisome and stressful. Professionally, there is nothing I enjoy more than helping people face this adversity, determine their goals, and craft personalized solutions that feel right for them. Either conservatively or surgically, my goal is always to help you understand your problem and put you in control of your pathway to healing and recovery” expressed the doctor.

Before embarking on his professional journey, he spent most of his formative years in Tennessee, where he learned to appreciate good food, good manners, and great people. He completed his undergraduate degree at the College of the Holy Cross, where he was selected as an All-American football player. 

Dr. McDonald’s medical training took him from Memphis to Hartford to Dallas, and his professional and volunteer activities have ranged from San Francisco to New York to Hanoi, Vietnam. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, before completing his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Finally, he completed his fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the Baylor University Medical Center.

All of these experiences have shaped his approach to patient care. He learned that no matter from where people hail, they all approach their health with similar intentions – they want straightforward information with which to make informed, personalized decisions.

Distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (FAAOS), Dr. McDonald is board-certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopedic surgeons.

Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

When he is not trying to help patients make good orthopedic decisions, Dr. McDonald spends most of his time trying to help his four children make good life decisions. Despite all his years of training, it is this educational experience that has taught him the most about life and happiness.

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