Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Joins Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists

To further enhance orthopedic options for patients in the growing Lowcountry region, Beaufort Memorial has added an experienced surgeon and his training in sports medicine to the Orthopaedic Specialists team.

Board certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Cory A. Messerschmidt will bring his expertise in joint preservation, replacement and robotic surgical techniques to the practice, seeing patients in both Port Royal and Okatie. Fellowship trained in sports medicine, he also performs minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures such as ACL repairs, meniscus preservation and shoulder arthroscopy for both adult and pediatric patients.

“Dr. Messerschmidt’s diverse experience in orthopedics and specialized training in sports medicine will make him a valuable member of Beaufort Memorial’s surgical team,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “His focus on joint preservation, advanced surgical techniques and rehabilitative care will provide patients in the Lowcountry with even more options for compassionate, innovative orthopedic care.”

Dr. Messerschmidt joins the practice from his role as an orthopedic surgeon at Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic in southern Georgia. His interest in medicine developed in high school, when he volunteered at a hometown emergency room in Virginia with his father.

In college, he knew he’d found his calling after shadowing an orthopedic surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., calling it an “experience he’ll never forget.” There, he learned the importance of developing a connection as a surgeon with patients.

“Building a physician-patient relationship means understanding their concerns and their goals, and helping patients get back to doing what they love,” he said. “If we work together, we can accomplish those goals.”

During his sports medicine fellowship at Emory University, Dr. Messerschmidt worked alongside professional sports teams such as the Atlanta Falcons and NCAA collegiate teams including Georgia Tech. In recent years, he has worked closely with local high school athletes, helping them recover from sports-related injuries and make a confident return to activity.

With a residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston under his belt, Dr. Messerschmidt is no stranger to the Lowcountry. He, his wife Dominique, their two children and dog are excited to make Beaufort their home.

Dr. Messerschmidt joins board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon Dr. Vandit Sardana at the Orthopaedic Specialists practice, as well as the Advanced Orthopedics & Spine Program team at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, which includes program coordinator Dana Aiken, RN, a dedicated and highly trained nursing and rehab team, spine specialists Drs. Andrew Castro and Scott Strohmeyer, and orthopedic surgeons Drs. Mark Dean, Dan Del Gaizo, Ralph Salzer and Douglas Scott.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Messerschmidt in the Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists location in Port Royal at 1680 Ribaut Road or in Okatie at the Okatie Medical Pavilion (122 Okatie Center Boulevard North, Suite 210), call 843-524-3015.