Bio

Following her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia, Dr. Swanson earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN in 2004. She completed her residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center / Parkland Hospital in Dallas, TX.  In 2010, Dr. Swanson completed the Otto E. Aufranc Fellowship from New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA, specializing in Adult Joint Reconstruction (hip and knee replacements); and, U.S. News & World Report selected New England Baptist Hospital as one of the top orthopedic hospitals in the country.  The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) named New England Baptist Hospital as one of the top 10 United States hospitals for hip and knee orthopedics.

Dr. Swanson specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery.  With her highly trained surgical skills, Dr. Swanson is an expert in performing muscle sparing hip and knee replacements, where patients may experience less pain, less time in the hospital, and less discomfort. In 2016, Dr. Swanson was the first surgeon in the Charlottesville area to pioneer same day discharge for hip and knee replacement patients – meaning the patient has progressed to the point of being ready for discharge to home on the same day of surgery. This rapid recovery was unprecedented in the area at that time.

Dr. Swanson attended national conferences with industry leaders to continue to fine tune her protocols. To achieve the goal of allowing patients to sleep at home in their own bed the night of surgery, Dr. Swanson led a local team of physical therapists, medical doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses and others by consistently asking: what can we do better here and what are the national best practices?  Over the last 7 years, Dr. Swanson has implemented multi-modal protocols for pain management, blood loss, returning to activity and eating well to evolve her practice from the occasional same day discharge patient to now being greater than 80% of her patient base.  Her patients usually find her by word of mouth from another patient. 

Dr. Swanson uses cutting-edge, modern innovations in total joint replacement surgery with implants that have proven track records. She continues to stay up to date with national practices and in addition to clinical practice, Dr. Swanson has authored chapters in orthopedic textbooks and articles in leading Orthopedic journals. She was honored to present Grand Rounds at the University of Virginia School of Engineering Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.  She was twice asked to present at the Osher Lifelong Learning Initiative. She continues to be on the medical staff at Sentara Martha Jefferson hospital and she serves in a leadership role with the Sentara Orthopedic Service Line.  Dr. Swanson is committed to the success of our local community and is determined to help her patients do well. In 2018, she authored the article for the Daily Progress: How to train like an Olympian for total joint replacement.
 

With perseverance from the Holy Spirit, Dr. Swanson is committed to running the race marked out for her.  She and her husband felt called to start a local ministry: Thunder Orthopedics.  This medical practice provides general orthopedic care in a physical space that feels markedly different.  Couches, lamps (instead of fluorescent light), pacman video games, and a massage chair all combine to give the office a unique essence – and we hope you feel treasured when you visit us. “Thunder” is Dr. Swanson’s maiden name AND she and her husband chose to honor God with the name. Thunder Orthopedics is quickly becoming the preferred provider for patients determined to do well and seeking a direct anterior approach hip replacement or a quadriceps-sparing subvastus approach knee replacement. Dr. Swanson also loves helping patients find alternative means to improving their quality of life without surgery, including: becoming stronger with physical therapy and using acupuncture and alternative diets to avoid inflammation and pain.

Dr. Swanson’s patients come from a variety of backgrounds and have returned to dog agility competitions, equestrian opportunities, golfing, swimming, walking with friends, skiing, dancing, and more. If you want to find out how you can do what you love, without the pain, please call us at 434-326-5815.  We look forward to helping you.

“The God of glory thunders… God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.”

(Psalm 29:3… Job 37:5)