Celebrating a Career of Excellence

Dear Patients,

It is with heavy heart that I have decided to retire from the clinical and surgical practice of orthopedic surgery after 36 years. I initially considered continuing part-time for a couple more years, but due to the medical malpractice insurance climate in Connecticut, I was told that that was not an option. Therefore, I completely retired from practice this year.

I am profoundly grateful to be given the honor of taking care of so many wonderful people throughout Connecticut and the New England region. For many of you, I have been your orthopedic surgeon for over 30 years. I got to know your parents and your children and often also been able to take care of them as well. I feel as though I am the luckiest person in the world to have had the wonderful career I have experienced. The hard work of providing expert surgical care was returned to me - tenfold - with thanks and gratitude. For that I am incredibly thankful.

My career in Connecticut included the opportunity to be the team physician for the University of Connecticut athletic teams; beginning with Rebecca Lobo leading our first women’s basketball team to a national championship until we became the “Basketball Capital of the World”. I was lucky enough to work with wonderful student athletes, coaches, as well as our wonderful Medical Staff at the UCONN. In addition, I was also fortunate enough to educate medical students and orthopedic residents at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

I am especially proud to have established Orthopaedic Sports Specialists as a private orthopedic practice in a time when more surgeons are becoming employees of large healthcare conglomerates. I hope I achieve my goal of providing personal and individualized care to all of you. Finally, I am especially grateful that I was able to build Lighthouse Surgery Center into a fantastic place to provide surgical care to our patients. I believe that because the center is led and directed by doctors and nurses (not an insurance company or healthcare bureaucrats) that it has remained entirely focused on the needs of our patients.

It is my strong belief that I have left all my patients in the very capable and kind hands of my partners, Dr. Alex Dukas, Dr. Christian Merrill, and my PA Erik Libby. Both doctors were orthopaedic residents of mine that were handpicked from dozens and dozens of other doctors because they were the best of the best. They went on to do the greatest fellowships in the country and then returned to Orthopaedic Sports Specialists. Once there, I worked diligently with them for many years to instill in them the culture of our practice, which is focused on the respect and needs of all of our patients. I also left them with the best medical office staff I can imagine. Finally, the physical therapy at OSS is the finest group of therapists you will find anywhere.  I can ensure everybody… you are in good hands.

Forever, grateful for your trust and appreciation,

Michael E. Joyce, MD