We welcome and encourage you to consider furthering your career development in Orthopaedic Surgery. The opportunities for professional satisfaction and growth are immense. The team at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is well recognized for developing world class leaders in clinical care, research and new discovery. The opportunity to study and partner with us here at Penn is profound, gratifying and rewarding.

On behalf of all the faculty and my colleagues below, we embrace the opportunity and privilege of recruiting you to the Penn Orthopaedic Surgery Residency program. We strongly encourage you to consider furthering your education at Penn. We are committed to your wellbeing and you achieving your goals in Orthopaedic Surgery. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any additional questions about our program. 

Faculty & Resident Bios

Charles L. Nelson, MD

Charles Nelson headshotI am currently the Chief of Adult Reconstruction and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, where I completed my internship and residency. After finishing a fellowship in adult reconstructive surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery, I returned to the Penn in 1998. I have a strong commitment to volunteerism and leadership. I was an AAOS Leadership Fellow from 2004-2005 and represented the American Orthopaedic Association as an Austrian Swiss German Traveling Fellow in 2012. I have served in many leadership positions in several national medical organizations. I am a Past President of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society, a former Section Chair of the National Medical Association Orthopaedic Section, and just stepped down from the Board of Directors of The Knee Society. I currently serve as an oral examiner and Director-Elect for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and as a Diversity Liaison for the American Orthopaedic Association Critical Issues and Program Planning Committee.

I am a strong proponent of both increasing diversity and health equity as related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, obesity, medical co-morbidities, socioeconomic factors, or any other factors compromising care. I have mentored medical students underrepresented in orthopaedics as an Nth Dimensions mentor since the inception of the program.

My wife, Stella Deal-Nelson is a pharmacist, no longer practicing and committed to helping raise our two children, Jace and Aria. I enjoy watching and playing all sports particularly football, basketball, baseball and golf. When I am not at work, I spend most of my time with my family or on the golf course. Email: Charles.Nelson@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Brendan A. Williams, MD 

Brendan Wiliams headshotI am a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. I joined the faculty in 2019. Outside of my clinical work, I am also interested in education and research, serving on the Educational Course Committee of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and on the Scientific Committee of the J. Robert Gladden Society. Throughout my training and short career as an attending surgeon, the recruitment, retention and education of underrepresented minorities in the medical field and in orthopaedics has been a chief passion of mine. I have been involved in an array of high school and college STEM and medical exposure programs and mentored a diverse group of students and trainees through research projects achieving presentation at national conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals. It would bring me great joy to be a part of your orthopaedic training here at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching and playing basketball, dancing, hiking and travelling with my family. My wife, Diana Montoya-Williams, is a CHOP neonatologist and together we have two young boys and a dog. We love exploring Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Email: WilliamsBA@email.CHOP.edu.

Lawrence Wells, MD, FAOA, FAAOS, FAAP

Lawrence Wells headshotI joined the faculty at Penn 18 years ago and am currently an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Associated Director of Sports Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In addition to my recent appointment as the Department Vice Chair of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, I also have had a variety of administrative roles and committee appointments at Penn and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Outside of Penn, I previously served as Program Director for Specialty Day of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America meeting at the Annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2010. I am serving as Secretary in the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society and am a Past President of the Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society.

My wife, Bernadette Wheeler is an Attending Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Penn. She and I have 3 children. In my spare time, I enjoy working in the family store Something Different By Eric, watching sports and listening to jazz. Email: WellsL@email.chop.edu.

Bobby Ndu, MD, MBA

headshot of Bobby Ndu, MD, MBAI am an Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery specializing in foot & ankle surgery and am the Program Director of the Foot & Ankle Fellowship based out of Pennsylvania Hospital. I attended Yale for medical school and residency and completed my fellowship in foot & ankle surgery here at Penn. Email: Anthony.Ndu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Lorraine Boakye, MD

headshot of Lorraine Akua Takyiwaa Boakye, MDI am an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery. I am an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Research for the foot & ankle division. I joined the department in the Fall of 2022. I grew up in Englewood, NJ, and earned my undergraduate degree at Yale College. I then completed my medical degree at University of Pittsburgh. I remained in Pittsburgh to complete residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. While there, I served in numerous education and leadership roles, including administrative chief resident. I then completed orthopaedic subspecialty fellowship training in foot and ankle at Harvard/Brigham and Women’s Hospital and in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to my clinical practice and research endeavors, I am active in mentorship and education of trainees.

Email: Lorraine.Boakye@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 

Bradley Osemwengie, MD

Bradley Osemwengie headshotMy name is Bradley Osemwengie. I am Nigerian-American and grew up in Arlington, Texas. I went to undergraduate at the University of North Texas and medical school at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas.

There were many reasons why I chose Penn to learn orthopedic surgery. From the friendly nature of the current residents, esteemed faculty who are world-leaders in their respective fields, abundant research opportunities, and the diverse patient population that Philadelphia provides, it was a very easy choice for me. My relationships with my fellow residents, the faculty, and staff at Penn are phenomenal and provide a great environment for me to learn. I look forward to learning and honing my skills at this amazing institution.

I enjoy playing basketball and long distance running in my spare time. I also enjoy cooking Nigerian cuisine. Email: Bradley.Osemwengie@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. 

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