Bio


Dr. Richards is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery and has a Certified Additional Qualification for Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. For over 15 years he has specialized in the treatment of ligamentous, joint, tendon, nerve and bone injuries of the Hand, Elbow, Wrist and Shoulder.

He has served the Bay Area community as a UCSF Assistant Professor as a volunteer educator at San Francisco General Hospital, by teaching and treating complex trauma at the Alameda County Level One Trauma Center-Highland Hospital, and through various volunteer roles on athletic fields around the Bay.

Dr. Richards obtained his Bachelors Degree in Neurobiology at Cornell University, his Masters of Public Health at the Columbia University, and his Medical Degree at New York Medical College.

He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program. He then returned to Cornell University’s Hospital for Special Surgery to complete his fellowship training in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery.

Until joining Stanford in 2023, he had been in private practice in the East Bay since 2006. He has volunteered locally in a variety of organizations and internationally on several continents.

Clinical Focus


  • Orthopaedic Surgery

Academic Appointments


Honors & Awards


  • Assistant Professor, Volunteer, UCSF Department of Orthopedic Surgery (2019-2023)
  • Clinical Instructor, UCSF Department of Orthopedic Surgery (2009-2016)
  • Physician, Best Doctors in America for the East Bay Region (2014 and 2015)
  • Physician, America's Best Physicians (2016)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Member, American Society of Surgery of the Hand (2010 - Present)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (2008 - Present)
  • Member, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (2008 - Present)

Professional Education


  • Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgery of the Hand (2015)
  • Fellowship, Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University (2006)
  • Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery (2009)
  • Residency, San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program (2005)
  • Fellowship: Hospital For Special Surgery Hand Surgery Fellowship (2006) NY
  • MD, New York Medical College (2000)
  • Residency: St Marys Medical Center Orthopedic Residency (2005) CA
  • Masters Public Health, Columbia University (1996)
  • Medical Education: New York Medical College Registrar (2000) NY
  • Bachelor of Science, Cornell University, Neurobiology and Animal Behavior (1994)

All Publications