Damien Richardson, MD, MPH

Dr. Damien Richardson, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle care at EmergeOrtho-Blue Ridge Region. He treats patients at both the South Asheville and Waynesville, NC, clinics, providing expert care for a range of foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

His comprehensive approach includes nonsurgical treatments such as bracing, orthotics, and therapeutic footwear, as well as advanced surgical interventions including minimally invasive procedures, ankle replacement and fusion, ligament reconstruction, and revision surgery. He also manages complex issues such as Achilles tendon ruptures, cartilage injuries, ankle instability, arthritis, and fractures, including Lisfranc and Jones fractures.

Education and Expertise
Dr. Richardson’s education began at Arizona State University, where he earned a B.S. in bioengineering with minors in mechanics and biochemistry. He went on to receive his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, followed by an M.P.H. in quantitative methods from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as a Zuckerman Fellow. He completed his general surgery internship at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, then his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He pursued advanced training with a prestigious orthopaedic foot and ankle fellowship at Harvard’s Mass General.

In addition to his board certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Richardson holds multiple state medical licenses and is an active member of numerous professional associations, including the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. His commitment to excellence and community involvement is reflected in his roles as a national speaker, educator, and advocate for athletic and academic achievement.

As a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic foot & ankle surgeon, Dr. Richardson addresses a variety of orthopedic conditions and injuries, including:

Orthopedic foot and ankle surgery
Nonoperative foot and ankle care, including: bracing, orthotics, shoe wear, and other therapeutic options
Foot and ankle minimally invasive and arthroscopic procedures
Cartilage injuries of the foot and ankle
Ankle fractures
... 20 More
Community Connections
Banner High Performance Center | Scottsdale, Ariz. August 2024 Guest Speaker – Girls Flag Football Sports Combine, Athletic/Academic Excellence
Mountain Point High School | Phoenix, Ariz. July 2024 Guest Speaker – High School Football, Athletic/Academic Excellence
Desert Vista High School | Phoenix, Ariz. June 2024 Guest Speaker – High School Football, Athletic/Academic Excellence
Pat Tillman Foundation | Tempe, Ariz. April 2024 Guest Speaker – 20th Anniversary, Tillman Legacy
Arthritis Foundation April 2023 Grant Reviewer
Nth Dimensions Bioskills Workshop, October 2022 Faculty Instructor
Education
Fellowship: Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle, Harvard—Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Residency: Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ