Sandesh Rao, MD

Sandesh Rao, MD, specializes in joint reconstruction and replacements of the hip and knee, orthopedic trauma and fracture care, and the nonoperative and operative management of general orthopedic ailments and injuries. His expertise is minimally invasive primary hip and knee replacement, partial knee replacement, outpatient joint replacement, robotic-assisted joint replacements and has a special interest in complex and revision hip and knee replacements. Additionally, he has training in multiple approaches to hip replacement surgery including direct anterior, anterolateral, direct lateral, and posterolateral with the goal of providing a patient-centric approach to joint replacement therapy.

Sandesh Rao is a native of the DC Metropolitan region, obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He first completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Osler Medical Residency Program and obtained his board certification in Internal Medicine before pursuing orthopedics. He then completed Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and his fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Rao values a patient-centric approach heavily influenced not only by his extensive orthopedic training but also by his internal medicine training. He strives to provide holistic care with shared decision-making with his patients with the goals of improving patients’ quality of life, returning patients to their functional goals, and optimizing symptom relief.

Dr. Rao is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Maryland Orthopaedic Association, and The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He believes in the importance and value of continued education and research to enhance and improve patient care and outcomes. He has published over 50 journal articles, abstracts and book chapters and has presented novel research at several national meetings.

Outside of work Dr. Rao enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and playing tennis, basketball, and football.