Dr. Joel R. Politi is a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement and reconstruction. He received his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. He completed his residency at the Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio and a fellowship at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, focusing on adult reconstruction.

Dr. Politi is actively involved in clinical research and has numerous publications in leading orthopedic journals. He regularly presents on a local, regional and national level. A practicing surgeon and educator, Dr. Politi teaches at the undergraduate, medical school and residency levels; and leads courses for orthopedic surgeons on the latest surgical techniques. Dr. Politi was one of the first surgeons in central Ohio to perform outpatient or same-day total joint replacement.  

In 2015 Dr. Politi was honored by the Arthritis Foundation with the “Pioneer in Medicine” award, for his leadership in the prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases. He is ranked among the top orthopedic surgeons in the country, being voted to the prestigious Best Doctors® and America’s Top Doctors® lists by his peers each year since 2015. Dr. Politi has also been honored many times by his patients, and is a three time recipient of a Guardian Angel Award, an award given by the Mount Carmel Foundation on behalf of patients.

In 2003, Dr. Politi founded COSI's Surgical Suite: Total Knee Arthroplasty program, which allows students in high schools throughout the country to watch a live surgery through interactive media. Since its founding, the program has reached more than 100,000 students.

He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Ohio Orthopaedic Society, Columbus Orthopaedic Association, and the American Medical Association.

Patient Testimonial Videos 

Tammy Zimmerman, Bilateral Total Knee Replacement: Click here to hear her story

Eric Humphries, Outpatient Total Knee Replacement: Click here to hear his story

Is Outpatient Joint Replacement right for you? - Click here to listen to two patient success stories

John's Journey - Click to see his story

Click here to watch Dr. Politi's presentation on Rapid Recovery at Orthopedic ONE's 2016 Arthritis CME.