Dr. Richard Zell has greater than 18 years of experience caring for patients and is known for both his surgical expertise and compassionate care. Dr. Zell was recently recruited to start a Foot & Ankle program at the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, MD. He is happy to bring his expertise in treating Foot & Ankle patients to Harford county as well as the Baltimore area.
Dr. Zell attended the University of Notre Dame where he was a division one athlete on the swimming/diving team. He earned his Medical Degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He completed his Orthopedic Residency at the University of Connecticut. Following his residency, Dr. Zell furthered his training with fellowships in Sports Medicine (Hahnemann University in Philadelphia) and Foot & Ankle surgery (The Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City).
Dr. Zell spent the first 17 years of his career as an attending surgeon in New Haven, Connecticut. He worked for a private practice group and was also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. During his time in Connecticut he was recognized as one of the best doctors in the city of New Haven (New Haven Living Magazine) as well as the state of Connecticut (2018 Best Doctors award, Connecticut Magazine). Dr. Zell also was recognized for his teaching (community teaching award for the Yale Orthopedic Residency program in 2004).
He is a leader in the national society that represents American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle surgeons. He is currently the membership director for the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS). Dr. Zell has traveled and lectured internationally for the AOFAS including a trip in 2017 to China.
The Upper Chesapeake Medical Center has recruited Dr. Zell to Maryland to start an Orthopedic Foot & Ankle program. Harford county has not had an Orthopedic Foot & Ankle surgeon that has worked exclusively in Harford county. Patients will no longer have to go to Baltimore for care of their complex foot and ankle disorders. Dr. Zell has a special interest in: the use of arthroscopy for ankle sports injuries, fracture care, as well as ankle replacement for ankle arthritis.
Dr. Zell also has extensive experience in knee surgery as well as all aspects of Orthopaedic trauma/fracture care.
When not working Dr. Zell’s interest include: sailing, tennis, travel and most importantly spending time with his wife and their 3 young children.