Harris Regional Hospital is pleased to welcome Paul Ulrich, DO, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and Sylva native, to its medical staff. Dr. Ulrich will begin seeing patients on September 1 at Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Dr. Ulrich specializes in joint replacement surgery, including total hip and knee replacements, complex revision procedures, and fracture care. His training includes the latest advancements in anterior hip replacement and kinematic alignment for knee replacement – techniques designed to restore natural movement and improve long-term outcomes for patients.

He joins a well-established team at Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, which includes Douglas Gates, MD; Larry Supik, MD; Josh Patton, DO; Ryan Slechta, MD; John Songer, MD; Alexis Willey, PA-C; and Jared Schoeberl, PA-C.

“Dr. Ulrich’s return to Sylva brings both personal and professional value to our hospital and community,” said Ashley Hindman, CEO of Harris Regional Hospital. “His advanced training in joint replacement, paired with his roots in this region, will enhance the depth of care we’re able to provide while continuing our commitment to treating patients like neighbors, because they are.”

Dr. Ulrich completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and a five-year orthopaedic surgery residency at McLaren Greater Lansing in Michigan. During his training, he contributed to several peer-reviewed publications, presented at regional and national meetings, and served as a resident representative to the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative.

He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where he graduated summa cum laude.

“It’s meaningful to return to the community that helped shape my path into medicine,” Dr. Ulrich said. “I’m honored to join the team at Harris Orthopaedics and look forward to bringing new techniques and surgical approaches to help patients stay active and independent.”

Dr. Ulrich was born at Harris Regional Hospital and graduated from Smoky Mountain High School. He first gained exposure to medicine by shadowing in the operating room through a local health sciences program and later returned for clinical experiences while in college. He now returns to the region with his wife, an emergency medicine physician, and their daughter.