Christopher L. Forthman, M.D.

Dr. Christopher L. Forthman, M.D., is the President of Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder and the Medical Director of the Lutherville SurgiCenter, LLC. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon with a certificate of added qualifications in Hand Surgery. Dr. Forthman earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also completed his residency in complex shoulder, hand, and elbow surgery at Harvard, where he served as a chief resident. Dr. Forthman has received several professional awards and honors, authored book chapters, and published research studies in prestigious medical journals.

Dr. Forthman’s achievements and awards include:

• Attending surgeon at Curtis National Hand Center, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
• Assistant professor at the Department of Orthopaedics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
• Recipient of The Leonard Marmor Award for Highest In-Training Scores in the Harvard Orthopedic Program
• Recipient of Outstanding Research in Orthopaedic Surgery by the International Board of Shoulder Surgery, Washington, DC
• Recipient of Baylor Outstanding Achievement in Orthopaedic Research
• Recipient of the Michael E. DeBakey Scholar Award
• Serves on clinical operations, emergency services, and research committees at Curtis National Hand Center
• Hosts a weekly indications conference with orthopedic and plastic surgeons to review the management of complex upper extremity disorders
• Recipient of the Golden Apple Teaching Award from the Arm Surgery Fellows at Curtis National Hand Center
• Named a Top Doctor by Baltimore Magazine

Dr. Forthman is distinguished as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and as an active member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He is also a member of the Maryland Orthopaedic Association.  His subspecialty interests are joint replacements (shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist), repairs of ruptured tendons (rotator cuff, biceps/triceps), and the detailed bone carpentry associated with reconstructing challenging fractures/traumas to the arm.

Dr. Forthman hails from Maryland but moved frequently with his family during service abroad. He lived for several years in Spain and enjoys practicing Spanish with his patients.  When away from the office, Dr. Forthman enjoys time with his family, dancing, Muai-Thai sparring, biking and running.  

Dr. Forthman provides care at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder’s LUTHERVILLE – Main office and WESTMINSTER locations.