Michael Potter, MD

About Michael

Dr. Michael Potter is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgeon serving the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. He provides expert care of all conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow including sports injuries and trauma. He has extensive experience with arthroscopy and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As a member of the ValleyOrtho team, he also provides on-call care for lower extremity trauma and general orthopedic issues.

Dr. Potter was recruited to join the ValleyOrtho group in 2020 after five years in practice in Charlottesville, VA. He completed fellowship training in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery at Stanford University. His orthopedic residency at the University of Utah included broad exposure to orthopedic trauma surgery at their nationally recognized Level 1 trauma center. He graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in molecular biology and graduated with honors from Duke University Medical School. He has great knowledge and familiarity with pediatric orthopedic care from his time at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital of Stanford and Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

He was drawn to orthopedics because of his own athletic background and because of his interest in caring for athletes and other active individuals. He identified hand surgery as his particular calling because the discipline requires a diversity of skills to restore patients to full function and activity. In his free time, Dr. Potter enjoys a range of outdoor activities including skiing, biking, and hiking. He lives in the valley with his wife and two children.

Society Memberships and Leadership Roles

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• American Association for Hand Surgery
• Volunteer Clinical Faculty, University of Colorado Department of Orthopedics – Rural LIC Training Program

Practice Philosophy

“I try to meet people where they are. I want to help them understand what I can offer to address their needs and reach their goals. My approach is to listen and understand first, and then provide counseling and guidance. The patient and I can decide together how to proceed.”

Valleyortho University Webinar Recordings

ValleyOrtho University is a virtual education series presented by the world class surgeons at ValleyOrtho. Our goal is to provide valuable educational opportunities to help our neighbors and community continue to enjoy healthy and active lifestyles.

Watch previous ValleyOrtho University webinars by Dr. Potter by clicking on the videos below.

View the full list of recordings as well as upcoming webinars here: ValleyOrtho University