Walter B. McClelland, Jr., M.D.
Hand, Wrist & Microvascular Surgery; Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
OVERVIEW
Walter B. McClelland, Jr., M.D. joined Peachtree Orthopedics in 2012. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery.
PRACTICE TYPE
- Hand, Wrist and Microvascular Surgery
- Shoulder Surgery
- Elbow Surgery
BIO
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Dr. McClelland is an Atlanta native and a 1997 graduate of The Westminster Schools. He earned his B.A. in History from Princeton University in 2001. While at Princeton, Dr. McClelland was a member of the men’s cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams. He returned to Atlanta to complete his M.D. degree at Emory University School of Medicine in 2005, where he was honored with the Joseph Whitehead Surgery Scholarship. Dr. McClelland remained at Emory to complete his orthopedic residency training. While there, he was recognized with the Bubba and Bwana Award and was elected chief resident during his final year.
Dr. McClelland went on to complete a fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microvascular surgery at the prestigious Curtis National Hand Center in Baltimore, Maryland, one of the nation’s oldest and most well-respected hand and upper extremity training facilities. While there, Dr. McClelland honed his treatment of complex disorders related to acute trauma, nerve injury and compression, arthritis, athletic injury, and congenital malformation.
After completing his time in Baltimore, Dr. McClelland elected to pursue a second fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery in Nice, France, under the guidance of Professor Pascal Boileau, a world-leader in disorders of the shoulder. During his time abroad, Dr. McClelland trained extensively in both arthroscopic and open surgical techniques, including rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability repair, and shoulder replacement (both traditional and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty).
Dr. McClelland has authored numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and educational videos related to orthopedic surgery of the upper extremity, and has won several awards for his work. Most recently, he published a book chapter titled “Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: How to Rebalance the Cuff-Deficient Shoulder” in the medical textbook entitled “Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.” This work is the result of several research projects that Dr. McClelland completed during his shoulder and elbow fellowship in France.
He has been invited to lecture both nationally and internationally, and continues to participate actively in orthopedic research. He holds the title of adjunct assistant professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at Emory University.
Dr. McClelland offers innovative techniques, such as Xiaflex for Dupuytren’s Disease, endoscopic carpal tunnel release for carpal tunnel syndrome, and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for certain types of shoulder arthritis. In 2011, Dr. McClelland was labeled an “Emerging Leader” in orthopedics by the American Orthopaedic Association. He was also recently elected by Piedmont Healthcare as a Senior Physician Reviewer for purposes of peer review and quality improvement.
For a detailed list of Dr. McClelland’s academic publications and presentations, please click here to see his curriculum vitae.
Fellowships: Curtis National Hand Center; Baltimore, MD – Hand, Upper Extremity & Microvascular Surgery (2010-2011); Hopital de L’Archet 2 (Prof. Pascal Boileau); Nice, France – Shoulder & Elbow Surgery (2011-2012)
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA – Orthopaedic Surgery (2005-2010) | Chief Resident, Bubba and Bwana Award
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (2001-2005) | Joseph Whitehead Surgery Scholarship
Undergraduate Degree: Princeton University; Princeton, NJ – BA, History (1997-2001)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery – Fellow
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand – Member
- American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons – Associate Member
- American Orthopaedic Association – Emerging Leaders Program
- Georgia Orthopaedic Society – Board of Directors, Member-At-Large
- Georgia Shoulder and Elbow Society – President
- Georgia Society for Surgery of the Hand – Member
- Atlanta Orthopaedic Society – Member
- Robert P. Kelly Orthopaedic Society – President
ACCOLADES & ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. McClelland chosen as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2022
Castle Connolly identifies Top Doctors based on an extensive nomination process. The national physician-led research team reviews and rigorously screens all nominated physicians before selecting those regarded as the most outstanding healthcare providers in the country.
Named Top Doctor by Atlanta Magazine
Chosen in 2024 as an Atlanta Magazine Top Doc. Atlanta Magazine, 63 years in print, identifies Top Docs based on research created by PRS (Professional Research Services). It is based on an online peer-review survey sent out to physicians within the Atlanta area, garnering thousands of votes honoring excellence in all fields of medicine. Inclusion in Atlanta Magazine Top Doctors is based solely upon one’s standing among peers.
Dr. McClelland Serves as "Doctor of the Day" at Georgia State Capitol
In February 2020, Dr. Walter McClelland served as “Doctor of the Day” for the Georgia State Capitol. He met with legislators and discussed key issues facing the physicians and patients of Georgia, in addition to staffing the on-site medical clinic. The occasion was particularly interesting for Dr. McClelland since his grandfather served in the Georgia Legislature from 1956-1968.
Dr. McClelland Authors AAOS Article
Dr. Walter McClelland and Dr. Xavier Duralde were featured in a recent American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) publication (AAOS Now) debating the treatment approach to bicep tendon pathology. This prestigious publication is read by a global network of over 39,000 orthopedists. Click here to read the article on tendodesis vs. tenotomy.
Dr. McClelland Recipient of 2018 & 2014 Montague Boyd Award
Dr. McClelland was recently awarded the 2018 Montague Boyd Excellence in Publishing Award from Piedmont Healthcare, a writing award given annually to recognize outstanding clinical research and publishing achievements by members of the Piedmont healthcare system.
The Boyd Award Committee honored Dr. McClelland’s book chapter for his work discussing reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with tendon transfer in the textbook “Shoulder Concepts 2016: Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.”
This is this second time Dr. McClelland has received the Boyd Award. In 2014, he won for his book chapter entitled “Fractures of the Hand and Wrist” which was published in the medical textbook “Current Reconstructive Surgery.”
Instituted in 1988, the Montague Boyd Excellence in Publishing Award recognizes the achievements of academic scholarships and contributions to medical practice and knowledge. Of the 215 total winners to date, Dr. McClelland is only the 22nd person to have won it multiple times.
Patient Accolades
Dr. McClelland has recently been recognized by Vitals.com, an online physician rating site, for his excellent surgical outcomes and top-notch patient care. Awards are based on patient reviews of their experience and given to those physicians with the highest ratings nationwide.
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Patient’s Choice Award: Honors doctors who provided excellent patient care – as reflected in their near perfect patient ratings.
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Compassionate Doctor Award: Honors doctors who treat their patients with the utmost kindness as reflected in their superior “Overall” and “Bedside Manner” ratings.
- 2014 Top 10 Doctor: Honors doctors within a certain specialty and location who are consistently given top ratings by their patients. Awarded to the top 1% of the nation’s 870,000 active physicians.
International Presentations
Since joining Peachtree Orthopedics, Dr. McClelland has traveled extensively to present his innovative research on reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and tendon transfers about the shoulder. Destinations have included:
- Nice, France (Nice Shoulder Course)
- Dubrovnik, Croatia (European Society for Surgery of the Shoulder and Elbow)
- Nagoya, Japan (International Congress of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery)
- Montreal, Canada (American Orthopaedic Association/Canadian Orthopaedic Association)
Athletic Injuries
Dr. McClelland has trained extensively in surgical and non-surgical care of upper extremity injuries in athletes, ranging from weekend warrior to professional. He has previously served as a consultant physician for Georgia State University Athletics and for the TOUR Championship.
