Forty Under 40: Christopher Arnold

Knees, shoulders and hips fill Dr. Christopher Arnold’s day. The orthopaedic surgeon sees about 100 patients and performs 10-12 surgeries each week.

His clients, many suffering from sports injuries, drive from Fayetteville, Rogers and Bella Vista to visit Arnold’s Springdale office, Arnold Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine.

The surgeon is loosely affiliated with other orthopaedic surgeons in the area, but he has run his own practice for two years.

The son of an orthopaedist, Arnold trained extensively in his field before opening an office. He received his bachelor’s of science degree in zoology from the University of Arkansas in 1990 and graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1994.

After medical school, Arnold completed a five-year residency at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Penn. He then attended a year-long, Harvard-sponsored sports-medicine fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2000. There, he operated on professional athletes, including NFL players from the New England Patriots.

Arnold said he moved back to Northwest Arkansas after he finished school to follow his father’s lead in orthopaedic medicine. His father, the late Dr. James Arnold, was a renowned knee surgeon.