Thunder Orthopedics

02/23/2026

Thankful for modern day technology to help our Olympic Athletes. These competitors have been truly amazing. Praying for complete healing for Ms. Vonn.

02/14/2026

The Jeffersonland Chorus surprised the staff (and patients) of Thunder Orthopedics with beautiful a capella songs 🎶 for Valentine’s Day yesterday. Such a wonderful gift from amazing singers.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

02/09/2026

Thunder orthopedics watches women’s sports.

Happy National Girl & Women in Sports Day!

Go Wahoos! Huge win today over the Irish.

🏀 🏀 🏀

02/07/2026

Go 🇺🇸

The message Kendall Coyne Schofield posted on her social media was not terribly difficult to decipher. A framed blackboard propped in front of Schofield’s two dogs, Penny and Blue, spelled out the message: Baby Schofield Coming Summer 2023. The dogs wore matching big sister bandanas in case someth...

02/03/2026

National Women Physician Day is celebrated annually on February 3rd, to honor the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell - the first woman to receive a medical degree in the US in 1849. She advocated for educating young girls and demonstrating empathy in the practice of medicine. She faced extraordinary sexism. Regarding this sexism, Dr. Megan Swanson says: “It is truly shocking and disappointing that the sexism continues. Looking at the large orthopedic groups in our state, one can see that they are consistently almost completely male dominated. That is not an accident and it is not because women are not in the medical field. In fact, more than half of today’s medical students are female.”

Unfortunately, literature indicates that sexism is widespread in orthopedic surgery, with female surgeons facing high rates of gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and a "boys' club" culture. Key challenges include a lack of female mentors, bullying, devaluation of skills, and pressure to conform to male-dominated environments. Dr. Swanson further adds: “If we don’t talk about it, and call it out into the light, then nothing changes. If nothing changes, then orthopedic patients lose out on access to some of the best medical students who choose not to go into orthopedics. Also, we lose the chance to ask better research questions as we know that diverse researchers ask more robust research questions.”

01/29/2026

We are open! Call for an appointment.
This little guy came to the back windows today.

01/26/2026

🧊 🧊 🧊

Ice day on Tuesday, January 27: Phones will be open and visits be changed to virtual telehealth visits.

All in-office appointments are canceled. Please call to reschedule if we haven’t contacted you yet and you have an in-person visit on 1/27.

Be safe!
❄️ ❄️ ❄️

01/22/2026

❄️ ❄️ ❄️
Snow day on Monday, January 26: Phones will be open and Telehealth visits will proceed virtually.

All in-office appointments are canceled. Please call to reschedule if we haven’t contacted you yet and you have an in-person visit on 1/26.

Be safe!
❄️ ❄️ ❄️

01/16/2026

Three years ago today, Thunder Ortho opened its doors for the first time to patients. After more than 17,000 patient visits and 3 Charlottesville’s Finest awards, we asked Dr. Swanson what she has learned starting an independent private ortho practice in these modern times when that is simply not done and not easy.

She said: “Have joy in the journey. God wins in the end. He won’t let us fail.”

01/03/2026

In the Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery categories:
✅ 43 physicians were identified by their peers as top doctors in the state of Virginia.
✅ Only two were female orthopedic surgeons.
✅ Only one is in the male dominated sub-specialty field of Adult Reconstruction (hip/knee replacement).

⚡️⚡️Dr. Megan Swanson ⚡️⚡️

Congratulations to Dr Jennifer Vanderbeck, the shoulder/elbow specialist who is the other female orthopedic surgeon who made the list!

From annual checkups to life-saving interventions, physicians guide us through every stage of health — offering expertise, reassurance and care when it matters most. Choosing the right doctor is one of the most important decisions we make, and across Virginia, thousands of dedicated physicians are...

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas 🎄!

The office is closed December 24 and 25 as our staff celebrates and rests with family.

Phones will be open December 26 so please call us then.

12/20/2025

Congratulations to Kymora Johnson for setting the JPJ 3 pt record for Men & Women!
Thunder Orthopedics watches women’s sports!