"Our comprehensive approach tailors a personalized plan to help you recover in the fastest, safest, least invasive ways possible."
— Dr. Robert Pettit, MD · Fellowship-Trained at Harvard & Tufts
Dr. Robert Pettit is a Cincinnati native and former athlete who grew up playing baseball, basketball, football, and soccer at St. Xavier High School — where he was part of the school's first state championship football team. At age 12, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans (JOCD) in both knees, requiring surgery. That experience ignited a lifelong mission: getting athletes back in the game.
After his fellowship at Beth Israel New England Baptist Hospital (Harvard & Tufts) in Boston — where he served as an assistant team physician for the Boston Celtics — Dr. Pettit returned home to lead Beacon's Fort Thomas, KY location and serve patients throughout Greater Cincinnati.
His special clinical interest is joint preservation: using advanced techniques to delay or avoid replacement in young, active patients, and Mako robotic precision when replacement is the right call.
Dr. Pettit's team is personally selected to ensure every patient receives expert guidance, compassionate care, and the fastest possible recovery from day one through return to activity.
A compassionate, knowledgeable, and thorough physician assistant, Maria is a constant presence throughout your care — from your first clinic visit to your final recovery check. She evaluates patients alongside Dr. Pettit, first-assists in the operating room, and manages medications, imaging, and post-operative questions with meticulous attention to detail. Patients know her for taking the time to listen, explain clearly, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Greg pairs hands-on clinical support with a background in athletic training and human performance. In clinic, he assists with casting, bracing, and wound care while keeping every visit running smoothly; as an athletic trainer, he understands the physical demands of sport and helps patients progress safely through each rehab milestone. His performance expertise shapes return-to-play readiness — rebuilding strength, movement, and confidence so patients come back at their best.
Sandy is your guide from the decision for surgery to the day of your procedure. As surgery scheduler, she books your operation, coordinates insurance authorization and pre-operative clearances, and makes sure you know exactly where to be, when to arrive, and how to prepare. As a medical assistant, she keeps clinic visits running smoothly — updating records, assisting with intake, and relaying your questions to the team so answers come back quickly.
Every aspect of your treatment is tailored to your unique goals, activity level, and anatomy — built around getting you back to peak performance, not just pain-free.
Mako robotic-assisted surgery, advanced arthroscopic techniques, and cartilage restoration procedures for superior outcomes and faster return-to-sport timelines.
Dr. Pettit's special interest is preserving your native joint whenever possible — using advanced techniques to delay or avoid replacement in young, active patients.
Every condition Dr. Pettit treats, in one place — open a body region or search below. Each condition includes a printable patient handout and, where available, a trusted external resource.
★ Most requested · All handouts are printable PDFs that open in a new tab.
Dr. Pettit's visual condition guides — 41 printable infographics covering anatomy, symptoms, and treatment at a glance. Click any image to view full size, or download and share.
Every procedure with its surgical information sheet and Dr. Pettit's post-operative recovery protocols — open a body region or search below.
Each info sheet includes a medication & recovery quick reference from the matching protocol.
Comprehensive, illustrated exercise programs you can follow at home — the depth of a physical-therapy visit. View online or download a printable PDF.
Recovering from surgery? Follow your specific post-operative protocol first, then use these to keep progressing.
Criterion-based rehabilitation protocols for Dr. Pettit's surgical procedures — a therapist reference library of 50 guidelines organized by body region. Each is printable and evidence-informed; individualize per intraoperative findings and patient response.
These therapist references complement each patient's post-operative protocol. Always follow the specific instructions Dr. Pettit provides for the individual patient.
Answers to the questions we hear most, plus practical forms and quick-reference tip sheets.
Scan the code with your phone camera to open this website on your phone — handouts, protocols, and exercise programs, wherever you are. Prefer a printout for the office? Download the printable QR poster.
Quick, practical guides from Dr. Pettit and team for the moments around surgery.
Dr. Pettit has published in high-impact orthopaedic journals covering ACL reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and shoulder arthroplasty — contributing to the evidence base that guides modern sports medicine practice.
Featured in local and regional media for his expertise in sports medicine, joint preservation, and advanced orthopedic care across Greater Cincinnati.
Dr. Pettit discusses his patient-first philosophy, his journey from St. Xavier High School athlete to fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, and how advanced techniques like Mako robotic surgery and cartilage restoration are changing outcomes for patients across Cincinnati.
Watch NowHundreds of 5-star reviews from athletes and active adults who got back to the life they love.
Read all Google Reviews →"I tore my ACL and Dr. Pettit helped me figure out the best treatment and scheduled surgery quickly. He followed up with me weekly during rehab. His care has been absolutely amazing."
"Dr. Pettit was very thorough and never made me feel rushed. He answered all my questions and explained exactly how long recovery would take. Truly exceptional care."
"I have never had such a kind and caring doctor. He knew I was nervous about surgery and was there to reassure me beforehand. My knee feels better than it has in years."
Dr. Pettit sees patients at five Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine offices across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Surgery days are Wednesday afternoons and Fridays. Call to pick the most convenient location — same-week appointments are usually available.
Ready to get back to the sport and life you love? Contact Beacon Orthopaedics to schedule with Dr. Pettit at multiple Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky locations.
Browser-based documentation tools for Dr. Pettit's clinical team and referring providers, hosted on a private access-protected site. Everything runs locally in your browser — no patient information is stored or transmitted. Do not enter patient identifiers.
These tools are hosted on a private, access-code-protected site — the code is available from Dr. Pettit's office. Generated documentation must be reviewed, individualized, and verified — including CPT/ICD coding against current payer policy — by the responsible clinician before signing.
