Meet Your Shoulder & Upper Extremity Specialist
Dr. Alejandro Morales-Restrepo, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon — Shoulder, Elbow, Hand & Upper Extremity
A New Jersey-raised, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand surgery — with a personalized, conservative-first approach to every patient.
Dr. Alejandro Morales-Restrepo grew up in Morris County, New Jersey, and has returned to his home state to care for the community he grew up in. He is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand surgery, with additional experience in complex high-energy trauma and sports medicine.
Dr. Morales-Restrepo believes in a personalized approach to every patient's orthopedic problem, often starting with conservative, non-operative management. When surgery is in the patient's best interest, he is skilled in both open and minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures — and offers the latest techniques in complex patient-specific total shoulder replacements and endoscopic carpal tunnel releases.
Training & Credentials
Where Dr. Morales-Restrepo trained.
Fellowship-trained in complex shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand surgery at one of the country's top orthopaedic programs.
Specialty
Orthopedic Surgeon — Shoulder, Elbow, Hand & Upper Extremity
Fellowship-trained, open and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery
Fellowship
UPMC Hand & Upper Extremity Program
Complex shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand — with ASES-affiliated faculty
Residency & Clinical Instructor
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Orthopaedic Surgery — including UPMC Presbyterian Level 1 trauma
Medical Doctorate
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Delaware — with distinction
Professional Memberships
Dr. Morales-Restrepo's professional memberships help show his connection to the orthopaedic community dedicated to education, research, and advancing patient care.
Hospital affiliations available upon request.
What sets him apart
Why Patients Choose Dr. Morales-Restrepo
A personalized approach to every patient's orthopedic problem — pairing advanced training in upper-extremity surgery with conservative-first care.
He personalizes every plan
Dr. Morales-Restrepo builds a plan around your condition, your goals, and your life — not a one-size-fits-all template.
He starts with conservative care
When appropriate, non-operative options are explored first — with surgery reserved for when it is clearly the right answer.
He brings advanced training
Fellowship-trained at UPMC's Hand & Upper Extremity program, with mentorship from internationally renowned shoulder surgeons and ASES-affiliated faculty.
He offers modern techniques
From complex patient-specific total shoulder replacements to endoscopic carpal tunnel releases — the latest techniques alongside time-tested fundamentals.
Care philosophy
How Dr. Morales-Restrepo approaches upper-extremity care
Personalized care, conservative first.
Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand problems can affect everything from work and sport to the smallest daily tasks. Dr. Morales-Restrepo's approach is to connect your exam, imaging, history, and goals before building a plan that fits your condition — not a generic template.
“I believe in a personalized approach to every patient's orthopedic problem — often starting with conservative care, and reserving surgery for when it is clearly the right answer.”
Listen
Dr. Morales-Restrepo starts by understanding your full story — where the pain or limitation is, how it affects your day, what you have already tried, and what you are hoping to get back to.
Personalize
Your exam, imaging, history, and goals are reviewed together to build a plan that is personalized to your condition — not a generic protocol.
Execute
Conservative care is considered first when appropriate. When surgery is in your best interest, Dr. Morales-Restrepo is skilled in both open and minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.
Why it matters
Why upper-extremity care matters
For Dr. Morales-Restrepo, returning to New Jersey is personal — this is where he grew up. His goal is to bring the level of shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand care he developed at one of the country's top orthopaedic programs back to the community that raised him.
From a parent who cannot lift their child to an athlete sidelined by a thumb injury, every case is about helping someone return to the people, work, and activities that matter most.
Videos from Dr. Morales-Restrepo
Surgeon Videos
Helpful shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand care videos, patient education, and answers to common questions.
Meet Dr. Alejandro Morales-Restrepo
Home Projects Are Back
Shoulder Labral Tears Aren't One Size Fits All
That Feeling When Your Patient Is Cleared for Surgery
The Number One Thing That Improves Recovery for Almost Everyone
Request an Appointment
Tell us what's going on.
Share a few details and our team will help guide the next step — whether that's an evaluation, a second opinion, or pointing you to the right kind of care.
Second Opinions
Considering shoulder, elbow, or hand surgery? Get clarity first.
If surgery has been recommended for your shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand, Dr. Morales-Restrepo can review your symptoms, imaging, and prior recommendations to help you understand whether surgery is necessary, whether conservative care may still be appropriate, and what the safest next step may be.
A second opinion is not just about confirming surgery. It is about understanding the problem clearly enough to make the right decision.
Next step
Ready to understand your shoulder,
elbow, wrist, or hand pain?
Start with a careful evaluation. Dr. Morales-Restrepo can help you understand what is happening, what options may be appropriate, and whether conservative care, further evaluation, or surgery should be part of the conversation.
What it is
Why it matters
Patient takeaway
Professional memberships are one part of a physician's overall training, experience, and approach to care.