When you’re walking around the Golden Triangle or catching a game at PNC Park, you probably don’t think about your feet—until they start hurting. For a lot of people in Western Pennsylvania, that’s when the name Stephen Conti MD Pittsburgh comes up. He’s basically the guy other doctors call when a foot or ankle problem gets too complicated.
Honestly, orthopedics can feel like a cold, mechanical field sometimes. You’ve got bones, screws, and physical therapy schedules. But after 35 years in the game, Dr. Stephen Conti has a reputation that’s built on more than just successful bunion surgeries. He’s a clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a founding partner of Orthopaedic Specialists—UPMC.
The Man Behind the Scalpel
If you look at his resume, it’s a bit intimidating. He graduated from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School back in 1986. That's a long time ago. Since then, he’s basically become a fixture in the Pittsburgh medical scene. He did his residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York and then specialized further with a fellowship in Cincinnati.
He didn't just come to Pittsburgh and open a shop. He helped build the infrastructure for how foot and ankle care is handled at UPMC. He was actually the director of foot and ankle surgery at Allegheny General Hospital for a decade before moving back to the UPMC system in 2013.
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It’s kinda rare to find a surgeon who spends as much time teaching as he does operating. He’s been awarded the Golden Mallet Award twice. That’s a teaching award given by residents. It says a lot when the people you’re training actually like your style.
What He Actually Does (It’s Not Just Bunions)
Most people find their way to Stephen Conti MD Pittsburgh because of something common like a bunion or a persistent case of plantar fasciitis. But his real "bread and butter" is the stuff that makes most people cringe.
- Total Ankle Replacements: This is a big one. It used to be that if your ankle was trashed from arthritis, you just fused the bone. No movement. Now, surgeons like Conti can replace the joint entirely, keeping that range of motion.
- Charcot Foot: This is a nightmare complication of diabetes where the bones in the foot actually start to collapse. It requires massive reconstruction.
- Achilles Ruptures: Whether you’re a "weekend warrior" or an actual athlete, a snapped Achilles is a long road back.
- Complex Revisions: He takes on the "failed" surgeries. If someone else did the procedure and it didn't take, he's often the one trying to fix the mess.
Dr. Conti is also a big advocate for weight-bearing CT scans. Most X-rays are taken while you’re sitting or lying down, but your foot doesn’t hurt then, right? It hurts when you stand. He’s published research showing how 3D imaging while standing up completely changes the diagnosis.
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The Charity You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Here is the part where things get interesting. A lot of high-end surgeons spend their weekends on the golf course. Dr. Conti spends a good chunk of his time thinking about shoes for people who can't afford them.
He and his family founded a nonprofit called Our Hearts to Your Soles. It started in 2007 right here in Pittsburgh. The idea was simple: homeless people spend all day on their feet, often in shoes that are falling apart. That leads to infections, ulcers, and long-term disability.
They don't just hand out shoes. They do full medical screenings. They’ve grown to over 30 sites across the country and have given out something like 40,000 pairs of shoes. His son, Matthew Conti—who is also an orthopedic surgeon now—was a huge part of starting this. It’s a whole family affair.
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Patient Realities: The Good and the Hard
Let's be real for a second. If you look at reviews for any top-tier surgeon, they aren't always 5 stars. Why? Because surgery is hard. Recovery is slow. Dr. Conti is known for being blunt. He told one patient that it would take exactly a year to feel "normal" after a posterior tibial tendon reconstruction. The patient said he was spot on.
Some people might find that kind of honesty a bit jarring. But when you’re dealing with bones, you sort of want the truth. He’s affiliated with UPMC Passavant-McCandless and UPMC Presbyterian, so he’s working in some of the best facilities in the region.
The wait times can be a pain. That’s the downside of seeing a "Top Doctor." Everybody wants an appointment.
Practical Steps for Foot Health
If you’re thinking about seeing Stephen Conti MD Pittsburgh, or any orthopedic specialist, there are a few things you should do first to make the visit worth it:
- Bring your shoes. No, seriously. A good surgeon looks at the wear pattern on your everyday sneakers to see how you’re actually walking.
- Get your records. If you’ve had X-rays at a different hospital system, get them on a disc or ensure they are shared digitally. Don't assume the systems talk to each other. They usually don't.
- Define your goal. Is your goal to run a marathon, or just to walk to the mailbox without wincing? Knowing this helps the doctor decide if you need surgery or just a better orthotic.
- Ask about the recovery "timeline." Don't just ask when you can walk. Ask when you can drive, when you can shower, and when the swelling will finally go down.
Foot surgery isn't a quick fix. It's a commitment. Having someone like Dr. Conti who understands the biomechanics—and the human side of the city—makes a big difference in whether that commitment pays off.