Dr. Christopher Williams

Meet Dr. Williams

Dr. Christopher J. Williams is the founder and medical director of Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta, Georgia’s primary premier orthopedics practice and the first Regenexx provider in the state of Georgia. When working with patients, he wholeheartedly believes in a holistic approach to medicine and takes pride in building a partnership with each patient so that they can learn the skills to be able to achieve their functional goals in life.

Education and Training

Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Dr. Williams enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating from high school. After serving honorably in the military, he enrolled in college at the University of North Florida where he graduated with the highest honors of summa cum laude. Following his undergraduate career, Dr. Williams spent four years in medical school and an additional four years of residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and he was awarded the resident of the year three consecutive years in a row and was voted to serve as the academic chief resident his senior year. After completing his residency, Dr. Williams did a one-year fellowship under the direct mentorship of Dr. Christopher Centeno and Dr. John Schultz, two of the founding pioneers in the field of regenerative orthopedics and orthobiologics.

Personal

Some of Dr. Williams's interests include traveling, exercising, spending time with family, and art.

Publications

Bowers R, Neuberger D, Williams C, Kneer L, Sussman W. The Impact of an Ultrasound Curriculum on the Accuracy of Resident Joint Line Palpation. PM R. 2021 Nov;13(11):1261-1265. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12538. Epub 2021 Jan 23. PMID: 33340274.

Williams C, Jerome M, Fausel C, et al. (October 08, 2021) Regenerative Injection Treatments Utilizing Platelet Products and Prolotherapy for Cervical Spine Pain: A Functional Spinal Unit Approach. Cureus 13(10): e18608. doi:10.7759/cureus.18608

Street A, Jerome MA, Williams CJ. Atraumatic Medullary Osteonecrosis of the Tibia and Femur Treated With Intraosseous Orthobiologics. Cureus. 2021 Jul 27;13(7):e16677. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16677. PMID: 34336537; PMCID: PMC8316786.

Centeno C, Cartier C, Stemper I, Dodson E, Freeman M, Azuike U, Williams C, Hyzy M, Silva O, Steinmetz N. The Treatment of Bone Marrow Lesions Associated with Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparing Intraosseous and Intraarticular Injections with Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Products. Pain Physician. 2021 May;24(3):E279-E288. PMID: 33988949.

Centeno C, Sheinkop M, Dodson E, Stemper I, Williams C, Hyzy M, Ichim T, Freeman M. A specific protocol of autologous bone marrow concentrate and platelet products versus exercise therapy for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial with 2 year follow-up. J Transl Med. 2018;16(1): 355. doi: 10.1186/s12967-018-1736-8. PubMed PMID: 30545387; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6293635.

Centeno C, Markle J, Dodson E, Stemper I, Williams C, Hyzy M, Ichim T, Freeman M. Symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament tears treated with percutaneous injection of autologous bone marrow concentrate and platelet products: a non-controlled registry study. J Transl Med. 2018;16(1): 246. doi: 10.1186/s12967-018-1623-3. PubMed PMID: 30176875; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6122476.

Centeno C, Markle J, Dodson E, Stemper I, Hyzy M, Williams C, Freeman M. The use of lumbar epidural injection of platelet lysate for treatment of radicular pain. J Exp Orthop. 2017;4(1): 38. doi: 10.1186/s40634-017-0113-5. PubMed PMID: 29177632; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5701904.

Centeno C, Williams CJ, Markle J, Dodson E. A New Atlanto-Occipital (C0-C1) Joint Injection Technique. Pain Med. 2017. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx256. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29092046.

Centeno C, Markle J, Dodson E, Stemper I, Williams CJ, Hyzy M, Ichim T, Freeman M. Treatment of lumbar degenerative disc disease-associated radicular pain with culture-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells: a pilot study on safety and efficacy. J Transl Med. 2017;15(1): 197. doi: 10.1186/s12967-017-1300-y. PubMed PMID: 28938891; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5610473.

Sussman WI, Williams CJ, Mautner K. Ultrasound-Guided Elbow Procedures. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016;27(3): 573-87. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2016.04.002. Review. PubMed PMID: 27468667.

Rothschild MI, Russ R, Brennan KA, Williams CJ, Berrones D, Patel B, Martinez-Castellanos MA, Fernandes A, Hubbard GB 3rd, Chan RVP, Yang Z, Olsen TW. The Economic Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity (EcROP) Screening and Treatment: Mexico and the United States. Am J Ophthalmol. 2016;168: 110-121. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2016.04.014. Epub 2016 Apr 26. PubMed PMID: 27130372.

Gardner JE, Williams CW, Bowers RL. Subchondral versus intra-articular orthobiologic injections for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a review. Regen Med. 2022 Jun;17(6):389-400. doi: 10.2217/rme-2021-0174. Epub 2022 Apr 12. PMID: 35410486.

Conferences and Presentations

TOBI: The Orthobiologics Institute

  • 2020: Complications with the utilization of Platelet Rich Plasma
  • 2021: Intraosseous Orthobioloigc Injections ask the Experts Panel Discussion

Interventional Orthopedics Foundation

  • 2018: Platelet Rich Plasma for Facet Degenerative Conditions in the Spine
  • 2019: Point / Counterpoint – Regenerative Injections in the Spine vs Traditional Corticosteroids
  • 2020: Advanced Interventional Spine Injection Techniques
  • 2021: Expert Level Intraosseous Injection Techniques

Equine Orthobiologics Summit

  • 2020: Regenerative Treatment for Interventional Pain Management
  • 2021: Subchondral Injections for Bone Marrow Edema

Emory University Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

  • 2018: Department Grand Rounds – Regenerative Medicine for Pain Management
  • 2018: Resident Lecture Series – Interventional Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine, and Career Opportunities
  • 2019: Resident Lecture Series – Interventional Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine, and Career Opportunities
  • 2020: Resident Lecture Series – Interventional Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine, and Career Opportunities
  • 2021: Resident Lecture Series – Interventional Orthopedics, Regenerative Medicine, and Career Opportunities

Research Experience

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears Treated with Image-Guided Percutaneous Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate: An Expanded Case Series

              — Journal Article

              — Status: Published 2018

Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease-Associated Radicular Pain with Culture Expanded Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells

              — Journal Article

              — Status: Published 2017

A Prospective Multi-Site Registry Data Study on Safety and Efficacy of an Epidural Injection of Platelet Lysate for Radicular Pain

             — Journal Article

             — Status: Published 2018

Regenerative Treatments in Sports and Orthopedic Medicine Basic Science and Rationale for Using Stem Cells for Orthopedic Conditions

             — Textbook Chapter

             — Status: Published 2017

Geriatric Rehabilitation: From Bedside to Curbside (Rehabilitation Science in Practice Series) Polypharmacy and Rational Prescribing

             — Textbook Chapter

             — Status: Published 2017

Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management Interventional Orthopedics in Pain Medicine Practice

             — Textbook Chapter

             — Status: Published 2016

Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells and Their Application in Pain Medicine

            — Journal Article

            — Status: Submitted for Publication 2016

How Interventional Orthopedics Will Be the Next Interventional Cardiology

          — Textbook Chapter

          — Status: Submitted for Publication 2016

Orthopedics Today
Point/CounterPoint on ACL Injuries

          — Journal Article

          — Status: Submitted for Publication 2017

Rational Prescribing in an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility

          — Research Principal Investigator: Dale Strasser, MD, Emory University Department of Rehabilitation            Medicine

          — Role in Research: Primary Investigator

          — Abstracts/Presentations:

                           American Geriatric Society Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, May 2014

                                      • Poster Presentation

                           International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cancun, Mexico, June 2014

                                      • Poster Presentation 

                           2nd Annual National Summit on Safety and Quality for Rehabilitation Hospitals, Pentagon City, VA, July 2014                       
                                      • Platform Presentation

                           American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, November 2014             
                                      • Poster Presentation                        

A Region or Country-specific, Economic-Based Analysis for Retinopathy of Prematurity (EcROP)

           — Research Principal Investigator: Timothy Olsen, MD, Emory University Department of Ophthalmology

           — Role in Research: Primary Investigator

           — Published 2017

Healthy Parks Initiative Project, Jacksonville, FL, January 2007 – January 2008

           — Research Principal Investigator: Dr. John Eisler; Daniel Tardona

           — Role in Research: Assistant

           — Submitted for Publication

Reviews

"When my hope was dashed by years of severe pain and misdiagnosis and mistreatment, by drs in San Francisco, I met Dr Williams. He diagnosed my problem correctly based on a very inexpensive test and told me what I needed to do and where to go to learn about what I needed to do to get out of pain and back into the world. I’m working sure and steady towards recovery and not there yet but if it weren’t for Dr Williams I don’t know where I would be. I wish that every person in need would meet a Dr like Dr Williams. He is kind and he made the difference for me. His staff are nice and easy to work with."

L.M.

Facebook

"I was in an auto accident and went to Dr. William's office for a consultation. He performed a detailed examination and came up with a plan of action. Injections were administered and I am feeling better than I have in a long time. Dr. Williams and his staff took care of me very well throughout my procedure. I am scheduling to have another procedure to help me regain even more of my mobility and strength. If you are on the fence I would highly consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Williams and his staff."

A.K.

Google

"If you are looking for a plastic surgeon, please look no further, Dr. Ellsworth is your man. I have never been treated with such care and compassion as I was with Dr. Ellsworth and his WONDERFUL staff. Suffice it to say, he gave me my life back. I had chronic pain for over 14 years as a result of a marlex mesh being used to help repair my diastasis recti hernia. My body tried to reject it and I was in horrible pain because of this. Two more “revision” surgeries were performed, but still left me with pain. I tried for years to find a surgeon to remove it, but all told me it could not be done, or they didn’t feel confident to try. I had almost given up until a doctor in San Antonio led me to Dr. Ellsworth. ANSWERED PRAYER!!! He knew my case was going to be difficult and tedious, but because he had compassion for me and really cared about my 24/7 pain, he suggested we take out the entire mesh. I. WAS. IN. SHOCK. I was never afraid, because I knew I was in the best of hands. So here I am, 6 weeks later, and I’m happy to report that I am now PAIN FREE! Dr. Ellsworth brings expert knowledge and compassion BOTH to the table! I am forever grateful!!"

B.S.

Facebook

"This review is intended to be a 10 star review. This review is coming from a health care provider who is very selective when it comes to choosing a health care provider for my own health needs. July of this year I have had a procedure done at IOA, Dr. Chris Williams. Everything about my experience has exceeded my expectation. Dr. Williams has outstanding, exceptional clinical skills and demonstrate great deal of compassion and desire to truly help my condition. He has excellent communication skills and just very nice down to earth MD. I have experienced no pain throughout the procedure, very mild discomfort afterwards, and I am pleased with the outcome. The IOA office is beautiful, clean, calm, wonderful staff, and very welcoming. When you choose a doctor clinical skills and experience matters. However, when you find MD who is also very easy to relate to, has excellent communication skills, and just a very nice person, you got a winner. Dr. Williams and IOA, is my best recommendation for all of you who care to read this review. I have no doubt that any one of you will have the same wonderful experience I have had with Dr. Williams and staff."

A.K.

Google

"Dr. Williams treated me as a whole body instead of a collection of symptoms. He listened, validated, and provided feedback. He was compassionate, informative, and forward thinking. It was by far the best medical experience I’ve had."

B.T.

Google

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