Dr. Paul (Retired) is a Tar Heel, having been born in Raleigh, North Carolina. His family then moved to Kingsport, TN where he resided before returning to UNC Chapel Hill and his beloved North Carolina.

The founding partner of Guilford Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center, Dr. Paul started his practice in 1981 in Greensboro and the Center in 1983. Since residency beginning in 1976, nearly 40 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery has given him a unique perspective in all sorts of cutting edge procedures and techniques.

Dr. Paul feels that there is still room for the art of medicine. His love of art collecting reflects his joy in the artistic aspects of surgical intervention as well as improving function. In addition, he has studied techniques in Switzerland and has collaborated with Swiss orthopaedic surgeons. In the late 1980s, Dr. Paul introduced a type of total hip prosthesis to Greensboro that is reflected with many of the prostheses being used today in the United States.

Dr. Paul’s current focus is on diagnosis and management of the full range of musculoskeletal disorders. As such, as one of the most respected senior orthopaedists, his expertise and 38+ years experience reflect his philosophy of anatomically-based evaluation of treatment in a patient-centric environment. Since 2010 Dr. Paul’s practice has been nonoperative. He also performs many second opinions and IMEs and is esteemed for his analysis and judgment.

A committed family man, Dr. Paul has been married to his high school sweetheart for now 42 years. Melinda Coover-Paul is a pediatrician who has served over 35 years in indigent pediatric care in central North Carolina. She is currently an attending physician at Cone Health Center for Children and an adjunct Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UNC Chapel Hill. They are the proud parents of two attractive and successful children, Adam and Kirsten, who are married to Elizabeth Peterson Paul and James Gilliam respectively. They also have a grandson, Coover Paul. They all live in South Carolina where the Paul’s maintain vacation homes.

Dr. Paul also Specializes in:

  • Second opinions.
  • Back and neck pain evaluations and treatment.
  • Treatment of sports injuries of all types.
  • Evaluation of common foot, ankle, and hand disorders.
  • General orthopaedic diagnosis and management.
  • Orthopaedic conditions of aging.
  • Pediatric orthopaedic management.
Medical Training & Professional Experience

Undergraduate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

-Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Med Honor Society.
-Alpha Epsilon Delta/Hedgepeth Award as most outstanding member.
-Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.
-Phi Beta Kappa

Medical School

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

-Foreign Fellowship Award to study Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva Switzerland 1976.

Internship and Residency

North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, Surgical internship 1976 through 1977.
Orthopaedic Residency 1977 through 1980.
Chief Resident Orthopaedics 1980 through 1981.

Work Certification Organization

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – Emeritus.
Eastern Orthopaedic Association – Emeritus.
North Carolina Orthopaedic Association.

Additional Training/Experience

Techniques of hip and knee arthroplasty, Bern, Switzerland.
Techniques of internal fixation of fractures advanced, Davos, Switzerland.
Interested in sports injuries of ballet and dance.

Hobbies

Paul enjoys art, classical and jazz music, gourmet dining and cooking, foreign travel, theatre, cinema, and antiques.