Michael Louis Caravelli, MD

Could my interest in medicine have sprouted from a childhood visit to the hospital for stitches, or a sixth-grade school report I wrote on orthopedic surgery? It’s possible either could have been the inspiration, but in looking back I realize I’ve always loved the idea of helping people, and as time went on I became passionate about the physiology of the human body and the possibility of helping patients learn how to care for theirs so they can live a healthy, prosperous and fun life.

Musculoskeletal medicine and orthopedic surgery is a fantastic specialty. How you care for the musculoskeletal system can have a huge impact on other conditions that we all face, whether it is hypertension, diabetes and even one’s mental health.

And as a doctor, I see myself as an educator, a confidant and a skilled technician. It is really important that I use all those skills to be able to listen to a patients’ problem, identify the cause, educate the patient on how the body works and all the different ways they can resolve a particular problem. I help my patients understand they have a choice on how to manage these problems, in a safe, efficient and predictable manner. I consider patient care to be a team sport: It is important that my patients understand how their body works and how important it is for them to be involved in their solution.

As an orthopedic surgeon, I most commonly treat lower extremity osteoarthritis and skeletal trauma. I am fellowship trained in the management of osteoarthritis of the lower extremities and in surgical management, and my specialty includes anterior hip replacement, complex knee and revision surgery, using the Mako SmartRobotics System. I am also a Mako-Smart Robotics surgical instructor, frequently traveling around the country to help others optimize their surgical skills using this advanced technology.

The most joyful part of my work as a physician is having the opportunity to work with people, and there is nothing I am more grateful for than being able to help them to live the life they want to live.

Outside of work, it is all about family: Sunday dinners, cooking, travel, baseball games, meeting new people and always remembering all the wonderful things the world has to offer.

Physician Practice Organization

NorthBay Health