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About Robert T. Bents, MD

Robert T. Bents, M.D., is a board-certified, specialty-trained orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty certification in sports medicine. With over 25 years of orthopedic experience, he provides top-quality orthopedic care to patients at Southern Oregon Orthopedics in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Dr. Bents was born and raised in Oregon. He is a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force Academy and completed his medical degree and surgical internship at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Bents served as an F-16 flight surgeon at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan before completing his orthopedic surgery residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He then served as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque and the Chief of the Orthopedic Department at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.

While at the Air Force Academy, Dr. Bents served as the head team physician for several NCAA Division 1 teams and worked closely with the Olympic Training Center and USA Boxing. He continues to serve as the team physician for several local high schools and collegiate boxing events.

Following his education and military career, Dr. Bents returned to Oregon and established himself as one of the premier orthopedic surgeons in Southern Oregon. Using the most modern and minimally invasive techniques, he specializes in arthroscopic and joint replacement surgeries of the knee and shoulder. He also performs arthroscopy of the hip and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Dr. Bents performs over 500 surgeries per year but also provides nonsurgical procedures.

Dr. Bents has been the Board Chairman of the Grants Pass Surgery Center since 2011. He is involved in research and has numerous publications in prestigious journals. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the prestigious Arthroscopy Association of North America.

Dr. Bents is an active member of the community and works closely with local athletes and teams. He serves on the OSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Council. He has a special interest in ACL injury prevention and in working with throwing athletes.

Dr. Bents is an avid fisherman and enjoys coaching youth sports teams, playing baseball, snowboarding, and camping with his family. Dr. Bents and his wife have three children and reside in Grants Pass.

  • Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas – 1997
  • Air Force F-16 Flight Surgeon – Misawa Air Force Base, Japan, 1991 – 1993
  • Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks AFB, Texas, 1991
  • Surgical Internship, Oregon Health Sciences University, 1991
  • Medical Degree, Oregon Health Sciences University, 1990
  • Bachelors Degree, Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Academy, 1986

  • Board Certification – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine – American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery – 2009

  • Paragon Orthopedic Center, since 2006
  • Ashland Orthopedic Associates, 2004 – 2006
  • Chief of the Orthopedic Department, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, 2000 – 2004
  • Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1997 – 2000

  • Fellow since 1999 – American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Member – Arthroscopy Association of North America

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