Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Shoulder & Knee Specialist
Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2026
Dr. Chad Carlton Smalley is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery, sports medicine, shoulder replacement, and OrthoBiologics. He provides comprehensive care for patients with sports-related injuries, shoulder and knee conditions, arthritis, joint injuries, and other musculoskeletal conditions.
A native of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Dr. Smalley was a three-sport letterman at Centre College in Kentucky, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. He returned to Tennessee for medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he graduated with Highest Honors and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Smalley completed his five-year orthopaedic surgery residency at West Virginia University, training at a Level 1 Trauma Center. During residency, he served as chief resident and received the Resident Teacher of the Year Award in 2005. He then completed fellowship training in knee and shoulder arthroscopy and sports medicine in San Francisco, where he also served as a team physician for the San Francisco Giants.
During his fellowship, Dr. Smalley received specialized training in reverse total shoulder replacement, helping introduce this innovative procedure to the Chattanooga region. He maintains a special interest in joint preservation, OrthoBiologics, and emerging biologic treatments.
Dr. Smalley has also been involved in the research and development of multiple arthroscopic devices and innovative instrumentation for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. He provides consulting advice to several orthopaedic industry leaders and has participated in international projects involving physician education and patient care.
