About Jessica Churchill, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon Serving Denver and Surrounding Areas
Office Location
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Jessica Churchill, MD
660 Bannock St Suite 6335 Denver, CO 80204
Services/Specialites
Call us at
(303) 436-4949
to Schedule an Appointment

Dr. Jessica Churchill is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow care at Denver Health Orthopedics. She joined the sports medicine division in April 2024, bringing advanced training, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to helping patients return to their daily routines and activities.
Her clinical interests include rotator cuff injuries, shoulder dislocations, arthritis, and revision surgeries for patients whose previous treatments have not met their needs. She also has experience managing injuries related to sports, work, and everyday activities.
Her background includes an orthopedic surgery residency and a shoulder and elbow fellowship, both completed at the Cleveland Clinic. Through this training, Dr. Churchill developed a focused skill set in advanced surgical techniques such as total shoulder replacement and reverse total shoulder replacement. These procedures are often used to help manage complex conditions involving joint damage or long-standing injuries, and she approaches them as part of a broader plan centered on function, comfort, and quality of life.
While her work includes treating athletic injuries, Dr. Churchill recognizes that shoulder and elbow issues affect people from all walks of life. Whether someone is lifting a child, stocking shelves, typing at a desk, or recovering from a fall, upper extremity problems can interrupt daily life in a major way. Her care philosophy includes helping patients understand their options and working alongside them to build a treatment path that supports recovery and long-term function.
Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Churchill was born in Michigan and raised in Wisconsin. With deep family roots in Colorado, she spent much of her childhood visiting Denver and is now excited to be based in the city full time. Her move to Denver Health reflects her alignment with the organization’s mission and her interest in serving a diverse and active population. She is especially drawn to the collaborative environment at Denver Health, where orthopedic providers work together to support patients throughout every phase of care.
Outside of the clinic and operating room, Dr. Churchill is an active runner who enjoys both trail and road races. She appreciates the energy of the Denver community and looks forward to participating in local events alongside her patients. Her goal is to build a lasting practice in the region, staying connected to the people and families she serves over the long term.
Dr. Churchill’s approach is rooted in communication, respect, and shared decision-making. She aims to help patients feel heard, informed, and supported as they navigate their recovery. Whether managing a first-time injury or a complex case requiring revision surgery, she is focused on guiding individuals through the process with clarity and care.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship
2022 – 2023
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Orthopedic Surgery Residency
2017 – 2022
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA
MD and Junior AOA, Gold Humanism Society
2013 – 2017
University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI
BS, double major in Zoology and Conservation Biology
2011 – 2013
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
2009 – 2010
Assistant Professor, Denver Health Medical Center
April 2024 – Present
Clinical Associate, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
August 2022 – July 2023
Orthopedic Surgeon, Denver Health Medical Center
April 2024 – Present
Orthopedic Surgeon, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center
October 2023 – February 2014
Orthopedic Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
August 2022 – July 2023
2025 – Denver Health Media Award, Most Unexpected Feature Article
2025 – Denver Health Compassionate Care Award
2017 – 2022 – Recipient of 6 Caregiver Awards During Residency Training
2017 – Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee
2016 – AOA Junior Inductee
2016 – Medical Society of Virginia Salute to Service Award for Service by a Medical Student or Resident
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES)
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
Rocky Mountain Shoulder and Elbow Society (RMSES)
Departmental
- Chief of Patient Safety and Quality for Denver Health Department of Orthopedics
- Shoulder Surgery Representative for Orthopedic Center of Excellence Designation
- Epic Update Point Person for Denver Health Department of Orthopedics
- Member of the Residency Rotation Planning Committee for University of Colorado/Denver Health
Hospital
- Member of Denver Health MRI Planning Committee
- Orthopedic Surgery Liaison for Denver Health Trauma Services
National
- AAOS Resident Assembly Education Committee Member 2019 – 2022
- Mentorship/Professional Development Committee Member; Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society 2025 – Present
Community Collaborations
- Denver Health Trauma Survivors Fun Run Volunteer, Yearly
- Manned the Colfax Marathon Outreach Booth, 2025
- Liaison for the Sports Service for all Business-to-Business Outreach and Community Education
- Multiple Local News Appearances for Community Education on Common Injuries
Active medical licenses in Colorado (Exp April 2027), Wyoming (Exp June 2025)
ABOS Board Eligible in current collection period, passed Part 1 in 2022
Journal Peer Reviewer, Orthopedics
2025 – Present
Journal Peer Reviewer, Advanced Orthopaedics
2024 – Present
Journal Peer Reviewer, Journal of Orthopaedics
2024 – Present
Journal Peer Reviewer, Journal of Student-Run Clinics
2016 – 2019
Posterior Shoulder Instability; Rocky Mountain Shoulder and Elbow Society Meeting. Avon, Colorado.
March 2025
Educational ground rounds given to residents – 7/22/2024, 5/19/2025
First author for AAOS resident curriculum chapter – Biomechanics of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: BIO-RSA, glenosphere positioning and size consideration, humerosocketinclination, new implant designs and future. AAOS Online Chapter – ROCK Curriculum. 2019
Attended Denver Health leadership course – LEAD: Check ins and Feedback
Peer Reviewed Journal Publications
- Churchill JL, Garrigues GE. Current controversies in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. JBJS Reviews. 2016 Jun 14;4(6):01874474-201606000-00002
- Churchill JL, Toney V, Truchan S, Anderson MJ. Reducing post-operative blood loss with aminocaproic acid in primary TKA. American Journal of Orthopedics. 2016:45(5):245-248.
- Churchill JL, Puca KE, Carleton M, Truchan S, Vermeulen E, Anderson MJ. Comparing ε-aminocaproic and tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative transfusions in total hip arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty. 2016 Dec;31(12):2795-2799.e1
- Churchill JL, Menendez ME, Ponce BA. Early Postoperative Complications after Shoulder Arthroplasty in Patients with Epilepsy. Orthopedics. 2016:1-5. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20160714-02.
- Churchill JL, Puca KE, Carleton M, Meyer E, Anderson MJ. Comparing ε-aminocaproic and tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative transfusions in total knee arthroplasty. J Knee Surg. 2017 Jun;30(5):460-466
- Churchill JL, Sodhi N, Khlopas A, Piuzzi NS, Dalton SE, Chughtai M, Sultan AA, Jones S, Williams N, Bonutti PM, Mont MA. Total knee arthroplasty fibrosis following arthroscopic intervention. Ann Transl Med. 2017 Dec;5(Suppl 3):28
- Churchill JL, Khlopas A, Sultan AA, Harwin SF, Mont MA. Gap-Balancing versus Measured Resection Technique in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison Study. J Knee Surg. 2018 Jan;31(1):13-16
- Cichos KH, Churchill JL, Phillips SG, Watson SL, McGwin G Jr, Ghanem ES, Ponce BA. Metabolic Syndrome and hip fracture: Epidemiology and perioperative outcomes. Injury. 2018;49(11):2036-2042
- Sultan AA, Berger RJ, Cantrell WA, Samuel LT, Ramanathan D, Churchill J, Minkara AA, Golubovsky J, Bahour S, Pasadyn S, Karnuta JM, Tamer P, Kuivila TE, Gurd DP, Goodwin RC. Predictors of Extended Length of Hospital Stay in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Posterior Segmental Instrumented Fusion: An Analysis of 407 Surgeries Performed at a Large Academic Center. Spine. 2019 May 15;44(10):715-722
- Churchill JL, Garrigues GE. Biomechanics of the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: BIO-RSA, glenosphere positioning and size consideration, humerosocket inclination, new implant designs and future. AAOS Online Chapter – ROCK Curriculum. 2019
- Roth A, Khlopas A, George J, Churchill JL, Molloy R, Mont MA, Piuzzi NS, Higuera CA. The Effect of Body Mass Index on 30-day Complications after Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2019 Jul;34(7S):S242-S248
- Churchill JL, Krych A, Lemos M, Redd M, Bonner KF. A case series of successful repair of articular cartilage fragments to bone. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Sep;47(11):2589-2595.
- Karnuta JM, Churchill JL, Haeberle HS, Nwachukwu BU, Taylor SA, Richetti ET, Ramkumar PN. The value of artificial neural networks for predicting length of stay, discharge disposition and inpatients costs after anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. JSES. 2019 Nov;29)11):2385-2394
- Coombs DM, Churchill J, Cartwright P, Chughtai M, Sultan AA, Samuel LT, Moskal JT, Hendrickson MF, Mont MA. Soft Tissue Reconstruction for Deep Defects over a Complicated Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. J Knee Surg. 2020 Jul;33(7):732-744
- Churchill JL, Samuel LT, Karnuta JM, Acuna AJ, Kamath A. The Association of International Normalized Ratio with Postoperative Complications in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty. J Knee Surg. 2021 Jun;34(7):721-729
- Scollan J, Chughtai M, Churchill J, Emara A, Brej B, Steckler A, Ferre A, Saluan P, Styron S. Wrist Arthrotomy Saline Load Test. 2022 Mar 27:15589447211043194.
- Scollan J, Chughtai M, Emara A, Brej B, Steckler A, Churchill J, Ferre A, Saluan P, Styron S. The “Fight Bite” Saline Joint Loading Test: Effectiveness in Detecting Simulated Traumatic Metacarpophalangeal Arthrotomies. 2022 Jan 7:15589447211068184.
- Ferre AC, Emara A, Maurant MA, Steckler AN, Merryman B, Styron JF, Churchill JL. The Effectiveness of Saline Load Test in Detecting Simulated Traumatic Elbow Arthrotomies: A Cadaveric Investigation. Cureus. 2021 Dec 29;13(12):e20793.
- Johnston PS, Strony JT, Churchill JL, Kankaria R, Sears BW, Garrigues GE, Gillespie RJ. Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Following Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Utilizing an Inset Glenoid Component at 2-Year Minimum Follow-Up: A Dual Center Study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2022 Dec 27:S1058-2746(22)00916-8.
- Churchill JL, Paez CJ, Entezari V, Ricchetti ER, Ho JC. Understanding Medical Optimization for Patients Undergoing Shoulder Arthroplasty. Orth Clin N Amer. 2023 Jul;54(3):309-318
- Churchill JL, Kronk TA, Adamczyk MJ, Brown MF, Ritzman TF, Floccari LV. Waterproof Hip Spica Casts for Pediatric Femur Fractures. J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Jan 1;44(1):e20-e24. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002541. Epub 2023 Oct 6.
- Healy KM, Ritter J, Barr E, Churchill JL, Trasolini NA, Waterman BR, Reynolds AW. Osteoporosis Management for Shoulder Surgeons. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2024 Dec;17(12):559-569. doi: 10.1007/s12178-024-09927-6.
Book Chapters
- Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty; Springer Publishing – Patient Specific Instrumentation, Navigation, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality in Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty
Presentations/Scientific Abstracts
AAOS Oral Presentations
- Comparing ε-aminocaproic and tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative transfusions in total hip arthroplasty. Churchill JL, Puca KE, Carleton M, Truchan S, Vermeulen E, Anderson MJ. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Orlando, Florida. March, 2016
- The Effect of Body Mass Index on 30-day Complications after Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. Roth A, Khlopas A, George J, Churchill JL, Molloy R, Mont MA, Piuzzi NS, Higuera CA. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, Nevada. March 2019
- Revisiting the International Normalized Ratio (INR) Threshold for Complications in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty. Churchill JL, Samuel LT, Karnuta JM, Acuna AJ, Kamath A. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Orlando, Florida. March 2020
National Oral Presentations
- Primary care for the musculoskeletal system: orthopedics in a student-run free clinic. Churchill JL. Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Annual Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona. January, 2016
- Don’t throw it away! A case series of successful repair of articular cartilage fragments to bone. Churchill JL, Krych A, Lemos M, Redd M, Bonner KF. Arthroscopy Association of North America Annual Meeting. Chicago, Illinois. April 2018
- The Effect of Body Mass Index on 30-day Complications after Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. Roth A, Khlopas A, George J, Churchill JL, Molloy R, Mont MA, Piuzzi NS, Higuera CA. American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting. Dallas, Texas. November 2018
Regional Oral Presentations
- Reducing post-operative blood loss with aminocaproic acid in primary TKA. Churchill JL, Toney V, Truchan S, Anderson MJ. Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting. Bonita Springs, Florida. April, 2016
- Obesity is predictive of nonoperative treatment failure in humeral shaft fractures. Churchill JL, Ferre AC, Vega JF, Maurant MA, Vallier HA. Mid-America Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting. Amelia Island, Florida. September 2021
- Posterior Shoulder Instability. Churchill JL. Rocky Mountain Shoulder and Elbow Society Meeting. Avon, Colorado. March 2025
Poster Presentations
Comparing ε-aminocaproic and tranexamic acid in reducing post-operative transfusions in total knee arthroplasty. Churchill JL, Puca KE, Carleton M, Truchan S, Vermeulen E, Anderson MJ. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Orlando, Florida. March, 2016
Jessica Churchill, MD
Dr. Churchill is an orthopedic surgeon at Denver Health specializing in shoulder and elbow care, with advanced training in procedures such as total and reverse shoulder replacement. She focuses on patient education, shared decision-making, and treatment plans tailored to each individual’s goals and lifestyle.