Rita E. Baumgartner, MD

About Rita

Dr. Rita Baumgartner is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, as well as orthopedic trauma, nerve surgery, microsurgery, and soft tissue reconstruction. Her clinical expertise includes treatment of arthritis, fractures, nerve compression syndromes such as carpal and cubital tunnel, Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglion cysts, trigger finger, and wrist arthroscopy.

Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Baumgartner graduated as Salutatorian from Boulder High School. She earned her B.S. in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy with Departmental Distinction from Duke University, graduating magna cum laude. Following a year-long global health fellowship in Haiti’s Central Plateau, she attended the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed a research year at UCSF’s Institute for Global Orthopedics and Traumatology. She returned to Duke for orthopedic surgery residency and completed a prestigious hand and upper extremity fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Baumgartner is committed to providing patient-centered, evidence-based care with a focus on restoring function and helping patients return to the activities they love. She believes in listening closely to each individual’s needs and goals to craft a personalized treatment plan—whether surgical or non-surgical.

A Colorado native, Dr. Baumgartner is excited to bring high-quality, specialized orthopedic care to Chaffee County. She is passionate about serving the community and connecting with patients in a meaningful way. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking with her husband Evan and their goldendoodle, Chessica, snowboarding, tending to her houseplants, and fly fishing on local rivers. She is thrilled to call the Arkansas Valley home.