Dr. Bobby Howarth

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Get to know Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Bobby Howarth, who serves patients throughout the State of Colorado.

Dr. Howarth is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with a practice focusing on knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, and trauma.

At Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, he operates out of the locations in Steamboat Springs, Craig and Monument, Colorado. He specializes in procedures for anterior approach total/partial hip replacement and total/partial knee replacement, and performs nearly 1,000 surgeries annually. 

A firm believer in the importance of establishing a trustworthy patient-provider relationship, Dr. Howarth dedicates himself to empowering each and every patient with the respect, knowledge, and insights needed to guide the treatment plan to its best possible outcome. “I knew I had to pursue orthopaedics the first time I replaced an arthritic knee and saw the patient get back to enjoying an active lifestyle again.”

Academically, Dr. Howarth obtained his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Following that, he underwent rigorous residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the San Antonio Military Medical Consortium. 

To further enhance his expertise, he successfully completed the Otto E. Aufranc Adult Reconstruction Fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

With over 24 years of government service in the US Air Force, Dr. Howarth (Lt. Col.) attended flight school and flew B-1 bombers prior to starting his medical training. While serving, he performed or supervised all military total hip and knee replacements in the Colorado Springs area and standardized care through Army and Air Force commands, optimizing patient care and outcomes.

Having practiced in Colorado Springs since 2013, Dr. Howarth was the Chief of the Colorado Springs Government Hospital System’s Total Joint Replacement Initiative from 2015 to 2022.

Committed to excellence, he is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS). The ABOS is an organization with the goal of establishing educational and professional standards for orthopaedic residents and surgeons as well as evaluating the qualifications and competence of orthopaedic surgeons.

Among his professional and academic affiliations, Dr. Howarth is an active member of the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction, and the Orthopaedic Political Action Committee.

Orthopaedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopaedic surgeons use both surgical and non-surgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.

When not treating patients, Dr. Howarth enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering for local outreach programs, and outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, and cycling. He splits his time between Steamboat Springs and Colorado Springs, where his wife and five daughters reside.

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