C. Lowry Barnes, M.D. Adult Reconstructive Orthopaedic Surgeon

Clinical Biography

C. Lowry Barnes, M.D. is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in primary and complex revision hip and knee replacement surgery. From partial knee replacement and same-day joint replacement to advanced revision procedures, he provides innovative, evidence-based treatments designed to restore mobility, relieve pain, and improve quality of life.

In February 2026, Dr. Barnes was named Chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He previously joined UAMS in 2014 as Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and was invested as the Carl L. Nelson, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery in 2017. He also served as Director of the Musculoskeletal Service Line for UAMS Health, providing strategic leadership for one of the nation’s premier academic orthopaedic programs.

A graduate with honors from the UAMS College of Medicine, Dr. Barnes completed his internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at UAMS before pursuing an Adult Reconstructive Surgery and Arthritis Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. He was subsequently selected for the prestigious John N. Insall Traveling Fellowship and an AO/ASIF Adult Orthopaedic Fellowship at Inselspital in Bern, Switzerland. Before returning to UAMS, Dr. Barnes practiced at Arkansas Specialty Orthopaedics, where he served for more than a decade as President and Managing Partner.

Internationally recognized as a leader in hip and knee replacement surgery, Dr. Barnes has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications and is a sought-after speaker on joint reconstruction, healthcare quality, and value-based musculoskeletal care. His research has advanced the fields of hip and knee arthroplasty, and he holds seven patents for orthopaedic implants and surgical devices. He also founded the HipKnee Arkansas Foundation, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing arthritis research and motion analysis.

Dr. Barnes has held numerous leadership positions in organized medicine, including serving as President of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). He is also a past president of the Society for Arthritic Joint Surgery, the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, the Southern Orthopaedic Association, and the Arkansas Orthopaedic Society. He remains an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association, the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty, The Hip Society, and The Knee Society—prestigious invitation-only organizations recognizing internationally distinguished leaders in hip and knee surgery.

An accomplished educator and scholar, Dr. Barnes serves on the editorial boards of several leading orthopaedic journals, including the Journal of Arthroplasty, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of Southern Orthopaedics, and the Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances. He is also a peer reviewer for Orthopaedic Knowledge Online Journal.

Throughout his career, Dr. Barnes has been recognized for excellence in patient care, research, education, and leadership. He has consistently been named among Arkansas’ “Top Doctors,” “Best Doctors,” and “Top Doctors in Orthopaedics,” and is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading experts in adult reconstruction and joint replacement surgery.