FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 9, 2026
Salisbury, MD — TidalHealth today announced the integration of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates (POA), one of Delmarva’s most respected orthopaedic practices, into the TidalHealth system through the creation of the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute, a unified, system-wide musculoskeletal service line designed to expand access, elevate quality, and deliver seamless orthopaedic care across the region.Through this integration, POA’s physicians, clinical teams, and expertise will become ingrained within TidalHealth’s orthopaedic and spine services, creating a single, coordinated model of care that spans initial evaluation and imaging through surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term follow-up.
Effective April 1, 2026, POA will provide clinical leadership for the Institute, aligning orthopaedic services and integrated musculoskeletal care across TidalHealth hospitals, clinics, and outpatient services.
POA will remain an independent, physician-owned practice; however, all POA locations will be rebranded as the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute, reflecting their full integration into the TidalHealth system and a unified identity for orthopaedic care across the Delmarva Peninsula.
Care delivery will be supported by shared governance, aligned clinical standards, and the Epic electronic medical record, enabling real-time information sharing, consistency, and continuous improvement across the system.
“By bringing Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates into TidalHealth through the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute, we are establishing a fully unified orthopaedic and spine service line with aligned leadership, standardized best practices, and a coordinated approach to care across our entire health system,” said Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of TidalHealth. “This alignment reflects our shared commitment to delivering seamless, high-quality musculoskeletal care that is easier for patients to access and navigate.”
The TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute will bring together all Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates and TidalHealth orthopaedic clinics, outpatient musculoskeletal therapy clinics, durable medical equipment (DME) services, clinic-based imaging, and coordinated inpatient orthopaedic and trauma services.
This structure ensures patients experience consistent, high-quality orthopaedic care regardless of where they enter the system.
POA contributes a multidisciplinary team of fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and hand therapists, strengthening TidalHealth’s ability to deliver advanced nonsurgical and surgical care across the full spectrum of orthopaedic subspecialties.
POA, for decades, has been widely recognized as one of the premier orthopaedic groups on the East Coast.
“For more than 70 years, Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates has been synonymous with exceptional, patient-centered orthopaedic care on Delmarva,” said Pasquale Petrera, MD, President of POA. “Integrating our physicians and teams into the TidalHealth system allows us to better coordinate care, expand access, and continue serving our patients, who are our friends and neighbors, with the highest level of quality and compassion.”
In addition, POA, with TidalHealth’s support, is pursuing graduate medical education accreditation, with the potential to welcome its first orthopaedic surgery residents later this year, extending TidalHealth’s mission into education and the development of the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons.
As the Institute grows, new clinic locations are anticipated in Seaford and Millsboro, Delaware, along with enhanced orthopaedic services at Atlantic General Hospital.
“This integration brings orthopaedic care together under one system, one standard, and one shared commitment to excellence,” Leonard added. “The TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute positions us to deliver truly seamless musculoskeletal care both now and into the future.”
In the photo: Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, left, President and CEO of TidalHealth and Pasquale Petrera, MD, President of Peninsula Orthopaedic Associates, sign an agreement creating the TidalHealth Peninsula Orthopaedic Institute.
Media Contacts:
Roger A. Follebout, Jr, Director
TidalHealth Strategic Communications
410-543-7142
roger.follebout@tidalhealth.org
Francesca Kirk, Director
POA Business Development
410-860-4514
fkirk@peninsulaortho.com
