Robert J. Zehr, MD is the founder of The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics in Naples, FL. He has over 20 years of orthopaedic experience and since 1998 has been in Naples, FL with The Cleveland Clinic Naples as its Executive Director, Chief of Staff and Head of Orthopaedic Surgery. Under his leadership and direction The Cleveland Clinic Naples physician staff grew to 65 in just seven years with 22 physicians being recognized nationally as top in their respective fields. In addition, Dr. Zehr instituted the highly acclaimed “Joint Club” which cohesively coordinated the many individual talents of hospital nursing, physical therapy, case management and surgery with outpatient pre-operative treatment, bringing them into a well orchestrated and seamless educational experience which let the patient focus on returning to life’s activities after joint replacement surgery. This Orthopaedic Center of Excellence was a Premier Site for this system of patient care and was visited by national and international dignitaries wanting to improve their patient care and management. Prior to being sent to southwest Florida to help develop the Cleveland Clinic Naples, Dr. Zehr was the Head of Orthopaedic Oncology for The Cleveland Clinic Foundation where he came on staff after his fellowship in orthopaedic oncology at the University of Florida and his residency training at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Christian Riella, PA-C is our highly qualified and experienced Physician Assistant (PA) with over 20 years of orthopaedic surgery experience and since 1999 with Dr. Zehr and the Cleveland Clinic Naples until joining Dr. Zehr and his staff at The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics. She received her post graduate Physician Assistant degree from the prestigious Duke University program one of the foremost programs of its type in the country. As Dr. Zehr’s PA, Christiane assists in all facets of orthopaedic patient care both in the office and in the hospital. She assists in virtually every surgical procedure that Dr. Zehr performs and is relied upon to keep patients informed and comforted, a role she is emminently qualified to perform. In addition, Mrs. Riella is quite well experienced in educating patients on various disease states and disabilities as well as performing various office procedures including the administration of joint injections and wound care under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Zehr. She lectures extensively on the topic of arthritis and joint replacement surgery to hundreds of patients in our regularly scheduled seminars both on her own and in coordination with Dr. Zehr. informed and comforted, a role she is emminently qualified to perform. In addition, Mrs. Riella is quite well experienced in educating patients on various disease states and disabilities as well as performing various office procedures including the administration of joint injections and wound care under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Zehr. She lectures extensively on the topic of arthritis and joint replacement surgery to hundreds of patients in our regularly scheduled seminars both on her own and in coordination with Dr. Zehr.