Keeping Athletes and Neighbors Moving Forward in Hardin County
As local sports ramp back up, one OhioHealth physician is bringing big-city orthopedic care to the hometown sidelines in Hardin County.
Aaron Fritz, DO is an orthopedic surgeon at OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital. Whether he’s in the operating room, on the sidelines at Ada High School, or supporting patients of all ages in the clinic, Dr. Fritz is all in for the community he now calls home.
“This is home,” said Dr. Fritz. “My wife Brianne grew up here, and when we had our son, we knew we wanted to raise him close to family. We’ve really become part of the community, and that’s important to us.”
That connection is more than personal – it’s professional. Dr. Fritz is celebrating more than 10 years with Hardin Memorial Hospital, where he provides a wide range of orthopedic care, from arthritis management to advanced surgical procedures. He also serves as a team physician for Kenton City Schools and Ada Schools and supports athletes across all Hardin County schools.
Dr. Fritz’s commitment to sports medicine started decades ago in Marion County, where he served Pleasant Schools for nearly 20 years. Since 2020, he’s continued that mission in Hardin County and he also lends his expertise at the state level, serving as a physician for the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state wrestling tournaments for over 25 years.
But his role goes far beyond sports.
“We do a lot of elective orthopedic procedures here at Hardin – shoulder and knee arthroscopies, joint replacements, hand surgeries like carpal tunnel release,” he said. “Most of the procedures you’d find in Columbus or bigger cities – we do them right here.”
One of the procedures Dr. Fritz is most excited about is InSpace – a minimally invasive solution for patients with irreparable rotator cuff injuries.
“It’s a game-changer,” he explained. “We can implant it arthroscopically, and it helps both reduce pain and restore function. It’s been a great option for patients who aren’t candidates for traditional shoulder replacement.”
Dr. Fritz also offers the Signature Knee – an MRI-guided knee replacement that tailors the procedure to a patient’s exact anatomy.
“It’s the same accuracy as a robotic-assisted surgery, but without needing the robot. That’s huge for a hospital like ours.”
While the technology is impressive, it’s the trust that patients place in Dr. Fritz and the care team that means the most.
“Patients often ask if they’ll need to go to Columbus for surgery, and when we tell them we can take care of them right here – they’re thrilled,” he said.
That local access to expert care is something his wife and fellow Hardin Memorial Hospital provider, Brianne Fritz, PA-C, appreciates as well.
“I love practicing here. These aren’t just patients – they’re our friends, neighbors, and family,” she said. “There’s something really special about caring for the people you see at the grocery store or church or school events.”
Brianne, who works alongside her husband, says it’s been a joy to serve the community together.
“We make a good team – even if he’s the boss most of the time,” she joked. “We trust each other and that makes a big difference.”
Dr. Fritz also serves on the Hardin County Health Board and as county coroner, further embedding himself in the community he serves.
His perspective is clear: rural communities deserve the same level of care as urban ones – and that starts with providers who live where they work.
“A lot of rural hospitals rely on doctors who drop in once a month. But being here, being part of this community, it matters. It makes care more personal. And I think patients feel that.”
Whether he’s treating a young athlete after a Friday night game or helping an older patient walk pain-free again, Dr. Aaron Fritz is bringing world-class orthopedic care to the heart of Hardin County – one patient, one game, and one community at a time.
