As the timeless saying goes, Father Time remains undefeated—and Western Pennsylvania’s aging population ranks near the top for both total residents age-65 and older and percentage of population within that group.

Time and pressure. From that old high school sports injury to the normal wear and tear of everyday life, St. Clair Health has a plan for every body—whether your goal is to get back to being a “weekend warrior” or simply to be able to get down on the floor and play with the grandkids, or both.

At St. Clair Health, your orthopedic care team builds that plan around the future you desire to thrive in.

Personalizing your care means meeting you where you are—right here in the South Hills. At St. Clair, that means having your hip or knee replacement in the morning and being home in time for dinner.

It all starts with a pain level assessment. Questions like, “What is your pain keeping you from doing?” transition quickly into, “When would you like to be able to do that again?”

That’s the starting point for Todd P. Balog, MD, FAAOS, who serves as Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at St. Clair Health.

“There’s nothing better than being able to help someone who’s been unable to do what they love, and in just a few hours you have them literally moving toward where they want to be,” he says.

Dr. Balog’s biggest—and clearest—takeaway?

“You don’t have to live in pain.”

The St. Clair Medical Group Orthopedic surgery team takes into account factors ranging from your age and lifestyle to fitness level, determining short- and long-term goals every step of the way.

“Maybe you’ve tried to manage your condition with injections or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, physical therapy, or a combination of those things. And maybe you’ve been grinning and bearing it when you no longer have to,” he says. “If your hip or knee joint has eroded to that point of no return, you can put your trust in a team of experts whose training is matched only by their personal connections to the communities we serve.”

Colonel Balog, a former Army Ranger who treated 4-star generals and fighter pilots as his family waived Terrible Towels at outposts around the world, met his wife, Rachel—a commissioned officer in her own right—as West Point cadets. She hails from Beaver Falls.

Today, the Balogs are proud to call Peters Township home. Since joining St. Clair Health in 2024, Dr. Balog’s mission has been facilitating growth within the award-winning healthcare system’s arthroplasty program. Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, the crown jewel of St. Clair’s main campus—now serves as total joint replacement mission control.

“We have two brand-new, state-of-the-art operating rooms dedicated solely to outpatient joint replacement surgery,” he says. “Everything about the facility is designed to help get you home the very same day.”

With pre-operative testing, physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT) services, and more all located under one roof, Dunlap truly is your one-stop shop for pre- and post-surgical needs.

“There’s truly something special about St. Clair,” Dr. Balog says. “Teamwork is the driving force behind this tremendous joint replacement program, and it’s a privilege to deliver world-class surgical care in an advanced suburban hospital setting.”

More than 800 patients receive total joint replacements at St. Clair Health each year, and the system’s relentless commitment to continuous improvement includes advanced certification for total hip and knee replacement from the Joint Commission.

“We are truly the highest standard of quality and value,” Dr. Balog says. “It’s all available right here in the South Hills, backed by innovative infrastructure that’s built to have you home the same day as your surgery.”

St. Clair Health earned an America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement Award™ (2025) from Healthgrades™.