Paul Reginald Greenlaw

Paul Reginald Greenlaw

Dr. Paul Reginald Greenlaw, 54, passed away on July 8, 2025, at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, North Carolina, surrounded by his beloved family.

Born in Deer Isle, Maine, on February 22, 1971, Paul was a brilliant and compassionate orthopedic surgeon who dedicated his life to healing others. Over a remarkable career, he performed more than 15,000 procedures, earning a reputation as one of the nation’s foremost knee surgeons. His skill was matched only by the deep trust and comfort he gave his patients.

Paul studied at the University of Maine and Tufts University, later completing his Adult Reconstruction Fellowship at Duke University in 2003. He began his career at Duke before moving to Wilson Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, seeking closer connections with his patients and community. In 2013, he relocated with his family to New Bern, North Carolina, where his thriving practice drew patients from across the country.

As a sought-after consultant for Smith & Nephew, Paul traveled to teach and advise fellow surgeons. Still, his heart always remained with his patients and surgical team, whom he considered family. His personal motto, “In my hands,”reflected the care, precision, and integrity he brought to every operation.

Paul was a devoted husband to his best friend, Heather and a loving father to his greatest accomplishment, his children, Hadley and Hayden. He was Hayden’s biggest fan on the golf course and took great joy in Hadley’s culinary creations. His cherished dogs, Honey Bun and Birdie Belle, were never far from his side — with Honey Bun even featured on his scrub caps.

Outside the operating room, Paul found joy in golf, especially at Old Chatham and the New Bern Golf and Country Club. He was known for his quick wit, love of sweets (always with a spoon ready for “just a bite”), and uncanny ability to fix or build anything — from cars to golf clubs to perfectly manicured Bermuda grass lawns.

Paul is survived by his wife, Heather; his children, Hadley and Hayden; his mother, Judy Greenlaw; his sister, Patsy (Michael) Boutilier (Douglas, Sarah, Lillian); and many dear friends, colleagues, and patients whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Leroy Greenlaw.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at Temple Church, 1500 Kingdom Way, New Bern, NC, on Saturday, August 2, at 4:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. A separate memorial service will be held in Deer Isle, ME, at a later date to honor Paul’s life and legacy in his hometown.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Paul’s memory to the Piedmont Orthopedic at http://www.piedmontorthopedicsociety.org/donations/.