ADVANCED ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE EMPHASIZES ADVANCED BY PROVIDING CUTTING-EDGE TREATMENT AND A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PATIENTS.

Abrand-new medical practice has familiar faces to many patients in Lake and Sumter counties.

Advanced Orthopedic Institute (AOI), which opened in February, is a partnership formed by Dr. John T. Williams Jr. and Dr. Alfred J. Cook Jr., who previously worked together for several years.

The two orthopedic surgeons brought thousands of patients, as well as an experienced staff of 15, to the new private practice at 1400 N. U.S. Highway 441, Suite 552, The Villages. The office is in the Sharon L. Morse Medical Office Center.

AOI addresses a variety of orthopedic issues, with specialization in total joint replacement. Dr. Cook specializes in sports medicine, including shoulder surgery and replacement, rotator cuff repairs, knee procedures and arthroscopy. Dr. Williams is a total joint replacement surgeon whose specialties are hip and knee replacements and revisions. Both doctors also use early intervention treatments for arthritis.

The doctors partnered because they share a similar philosophy on patient care, Dr. Cook says.

“WE TAKE MORE OF THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO

ORTHOPEDICS IN THE SENSE THAT WE NOT ONLY TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH THE APPROPRIATE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT ALSO GIVE A PERSONAL TOUCH TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS THE PATIENT’S QUALITY OF LIFE AND WHAT THEY ENJOY DOING AND THEIR GOALS,” he says.

The large AOI office includes a physical therapy suite, complete medical records department, and soon will have an X-ray suit.

“Because physical therapy is such a key component to recovery from orthopedic procedures, we felt it was best to keep the whole clinical pathway, both the pre-op and post-op, within our practice,” Dr. Williams says. “So we offer all ranges and types of physical therapy.”

AOI’s new office provides many advantages for patients, primarily “location, location, location,” says practice administrator Vanessa Bean. The doctors have seen an influx of new patients, averaging 10 to 12 newcomers a day in the opening weeks. In addition, The Villages location is easily accessible for Villagers who want to pull up in their golf carts.

The transition to a new office has been hectic but exciting— and rewarding.

“We are busy because the majority of our patients stayed with us,” Dr. Williams says. “THE PATIENTS LOVE OUR NEW SPACE, THEY LOVE THE LOCATION, AND WE EVEN HAVE PATIENTS WHO WERE IN LEESBURG DRIVING UP TO SEE US.”

The doctors pride themselves on the patientphysician relationship.

“A LOT OF TIMES, PHYSICIANS, ESPECIALLY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS, HAVE A TENDENCY TO TREAT AN MRI OR AN X-RAY AND NOT REALLY DIVE INTO HOW IT AFFECTS THAT PERSON,”

Dr. Cook says. “Patient interaction, getting to know our patients, getting involved in their lives, and ensuring a good outcome all go hand-in-hand with our philosophy.”

Bean also says the move has been smooth.

“Opening up a new office is very challenging, and the staff had to do everything from the ground up,” she says. “Everything that needed to be done, they did it. It was a team effort. I couldn’t have picked a better team.”

DR. ALFRED J. COOK JR.

For anyone wondering why someone would go into orthopedics, the answer is the cool tools. At least it is for Dr. Alfred J. Cook Jr.

Alfred knew in high school he wanted to be a doctor, and he was interested in becoming a heart surgeon. But he learned that the field of cardiothoracic surgery wasn’t what he expected during his third year at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“I REALIZED I ALWAYS ENJOYED ORTHOPEDICS IN THE SENSE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS RELATIVELY QUICKLY,” he says. “You could take a person who could barely walk and allow them to walk and get back to activities relatively quickly. So that was very appealing to me.”

And so were the tools.

“I like working with my hands, and they have really cool tools and instruments in orthopedics,” Alfred says. “So, even though most of the stuff we use you can pick up at Lowe’s, that’s OK. It’s still fun and I enjoy the patient interaction.”

He also enjoys being able to use today’s, and even tomorrow’s, modern technology at Advanced Orthopedics Institute.

“We’re keeping patients at the forefront of the medical evolution, while still providing a high level of quality,” he says.

Alfred also likes working with athletes and patients who want to remain active, which is why he chose sports medicine as a sub-specialty.

Along with earning his medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and completing his residency at the University’s McGaw Medical Center, Alfred completed a shoulder and sports medicine fellowship at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

He and his wonderful wife and high school sweetheart Meredith have been together more than 20 years. They love living in Central Florida with their daughter Michaela.