GETTING HIS KICKS

Florida Musculoskeletal Institute scored big when Dr. Mario John joined the practice in September.

Of course, he isn’t just any orthopedic surgeon.

Dr. John was an all-star high school soccer player in Trinidad and Tobago. After graduation, he played goalie for two years at Augusta State College in Georgia.

As an orthopedic surgeon with FMI, he will now utilize his steady hands to “save” patients from daily pain and get them back to an active lifestyle as quickly and safely as possible.

“I feel honored to join the talented team of doctors at FMI,” he says. “I’m also excited about imparting my knowledge, skills and expertise on the community. My goal as a physician is to not only effectively treat patients to the best of my ability but also educate and guide them so they can become active decision-makers in their health.”

Comprehensive care

Dr. John transitioned from studentathlete to medical student with the same dedication he displayed on the playing field. He attended medical school at the University of West Indies and later completed an internship at Harlem Hospital in New York City. After fi nishing his residency at Howard University in New York, Dr. John completed a fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University Hospital. It was there where he trained under renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Jiranek, a frequently published expert in hip and knee arthroplasty.

He has served as a sports medicine physician for various athletic teams, including the Virginia Commonwealth soccer team, the Howard University basketball team, numerous public school football teams in Washington D.C. and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation’s senior and youth soccer teams. In addition, Dr. John coauthored several peer-reviewed articles on joint arthroplasty for influential medical publications, including the Journal for Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Dr. John has extensive education, experience and training in providing relief to patients suffering from various orthopaedic conditions. His specializations include total hip replacement—both traditional and anterior approach— total and partial knee replacement, revision of failed knee surgeries, and arthroscopic procedures.

Dr. John fi nds many patients asking about anterior-approach hip replacement surgery, which, for the most part, is a muscle-sparing procedure. In other words, to access the hip joint, muscles are not cut but a clear interval is used. Performed under fluoroscopy (x-ray) guidance, this method assists with appropriate sizing and positioning of the new hip joint. “The advantage of the anterior approach in the short term is that patients have a more rapid recovery in the fi rst six weeks post-op,” he says. “And with fluoroscopy you can limit component malalignment.”

Patients are his priority

Dr. John is a big proponent of healthy living. At age 38, he keeps in tip-top shape by visiting a gym three times a week and performing cardiovascular exercises. In addition, he is an avid surfer and hopes to join a local CrossFit class soon. He also sticks to a diet consisting primarily of seafood.

Because of his background as a soccer player, as well as his desire to lead a healthy lifestyle, Dr. John is passionate about helping patients regain quality of life so they, too, can become active and achieve optimal health.

“I could have played professional soccer,” he says. “However, I chose a career in medicine because I want to make a difference in the lives of others. For me, it is important to get patients as functional as possible so they can maintain their fitness and exercise regimens.”

There’s little doubt he’ll change the lives of FMI patients for the better.

“I’m a fellowship-trained joint replacement surgeon who is bringing a new perspective to evidence-based medicine. My goal is to deliver quality care and quality service to FMI patients so they can obtain the highest level of musculoskeletal health possible.”

JOHN A. CO H. ANDREW HUNTT, MD CARL O. OLLIVIERRE, MD, FACS MARIO JOHN, MD CHAD WATKINS, DPM, FACFAS