Here are 10 orthopedic and spine surgeons who are serving at the national, state and local level representing their districts as politicians.
To recommend additions to this list, contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.
Tom Price, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 6th congressional district. He has been a congressman since 2005 and was chairman of the Republican Study Committee and Republican Policy Committee. He is now chairman of the House Budget Committee. He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan and completed his residency at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Price practiced orthopedic surgery in Atlanta for 20 years and was director of the orthopedic clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital before becoming a Congressman.
R. Blake Curd, MD, was appointed to the South Dakota State Senate in June 2013. He previously represented District 12 in the State House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011 and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Curd is a surgeon at Orthopedic Institute and focuses on hand and upper extremity surgery. He is also the chairman of the board for Surgical Management Professionals and a board member of Medical Facilities Corporation. Dr. Curd earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri — Kansas City School of Medicine and completed a fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center.
John Barrasso, MD, is a United States Senator from Wyoming and a member of the Republican Party. He was appointed to the Senate in 2007 after his predecessor died and then won a special election in 2008 to fill the remaining four years of the term. He was re-elected to a six-year term in 2012. Dr. Barrasso was in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon and chief of staff at the Wyoming Medical Center as well as Wyoming Medical Society president before taking office. He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Yale Medical School.
Ed Shadid, MD, a spine surgeon, recently sought his second term on the Oklahoma City Council. He won a seat as councilman in 2011 after being trapped in his car under an I-40 overpass during a tornado. The experience prompted him to take action and serve his community. At the time of his election, Dr. Shadid was the only member of the City Council that did not receive donations from political action committees and focused his efforts on transparency, accountability and public collaboration. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed spine surgery training in San Francisco.
Charles Schwertner, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon in Texas and was elected to the House District 20 in the Texas House of Representatives in 2011 for the first time. He then became a Senate member in 2013. His experience includes serving on the House Public Health Committee and House Appropriations Committee. He is also managing partner of Georgetown Orthopedics. He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston.
Albert D. Olszewski, MD, was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2014 representing District 11. He advocates for Affordable Care Act repeal and supports more patient-centered reform. He is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in knee replacement and sports medicine. Dr. Olszewski earned his medical degree at the University of Washington in Seattle and completed his sports medicine and adult reconstruction fellowship at the University of Texas in San Antonio.
Ed Homan, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in sports medicine. He also serves in the Florida House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2002 and has been re-elected since then. Dr. Homan previously served as president of the Hillsborough County Medical Association and on the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Homan earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.
Knute Buehler, MD, is a Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives. He was first elected to represent District 54 in 2014. He made his first election bid for secretary of state in 2012 after spending 20 years in the local political community, active in ballot initiatives to reform campaign finance laws, among other issues. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Julio Gonzalez, MD, serves as a Republican in the Florida House of Representatives representing the 74th district. He was elected in 2014 and previously served as chief of surgery, chief of staff and a representative to the board of trustees for Venice Regional Medical Center. Dr. Gonzalez earned his medical degree at the University of Miami and spent time in the United States Navy Reserve. He also completed orthopedic surgery training at UF Health Jacksonville.
Craig Callewart, MD, is a spine surgeon with Texas Back Institute and served several sessions in the Texas State legislature. He has a special interest in spinal injuries, scoliosis treatment and complicated cases. Dr. Callewart earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles.