The new year begins a positive new chapter for local orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Moses, who became part of the team at Ortho Central Surgery Center, effective Jan. 1.
Coming from a well-established private practice in Norman, Dr. Moses said he has always admired the Ortho Central program and is excited to be a part of it. In addition to orthopedics, Ortho Central provides state-of-the-art care in a variety of specialties and is affiliated with Norman Regional Health System.
“I have known about them and respected them for a long time; they have a great reputation, including caring for professional and weekend athletes,” Moses said. “We had discussed my joining their team for awhile now, and this just really feels natural.”
Moses treats patients of all ages, with issues that arise due to disease, trauma, chronic injury and aging. In addition to sports medicine, his special clinical interests include shoulder and knee joint replacement, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic knee ligament reconstruction, carpal tunnel and trigger finger surgery.
Also important is helping patients optimize their diet and exercise, to improve their overall health as they recover and resume daily activities.
“A healthy diet, with a foundation in whole foods coupled with strength and movement exercises, ensures quicker recovery,” he noted.
Moses grew up in Weatherford on his family’s horse ranch, and today he operates a satellite clinic there, where he treats patients twice a month.
“My father was a dentist, so I always was pulled to some type of medical career,” he said. “Then when I got to the University of Oklahoma, I was fascinated by the complexity of the human body, so I naturally was interested in medicine.”
That initial interest in a medical career was heightened during his junior year at OU, when Moses suffered an accident with a horse that resulted in severe breaks to his kneecap and ankle. He was treated by one of Oklahoma’s top orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Richard Harkness.
“He took me when I was basically crippled, and he got me back into shape where, with a little bit of healing time, I was 100% back to normal,” Moses said. “That was an amazing thing, and it really appealed to me as something I wanted to do.”
After completing a bachelor’s degree in zoology, Moses went on to earn his medical degree from OU, followed by a residency and internship at the prestigious University of Tennessee’s Campbell Clinic in Memphis. He is board certified by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and began his medical practice in Norman in 2003.
“What I love about what I do is that you get to see such a variety of the population, at all ages and all stages of life,” he said. “Knowing you can significantly improve a person’s quality of life by getting them back to where they were or better is a great thing. You also have a chance to establish relationships; I’m even treating a few patients going into the third generation.”
The accident that led to his becoming a surgeon would also lead Moses to his wife of 28 years, Angela.
“My roommate, Chris Day, was dating her roommate,” he said. “I was healing from my surgery with a full cast on my leg, and it was suggested that she bake some cookies for me. So, she came over with chocolate chip cookies. I ate the whole plateful, we started dating, and here we are!”
The couple are now parents to three grown daughters, all of whom are in college pursuing careers in the medical field.
When he’s not in the office, Moses enjoys hunting, fishing, snow skiing, working on his family’s cattle ranch and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He and Angela are also active in Norman’s Wildwood Community Church, where he teaches Bible study classes and helps with visitor outreach.
“I love medicine; it’s that simple,” he said. “I enjoy helping people regain their mobility and eliminating or reducing their pain. It’s very fulfilling.”
Ortho Central is located at 3400 W. Tecumseh Blvd., Suite 101, in Norman. More information is available at 405.360.6764 or by visiting normanregional.com/ortho-central.