John H. Healey, Jr., M.D.
Welcome to River Valley Orthopedics! I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some information about myself and my experience in healthcare. I’m originally from Rhode Island, but raised primarily in upstate New York. I graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983. I received my Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., in 1987.
The U.S. Navy provided me with a full medical school scholarship and I spent the next 5 years practicing in the Navy as repayment of my debt. I spent one year in San Diego doing an internship in internal medicine and another 6 months in Pensacola, Florida completing training as a flight surgeon. The next 3 years were spent largely at sea all over the world as a flight surgeon tending to naval personnel. The great fringe benefit of being a flight surgeon is the flight training, and I was fortunate enough to ride regularly in the full inventory of naval jets on/off aircraft carriers. My tour in the Navy ended in 1992 after the First Persian Gulf War and I moved to Grand Rapids where I then completed a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency. I then spent a year at the Baylor Sports Medicine Institute in Houston, Texas in 1998 gaining additional expertise by completing a fellowship in sports medicine. I have been with River Valley Orthopedics since 1998. I’m also a clinical assistant professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Department of Surgery.
As an orthopedic surgeon, my practice is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Sports medicine has always been a large component of my practice, having served in the past as an assistant team physician for the Houston Astros Major League Baseball team, Houston Rockets N.B.A. basketball team and the University of Houston Football team as well as currently serving as the orthopedic surgeon for Grand Valley State University athletics. I devote a sizeable portion of my medical expertise toward adult reconstructive surgery. I am at the forefront of cartilage transplantation in western Michigan and have extensive experience in all arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow and wrist. It brings me great pleasure to apply state-of-the-art, proven procedures to restore a patient to a more productive life. It is my mission to provide you excellent service, as well as excellent care. I always strive to provide you the same high-quality orthopedic care that I would offer a family member.
My leisure time is spent keeping up with my wife, whom, despite her middle school counseling job, manages to keep our 3 children on the straight and narrow. I enjoy weight training, running and my Sunday night ice hockey league even though my teammates could do without my deteriorating skills.
Education, Training and Research
Undergraduate, Magna Cum Laude, Providence College, Providence, RI, 1983
Doctor of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., 1987
Internal Medicine Internship, Naval Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, 1988
U.S. Navy Flight Surgeon Program, Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute, Pensacola, FL., 1989
Grand Rapids Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, Grand Rapids, MI, 1992-1997
Fellowship in Sports Medicine, Baylor Sport Medicine Institute, Houston, TX, 1998
Professional Memberships
Diplomat, National Board of Medical Examiners
Clinical-Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Board Certified Member, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Member, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine
Member, Michigan Orthopedic Society
Member, Kent County Medical Society
Community/Professional Activities
Orthopedic Team Physician, Grand Valley State University, 1998 to present
Orthopedic Consultant, Senior PGA tour 2004
T-Ball Coach Extraordinaire, East Grand Rapids Recreation Department 2005