Villanova resident Jonathan Garino, M.D., MBA, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, was named President of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society effective Nov. 8. He succeeds Asif Ilyas, M.D.

Garino has practiced orthopaedics in the Greater Philadelphia area since 1994 and is an accomplished researcher, educator and entrepreneur. He holds multiple academic appointments, including chief of the University of Pennsylvania’s Adult Reconstruction Division and director of its Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, a position he left in 2011 to join Premier Orthopaedics – where he practices today.

A member of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society since 1994, his perspective was initially different. “In the beginning, it was an educational opportunity as well as an opportunity to present research,” he says. “But it wasn’t until I was appointed to the board nine years ago that I realized the advocacy performed by this organization is immeasurable. The idea that it would initiate change for the betterment of orthopaedic surgeons and their patients has resulted in the maintenance of good quality orthopaedic care in our state.”

Garino recently demonstrated that commitment to patient advocacy when he joined colleagues, Pennsylvania legislators, and patients in Harrisburg to draw attention to the common practice of excessive preauthorizations. Garnet Valley resident and cardiac patient Ross Waetzman told his story of coverage denials that resulted in delayed treatment for a potentially fatal illness. “So here was a 48-year-old healthy guy who has angina, and his cardiologist wanted to do a catheterization but the insurance company denied it,” Garino explains. “A few days later he had symptoms and went to the ER, had stents placed, and because it was done emergently the procedure ended up costing more money. But even worse, it could have cost the patient his life.”

This year’s meeting, held at the Bellevue Hotel, was notable for its comprehensive opioid symposium that was attended by Governor Wolf, state Health Secretary Rachel Levine, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and several of Pennsylvania’s state legislators to discuss this important issue as well as strategies to combat the crisis.

Garino will serve a one-year term as president of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society. Among his goals are continuing education for his peers and enhancing the efficiency of medical care for patients. “As insurance companies are shifting to higher deductibles we are seeing patients become savvier about their medical care,” he says. “They should be rewarded with efficient care.”

Being in private practice has also afforded Garino the opportunity to be dynamic. He listens to his patients, and as a result works to refine the surgical process to make their quality of life even better.

“The Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society has been around for five or six decades,” Garino says, “and its core mission has always been about education. Now, advocacy is important to protect our members and patients from the various forces in medicine that seek to change things in a detrimental way. We work hard for patients and our members, and I want the orthopaedic surgeons in our state to ‘love’ the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society.”

Jonathan Garino, M.D., MBA

Learn more about Dr. Garino here.