2019 December Faulkner Lifestyle

hone my skills in topics such as fracture
care, ankle replacement, treatment
of diabetic feet, advanced fusion
techniques, and minimally invasive
bunion surgery, Achilles repair, and
ankle fusion just to name a few.
“
Every medical student has a unique personality,
interest, and talent, and I knew that orthopedics
was where I belonged. Orthopedists have the
ability to help someone go from daily severe pain
that limits their quality of life to being pain-free,
smiling, and walking. That is incredibly rewarding.
”
—Jimmy Head, MD
and I knew that orthopedics was where
I belonged. Orthopedists have the ability
to help someone go from daily severe
pain that limits their quality of life to
being pain-free, smiling, and walking.
That is incredibly rewarding.
What do you enjoy the most about
being a surgeon? I love fixing broken
bones and reconstructive surgery,
which includes using plates, screws,
hammers, and drills to repair and
reconstruct the bones. It is especially
rewarding to treat a unique problem
that requires some combination of
previous experience and training, plus
thinking on my feet or outside the box
to come up with a new and original
way to treat the particular problem.
What sets you apart in the field of
orthopedics? Being the only orthopedic
surgeon in town to complete a foot and
ankle fellowship, I am able to use my
highly specialized training to best serve
people with foot and ankle pain. I have
completed rigorous training through
medical school, a five-year residency,
and a year of fellowship training.
Can you tell us more about your
advanced training? You have to be
in the top 10 percent of your class in
medical school just to get into an orthopedics
residency. In medical school and
residency training, I acquired a broad
knowledge base that enables me to
care for the whole patient and solve
complex problems. I trained under one
of the world leaders in foot and ankle
trauma and reconstruction, as well as
another leader in ankle replacement
surgery. Since my fellowship training,
I have spent a significant amount of
time and money attending a variety
courses and conferences to continue to
What types of conditions or ailments
could prospective patients see
improvement in after a visit with you?
Bunions, tendonitis, heel pain, flat feet,
arch pain, arthritis, hammertoes, diabetic
foot problems, fractures and broken
bones, sports injuries, bone spurs, and
tendon ruptures are a few of the foot and
ankle problems that I commonly treat.
Where are you from, and how did
you end up in Conway? I grew up in
Heber Springs and achieved my bachelor’s
degree at UCA. My wife, Amanda,
grew up in Vilonia, and her parents
live in Enola, while my parents are in
Conway. After my fellowship training,
we wanted to move back to Conway.
The community also needed a foot and
ankle orthopedic surgeon.
What makes Conway a great place
to live, work, and raise children? It’s
an excellent place to raise a family and
we love UCA. We are near a big city but
not in a big city. The numerous activities
for families, along with excellent schools
and churches create an ideal family
atmosphere in Conway.
Can you tell us about your family?
Amanda is a nurse who is now a
stay-at-home mom with our two kids:
Kylie, a three-year-old girl, and Jay, a
one-year-old boy. We have another boy
on the way.
Do you have any personal interests/
hobbies outside of medicine? I enjoy
hunting, fishing, sports, and exercise,
but mostly spending time with Amanda
and the kids. We are also members of
New Life Church in Conway.
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