My name is Simon Mears, MD, PhD, and I am the division chief of adult arthroplasty and joint reconstruction in the University of Florida Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. I am board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons.

I specialize in hip and knee replacements, including both primary and revision surgery. My research interests focus on the clinical outcomes of geriatric patients as well as revision hip and knee replacement, particularly fractures and infections.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of training, working and holding multiple leadership positions at some of the top hospitals for orthopaedic surgery in the United States. I started my medical journey at Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania, where I received my Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine. I went on to receive my combined medical degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. I completed my internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Additionally, I completed a fellowship in orthopaedic traumatology at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore, followed by a second fellowship in adult lower extremity reconstruction at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Throughout my career I have tried to ride the gap between the specialties of orthopaedic trauma and joint replacement.

Following my training, I held various orthopaedic surgery positions, including chair at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and Vice Chair of Quality and Safety at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. In many of my positions, I focused on increasing the quality of care offered to our patients, which included reaching important safety goals such as reducing the length of hospital stays.

As an orthopaedic surgeon, I understand how important a healthy musculoskeletal system is to live a full life, which is something everyone deserves. That is why I have volunteered as a surgeon on multiple Operation Walk trips throughout my career in India, Guyana, El Salvador and Peru.

I am currently the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Geriatric Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, and I am on the editorial boards for the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. I am a member of several professional orthopaedic and medical societies and professional committees.

I am honored to have received many awards for my research, clinical care and teaching throughout my career, most recently receiving the 2023 AAOS Award for Best Hip Reconstruction Presentation, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Clinical Excellence Award in Quality and Safety and the Red Sash Award from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences class of 2023 for most significant input into their medical education.

Along with my passion to provide excellent clinical care to my patients, I have also dedicated my time to further the field of orthopaedic surgery and joint reconstruction through my research. I have received multiple research grants, many from the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, I have authored over 190 peer-reviewed publications, as well as multiple articles, poster presentations and book chapters.