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Adult Arthroplasty and Joint Reconstruction

Physician Assistant

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Two distinguished physicians from the University of Florida, Dr. Hernan Prieto and Dr. Alaina Ritter, recently represented UF at the 2025 International Consensus Meeting on Orthopedic Infections (ICM) in Istanbul Türkiye. The ICM is a globally recognized forum for advancing the science and treatment of musculoskeletal infections.

Physician Assistant

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Richard Vlasak, MD, earned his medical degree at the University of Florida in 1988 and also completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Florida. He completed four fellowships, covering Orthopaedic Oncology, Adult Reconstruction, and Spine at the University of Florida and the Mayo Clinic.

Hernan A. Prieto, MD, grew up in Colombia and earned his medical degree at the National University of Colombia, School of Medicine before going on to complete his Orthopaedic surgery residency at the National University of Colombia and fellowships in Research at the Orthopaedic Institute at Mercy Hospital, Miami FL.

UF Orthopaedics was awarded funding from the OMeGA Medical Grants Association for the 2021-22 year.  Three of our Fellowship Programs received funding that will enhance the educational and research experience during the Fellows’ extensive hands-on surgical training:

The Adult Arthroplasty Service at UF Health Orthopaedics has achieved the highest possible quality category for its care of Medicare patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery.  This distinction is achieved by a small number of the >800 hospitals nationally participating in Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program who demonstrate sustained excellence, over years, in patient care and outcomes throughout these major surgeries.

A new University of Florida study finds that 23 percent of adults age 60 and older who underwent a total knee replacement experienced a decline in activity in at least one region of the brain responsible for specific cognitive functions. Fifteen percent of patients declined across all brain networks the team evaluated.

UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute Physician Dr. Hernan Prieto discuss a newly implemented set of patient centered protocols that can enable certain joint replacement patients to return home the same day of their surgery.  This protocol comes as part of a focus on quality and outcomes for patients at UF Health by emphasizing early recover and improved pain control.

UF Orthopaedics resident W. Zach Stone received the 1st Place resident research awarded at the 2017 Florida Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting for the study entitled, "Clinical evaluation of alpha defensine in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection."