Two Coastal Orthopedics surgeons celebrate big anniversaries

Two orthopedic surgeons with the comprehensive and full-service practice Coastal Orthopedics Sports Medicine & Pain Management (CoastalOrthopedics.com) are celebrating big anniversaries, marking a total of 46 years at the practice between them.

Dr. John R. Ayres is celebrating 26 years with Coastal Orthopedics, and Dr. Alan L. Valadie is celebrating 20 years with the practice. Dr. Ayres and Dr. Valadie have served as Coastal Orthopedics board members for several years, and for five years, Dr. Valadie held the role of president.

“Every day, Dr. Ayres and Dr. Valadie improve the lives of our patients,” said Coastal Orthopedics CEO Paige LeMay. “Their combined service of over four decades represents the very best in caregiving and the strong dedication of our physicians.”

During their long tenure at the practice, both physicians have completed thousands of successful surgeries. Dr. Ayres has performed about 11,100 surgeries, and Dr. Valadie has performed about 11,200 surgeries. Both physicians focus on hip and knee procedures.

This year, Dr. Ayres performed total hip replacement surgeries on Henry Altschul’s left and right hips.

“I’m 71, and my legs and hips just gave out,” Altschul said. “But I love walking now. I don’t worry about falling or slipping. I’m tickled pink. I haven’t felt this good for 10 or 15 years. Who would have guessed that you come in one day, and two days later you’re walking with a new hip?”

Now Altschul enjoys visiting his five grown children and swimming in the pool just about every day.

“It’s always so gratifying when someone comes to me with a problem and I’m able to develop a solution to help them,” Dr. Ayres said. “I enjoy helping make someone’s life a little better.”

Years ago, retired labor and delivery nurse Katherine Vaughn met Dr. Valadie when he and his wife had their children at Manatee Memorial Hospital. So when the time came, Vaughn, who is also 71, knew exactly who she wanted to do her knee replacements. Dr. Valadie performed a total left knee replacement for her in 2007 and a total right knee replacement for her in 2015.

“He’s given me the knees of a 20 year old,” Vaughn said. “He has great integrity, a warm personality and he always had time to answer my questions. He’s been so great with me, and I always feel safe and confident in his skills. I was in church the Sunday before one of my surgeries and a woman asked me if I was scared. I told her, ‘No, I’ve got the best doctor.’ I wasn’t nervous a bit.”

Today, Vaughn, who volunteers with the same labor and delivery unit where she worked for 23 years, starts her days by walking two miles, with “no knee discomfort whatsoever.”

“My favorite part of my job is delivering great care surrounded by a great team of people,” Dr. Valadie said. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve gone from a small local practice with one office to a practice with three locations and two surgery centers. We provide all orthopedic care under one roof, and we’ve really optimized the care we deliver.”

About Coastal Orthopedics Sports Medicine & Pain Management

Founded in 1973 and based in Bradenton, Fla., Coastal Orthopedics is home to 15 orthopedic surgeons and pain management physicians who maintain hospital affiliations with Blake Medical Center, Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. In addition to three offices and two ambulatory surgery centers each serving Florida’s West Coast, Coastal Orthopedics’ board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons provide patients with the very latest in pain and orthopedic treatment technology. The company strives to repair and heal injuries relating to the entire musculoskeletal system. For more than 40 years, our highly skilled staff of physicians and surgeons has treated patients in specialty care including sports medicine, joint replacement, pain management and rehabilitation. Patients can experience restoration of function both surgically and non-surgically through the use of physician-guided strengthening, therapy, medications, injections and stretching. For more information, please visit CoastalOrthopedics.com or call 941-792-1404.