September 10, 2008

Orthopedic Surgeon Brings Both Training & Personal Experience

to New Turlock Practice

 

Turlock - When Patrick Guerrero, DO, offers advice to a patient in his new orthopedic practice, he'll be speaking not only from his medical training but personal experience.

 

An accomplished athlete, Dr. Guerrero started running track in high school in his native Peru and has competed in sports ever since. He was on a collegiate varsity running team, a cycling racing team and a master swim team. Today he still stays fit by running and has participated in a few marathons. He, his wife Marie and young daughters also compete in triathlons.

“I became a physician to help others and share my experiences,” he says. “Being involved in athletics gave me an interest in the human body and the many benefits of exercise.”

In September, Dr. Guerrero joined the medical staff of Emanuel Medical Center and the practice of Dr. Eric McMillan and Dr. Robert Purchase at Central Cal Orthopedic. The office is located in The Tower Health & Wellness Center at 1801 Colorado Avenue, Suite 250 in Turlock.

He looks forward to offering clinics or serving as a team physician to help athletes avoid injuries. Another focus of his practice will be working to alleviate the pain of end-stage arthritis through joint replacing surgery. He also is certified in a cartilage restoration procedure called Carticel for large defects. Additionally Dr. Guerrero is trained in performing arthroscopic hip surgery.

Dr. Guerrero also says he won’t shy away from talking with his patients about the benefits of exercise to help preserve joints.

“Physicians are often reluctant to tell patients they need to lose weight,” he says, “but I think you’re doing them a favor if you do. Obesity has a lot to do with joint pain and cartilage deterioration.”

Terrorism and riots 17 years ago made it impossible for Dr. Guerrero to complete medical school in Peru. An aunt living in the United States offered help and he started over in his quest to be a physician. This summer he completed the final step in that long journey, a sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester. During the fellowship he cared for the players on two minor league baseball teams owned by the Boston Red Sox as well as sports teams from several colleges.

At Mt. Clemens Regional Medical Center in Michigan, Dr. Guerrero was honored as the most outstanding orthopedic surgical resident.  He has a doctor of osteopathy degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center in Iowa. As an osteopathic physician, he has been trained to view the patient as a whole and is able to perform manipulation as part of his treatment repertoire. He is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Guerrero is accepting appointments at (209) 216-3500.