Doctors are people too. In Behind the White Coat, Jefferson City Magazine takes readers beyond the practice to reveal the personal stories of local physicians.
John Worley, MD | Spine Surgeon | JCMG Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
My name is John Worley, and I am a spine surgeon at Jefferson City Medical Group. A Mid-Missouri native, I grew up in Columbia and graduated from Rock Bridge High School, where I played basketball. This fueled my lifelong interest in staying active and sparked a desire to understand how the human body works.
After earning my undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, I attended school and completed my residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Missouri. I then completed a fellowship at the University of Alabama, where I became sub-specialty trained in spine surgery. I have a special interest in minimally invasive and motion-preserving surgeries (non-fusion) as well as providing comprehensive spine care to the Jefferson City community.
Spine-related pain is one of the most common reasons for disability and decreased quality of life in the world. My goal as a spine surgeon is to provide the best evidence-based and patient-centered care, whether that is surgical or non-surgical management, to help get my patients back to work and to the activities they enjoy and to improve their pain, function, and activity level. It is important to me that my patients understand their spine problems and that we work together to find treatment options that are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.
Outside of the clinic and the operating room, I enjoy staying active, playing golf, and lifting weights, having competed in bodybuilding competitions. I also enjoy the small everyday moments with my wife, Kaylee, young children, and dogs — especially cooking family dinners together and having movie nights. You can often find me and my family enjoying the outdoors, taking the dogs on long walks at the Lake of the Ozarks in the summer, and hunting in the winter.
GET IN TOUCH:
(573) 635-8000
JCMG
1225 W. Stadium Blvd., JCMO
jcmg.org/ortho