A middle-aged woman with bunions, an athlete with an injured Achilles tendon, a physician who needed a hind-foot infusion, and a man with diabetes facing a foot amputation are just a few of the patients who have visited James Head, MD. Doctor Head is a fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle specialist whose tools can include plates, screws, hammers, and drills. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

“My fellowship training uniquely qualifies me to resolve difficult and complex problems with the feet and ankles,” says Dr. Head who describes himself as a problem solver who likes to “think outside the box.” Dr. Head recently shared what it’s like to be a foot and ankle surgeon and why he chooses to practice his specialty in Conway.

Q: How long have you been an orthopedic surgeon? 
A: I have been practicing in Conway for just over three years.

Q: What inspired you to enter into this field of medicine

A:  I love the complexity of the anatomy related to the feet and ankles. The surgery is awesome. I remember my first week in orthopedics as a student seeing knee and shoulder replacements, and I was immediately hooked.  Every medical student has a unique personality, interest, and talent, and I knew that orthopedics was where I belonged. Orthopedists have the ability to help someone go from daily severe pain that limits their quality of life to being pain-free, smiling, and walking. That is incredibly rewarding.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about being a surgeon?
 A: I love fixing broken bones and reconstructive surgery, which includes using plates, screws, hammers, and drills to repair and reconstruct the bones. It is especially rewarding to treat a unique problem that requires some combination of previous experience and training, plus thinking on my feet or outside the box to come up with a new and original way to treat the particular problem.

Q: What sets you apart in the field of orthopedics?

A: Being the only orthopedic surgeon in town to complete a foot and ankle fellowship, I am able to use my highly specialized training to best serve people with foot and ankle pain. I have completed rigorous training through medical school, a five-year residency, and a year of fellowship training.

Q: Can you tell us more about your advanced training?

A:   You have to be in the top 10 percent of your class in medical school just to get into an orthopedics residency. In medical school and residency training, I acquired a broad knowledge base that enables me to care for the whole patient and solve complex problems.  I trained under one of the world leaders in foot and ankle trauma and reconstruction, as well as another leader in ankle replacement surgery.  Since my fellowship training, I have spent a significant amount of time and money attending a variety courses and conferences to continue to hone my skills in topics such as fracture care, ankle replacement, treatment of diabetic feet, advanced fusion techniques, and minimally invasive bunion surgery, Achilles repair, and ankle fusion just to name a few.  

Q: What types of conditions or ailments could prospective patients see improvement in after a visit with you?

A: Bunions, tendonitis, heel pain, flat feet, arch pain, arthritis, hammertoes, diabetic foot problems, fractures and broken bones, sports injuries, bone spurs, and tendon ruptures are a few of the foot and ankle problems that I commonly treat.

Q: Where are you from, and how did you end up in Conway?

I grew up in Heber Springs and achieved my bachelor’s degree at UCA. My wife, Amanda, grew up in Vilonia, and her parents live in Enola, while my parents are in Conway. After my fellowship training, we wanted to move back to Conway. The community also needed a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon. 

Q: What makes Conway a great place to live, work, and raise children?

A: It’s an excellent place to raise a family and we love UCA. We are near a big city but not in a big city. The numerous activities for families, along with excellent schools and churches create an ideal family atmosphere in Conway.   

Q: Can you tell us about your family?

A: Amanda is a nurse who is now a stay-at-home mom with our two kids: Kylie, a three-year-old girl, and Jay, a one-year-old boy. We have another boy on the way.

Q: Do you have any personal interests/hobbies outside of medicine?

A: I enjoy hunting, fishing, sports, and exercise, but mostly spending time with Amanda and the kids. We are also members of New Life Church in Conway.

(Originally published in Faulkner County Lifestyle magazine)