John Tyler, BS
Medical Student
Stritch School of Medicine
Maywood, IL
Member Since: 2025
Why did you join AAOS?
I joined AAOS to be part of the national orthopaedic community early in my training. As a medical student with a strong interest in orthopaedics, AAOS has provided access to mentorship, educational resources, and opportunities to connect with surgeons, researchers, and fellow students while also giving me a platform to contribute through my own research and presentations. It has been a meaningful way to grow and contribute while staying grounded in the larger mission of improving patient care.
What are you looking forward to most about AAOS?
I am most looking forward to continuing to grow and contribute to the field of orthopaedics through AAOS. Having been involved with AAOS through conference presentations, educational videos, publications, and collaboration with leaders in orthopaedics, I value the opportunity to both share my work and continue developing within the field. I am especially grateful for the outstanding mentors and leaders who have helped shape that path, including Dr. Nata Parnes, Dr. Nicholas Brown, Dr. Daniel Schmitt, and Dr. Mary Mulcahey.
What interested you about orthopaedics?
Friends and family often joke that I was interested in orthopaedics since birth, and in some ways that is true. Before I was born, my mother survived a devastating high-speed motor vehicle accident that resulted in multiple orthopaedic injuries and surgeries. Growing up with that story and seeing how profoundly injury can alter a person’s function and quality of life gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of movement and first drew me to the field. What truly inspired me was the realization that orthopaedics offers a powerful opportunity to restore movement, function, and independence for patients in a direct and meaningful way.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
The best advice I was ever given came from my father: “Control what you can control.” That lesson stayed with me during one of the hardest stretches of training leading up to the Powerlifting World Championships. Two months out, I sustained a rotator cuff tear. One week out, my car was broken into and all my lifting gear was stolen. The day before competition, I developed food poisoning and lost more than 7 pounds, weighing in well below the lower limit for my class. Despite all of that, I still stepped onto the platform and earned a bronze medal for Team USA. That experience reinforced for me that discipline, composure, and resilience matter far more than circumstance. It is the same mindset I carry into orthopaedics, where those qualities directly shape patient care.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
One of my go-to productivity tricks is using social media with purpose. It can be a powerful tool for staying up to date, sharing research, and engaging with the medical community, but it can also quickly become a major distraction. I try to be intentional about when and why I use it so I can maximize its benefits without taking time away from more important work.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
One habit I am always trying to maintain is consistent exercise. Every year brings different obstacles. However, I have continued to make time for training and even competition at the world level in powerlifting. This habit matters not only for longevity and performance in caring for patients, but also because exercise is one of the most important preventive tools we can offer. There is real value in practicing what we preach. When we live those habits ourselves, our advice carries greater credibility and meaning.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
I enjoy playing piano and ukulele, powerlifting and coaching, and working with my hands through building and fixing things. I have always liked projects that let me create something tangible, whether that be woodworking, building a greenhouse, fixing up cars, or helping out on my grandparents’ farm. I also enjoy a variety of sports, including golf, skiing, wrestling, tennis, soccer, and basketball.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know?
A fun fact is that I am a 4-time national champion, 3-time all-time national record holder, and 2-time bronze medalist at the Powerlifting World Championships. Movement is medicine!