Dr. Erick Santos performing knee and hip replacements, other orthopedic procedures at Mission Regional Medical Center
Mission – A very experienced orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Erick M. Santos, is now available to help patients in the Mission area who may benefit from knee or hip replacement surgery or other orthopedic procedures.
In addition to joint replacement surgery, Dr. Santos is experienced in sports medicine, foot and ankle procedures, advanced shoulder and knee arthroscopy techniques, and minimally-invasive surgery techniques.
Dr. Santos has a special interest in geriatric trauma; sports medicine, including knee and shoulder arthroscopy; total and partial joint replacement, including computer navigation and direct anterior total hip arthroplasty; and advanced arthroscopic procedures, including hip labral repair and shoulder rotator cuff repair.
Dr. Santos previously served as Chief of Surgery at Corpus Christi Medical Center, as well as an orthopedic surgeon at Christus Spohn Medical Group in Corpus Christi and at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. He also served as CEO at the South Central Texas Bone and Joint Center in Pleasanton, near San Antonio and in Aransas Pass, near Corpus Christi.
Dr. Santos, who is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He also serves as an officer for the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Dr. Santos has served as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth) — and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Family Medicine at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Santos completed a residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Alabama Medical Center, where he participated in research projects involving total hip arthroplasties.
Dr. Santos also completed an internship at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, serving as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps. In addition, he served as a flight surgeon at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas — where he helped ensure the health and safety of air crews while flying missions in the B-1, C-9, F-16, and C-130 aircraft.
Dr. Santos received several military honors, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Air Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Air Force Longevity Award, and an Outstanding Unit Award with a bronze oak leaf cluster.
Dr. Santos completed medical school at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also received a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science, with a concentration in Bioengineering / Biomaterials / Tissue Engineering.
Dr. Santos, who is fluent in English and Spanish, also received a Master of Science in Engineering (Bioengineering) at the University of Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was listed on the Dean’s List for four semesters.
Dr. Santos has co-authored articles in numerous national medical journals, including the Journal of Arthroplasty and the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. He also holds several patents as an inventor of biomedical materials.
Dr. Santos serves on the Board of Trustees for the TMF Health Quality Institute, which seeks to improve the quality of healthcare across the United States. He is also a faculty mentor for the “Nth Dimensions” summer internship program for medical students.
Dr. Santos’ hobbies include being scuba diving, skiing, and bay fishing.
For more information on orthopedic services in the Mission area, please call 956-631-6109 and visit www.missionrmc.org/services/orthopedics/.
About Mission Regional Medical Center
Mission Regional Medical Center is a 297-bed non-profit hospital that provides
inpatient and outpatient hospital services to the people of the Rio Grande Valley. Rated one of
the top hospitals in the country for clinical excellence in many services including maternity and
orthopedic care, Mission Regional Medical Center has been offering quality health care, close to
home, for more than 65 years. For more information, please visit www.missionrmc.org.
