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Meet John Callahan, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Hand & Wrist Care | Shoulder, Arm, & Elbow Care
Dr. John Callahan is an orthopaedic surgeon and proud Notre Dame alumnus who specializes in upper extremity care. He’s been practicing for over 25 years, and treats the complete spectrum of arm issues and conditions from below the shoulder to the fingertips. Learn more about Dr. Callahan to discover if he and his team are a good fit for your care.
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About Dr. Callahan
Dr. Callahan is a board certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in treating all conditions of the hand, wrist and elbow, such as arthritis, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and fractures. When treating patients, he values the process of listening to his patients and ensuring they have enough time together to develop the right solution. He likes being able to advise patients and give them answers - whether it’s a simple consultation or a complex surgery.
Dr. Callahan and his wife are the proud parents of four children, who keep him busy - mostly driving to events, classes and clubs. When he has an opportunity, he enjoys playing golf in the summer and skiing in the winter. He’s a bit of a history buff, and he’s been known to visit comedy clubs to feed his love of laughter. He’s been a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills for 26 years, but his true loyalty will always be to the Fighting Irish.
What made you choose hand and wrist care as your speciality?
“I really wanted to be able to make an immediate impact on people, and return people to their daily functions if they were injured. Orthopaedic surgery offered that possibility. During my orthopaedic residency, I had a lot of exposure to hand surgery. It opened my eyes to what a hand surgeon could offer - the demands, the puzzles, the questions. I liked that we could take a difficult situation and make people functional for everyday life. It’s very intricate work - there are a lot of moving parts in a hand.”
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
“My wife and I learned to scuba dive, and since then we’ve been able to use that as a passport to discover new places in the world. We’ve been to Fiji, Palau, French Polynesia, the Caribbean. It really opened our eyes to a new underwater world and different people and cultures. You can dive in the same place during the day and night, and all sorts of different animals come out at nighttime. It’s really exciting.”
Education
Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Doctor of Medicine, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY
Training
General Surgery Internship, Boston University Affiliated Hospitals, Boston, MA
Orthopaedic Surgical Residency, Boston University Affiliated Hospitals, Boston, MA
Hand and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA
Accreditations & Professional Memberships
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
American Medical Association
Medical Society of the State of New York
Erie County Medical Society
Western New York Orthopaedic Society
New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Eastern Orthopaedics Association
Notre Dame Orthopaedic Society
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Callahan’s Team
Dr. Callahan works with a team of medical professionals who practice in tandem to provide you the best care and treatment possible. During your appointment, you may be evaluated by a member of his expert team.
Mark T. Orlowski, Sr., PA-C
Supports Dr. John J. Callahan
Hand & Wrist Care
Shoulder, Arm & Elbow Care
Where Dr. Callahan Practices Medicine
- Excelsior Orthopaedics Amherst
- Excelsior Orthopaedics Orchard Park
- Buffalo Surgery Center
- Erie County Medical Center
