Morris Hospital - Eric Ortinau, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon

Eric Ortinau, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon

Medical School:

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (1986)

Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago (1990)

Training:
Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the University of Illinois Hospitals in Chicago (1995)

Special Note:
Dr. Ortinau earned a full four-year scholarship to medical school through the United States Air Force. After completing his Orthopedic Surgery residency in 1995, he fulfilled his commitment to the Air Force as a staff Orthopedic Surgeon at Scott Air Force Base. He joined Rezin Orthopedics in 1999.

Reasons to see Dr. Ortinau:
Dr. Ortinau treats all orthopedic conditions of the hand and upper extremities, lower extremities, pelvis, and spine. As a general orthopedic surgeon, his practice covers a wide area including fractures and trauma care, sports medicine, total joint reconstruction as well as the treatment of soft tissue conditions of the hand, upper extremity and lower extremity.

Office Locations:
1051 W. US Route 6, Morris, IL 815.942.4875

1306 Gemini Circle, Suite 2, Ottawa, IL 815.433.0850

We gave Dr. Ortinau a selection of questions. Here are the ones he chose, along with his answers:

What do you find most challenging about being a doctor?
Dr. Ortinau: I think medicine’s biggest challenge is what creates the most excitement for me. The human body is the most complex system ever created. As much as we have come to know throughout the history of medicine, there is still so much we’ve yet to discover. Also, the fact that every individual’s response and outcome to treatment is so very unique is what makes medicine as much of an art as a science. The challenge, and therefore the excitement, is that there will always be new techniques to learn, new state-of-the-art ways to perform certain procedures, and new or perhaps even slightly different ways to treat a single individual’s condition to achieve a better result.

If you weren’t a physician, what career would you have chosen and why?
Dr. Ortinau: This actually goes way back to my childhood, but I find the world of astronomy just fascinating. In a way, our universe is a little like the human body; as much as we have come to know, there is still so much we’ve yet to discover. I think if I hadn’t pursued a career in medicine, I probably would have chosen a career in the aerospace sciences or aerospace engineering field. It’s probably why astronomy is a hobby of mine.

Why did you choose your specialty?
Dr. Ortinau: There is definitely a hands-on component that goes along with the thinking component in all aspect of Orthopedics, be it performing an examination, employing a treatment in the office, or performing surgery. Also, the direct link of Orthopedics with sports medicine is something that I found quite attractive. Having been involved in sports from childhood through college, this seemed to be a natural area to gravitate to when it came to choosing a specialty to practice. As a medical school student, I also became involved with research programs with the University of Illinois Orthopedic Surgery Department. It did not take very long for me to realize that Orthopedics was the type of medicine that I wanted to practice for my career.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
Dr. Ortinau: There is no question that spending time with my family gives me the greatest happiness. My wife and I are very involved in the many activities our two children participate in, including horseback riding, dance, music, and several sports. We are a big sports family and I help coach my son’s travel baseball and daughter’s travel softball teams, which make spring and summer very busy, but very fun! Involving our children in our own interests (such as astronomy, which is a hobby of mine) helps them grow and gives us more time together as a family.

What is your favorite sport to watch?
Dr. Ortinau: I am an avid fan of all Chicago pro sports teams, as well as the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. My favorite sport to watch is hockey. I played hockey year-round throughout my entire childhood and in college for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. I am a huge Chicago Blackhawks fan and rarely miss watching or attending their games.

What is your favorite kind of music?
Dr. Ortinau: Growing up during that time, the Classic and Progressive Rock of the 70s and 80s is my favorite form of music. I am a bit of a music buff in general, so I really enjoy several different styles of music including jazz, classical, pop and even a little bluegrass.

Did you play on any sports teams in high school or college?
Dr. Ortinau: I did play several sports growing up, including hockey year-round, basketball, baseball, and soccer. I was a three-sport athlete as a high school student, playing hockey, soccer, and baseball. I also played hockey in college for the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.

Do you play a musical instrument?
Dr. Ortinau: About 15 years ago, I decided to teach myself how to play acoustic guitar. For several years I did play quite regularly, but don’t get the opportunity to play as frequently these days. My children are really interested in music and each play an instrument, so this may be a great way to start playing a little more often!

What is the most important advice you have for patients?
Dr. Ortinau: Be engaged in your care. Ask a lot of questions and be diligent about performing any recommended home exercises or activities. In my experience, the patients that are most in tune with their condition are the ones who enjoy the best results. I strongly feel that there is a team approach between the patient, physician, and therapist to try to achieve the best outcome possible.