Dr. Craig R. Mahoney, an orthopaedic surgeon with Iowa Ortho, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the 13th year he has received this designation. This recognition places him among the 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions. The selection process involves nominations by peer physicians and evaluation by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team, with doctors unable to pay for selection.
Dr. Mahoney's recognition underscores the importance of clinical excellence and healthcare innovation in orthopaedic care. As the Physician Leader and Vice President of the Orthopaedic Service Line at MercyOne and a partner at the Iowa Orthopaedic Center, his work at Iowa Ortho focuses on advancing joint replacement care and improving patient outcomes. With over 23 years of practice and more than 8,000 successful hip and knee replacements, his approach prioritizes exhaustive nonsurgical options before recommending surgery, aiming to improve mobility, decrease pain, and enhance patients' quality of life through evidence-based techniques.
The implications of this award extend beyond individual achievement, signaling a benchmark for quality in the medical field. For patients, it provides assurance of Dr. Mahoney's expertise in procedures such as Total Hip Arthroplasty, Total Knee Arthroplasty, Hip and Knee Revision Surgery, Computer-navigated Joint Replacement, Impaction Grafting, and Vascular Management in Rotationplasty. His educational background includes a medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1995, an orthopaedic surgery residency at the Creighton/University of Nebraska Health Foundation in 2001 with a research fellowship, and a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York in 2002.
Dr. Mahoney's professional contributions include authoring over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in publications like The Journal of Arthroplasty and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. His leadership roles, such as President of the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association and the Iowa Orthopaedic Society, and service on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Councilors for six years, further validate his impact on the industry. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://www.castleconnolly.com, where nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs, with selection based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories.
This recognition matters because it highlights the critical role of specialized, patient-focused care in orthopaedics, potentially influencing healthcare standards and patient trust. For the industry, it reinforces the value of peer-reviewed excellence and innovation in surgical techniques, while for readers, it offers insight into selecting qualified medical professionals for complex procedures. Dr. Mahoney's philosophy and achievements demonstrate how dedicated practice can lead to improved long-term outcomes, making this news relevant to anyone concerned with healthcare quality and orthopaedic advancements.
