Orthopedic Surgeon John Park, A True Renaissance Man, Dies at 74

John P. Park, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and true Renaissance Man, dies at the age of 74.

He passed away on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his parents James D. and Leah E. Park and his brother James C. Park.

Well-respected for his orthopedic surgical skills and his dedication to his patients, Park was also known to be quite the Renaissance Man for his many passions outside the hospital.

He spent many years practicing his craft with Ozark Orthopedics in Fayetteville and was affiliated with Northwest Medical Center-Springdale and Washington Regional Medical Center. He also was the voluntary team physician for the Arkansas Razorbacks for more than 30 years.

You could also always find him out in nature. He loved fishing and photographing the natural beauty around the lakes of Northwest Arkansas. Always active, he also enjoyed golfing, snow skiing and scuba diving. He also had a passion for music and played the keyboard for a few local bands for many years.

After retiring, Park spent five years as the medical director at Tyson Foods. He also spent time as the Arkansas representative for the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and served on the Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness in Arkansas.

Park was born May 15, 1947, in La Junta, Colorado. He attended college and medical school at the University of Washington where he graduated from in 1972. Then he completed his surgical residency at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, and his orthopedic surgical residency at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas. He then did a sports medicine fellowship at Slocum and Larsen Clinic in Oregon.

He is survived by his love Julie Ruth, his children Jessica, John and wife Michelle, and Kim and husband Ethan as well as his grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brother Jim’s wife, Martha Rawls and his brother Robert G. Park and his wife, Kay.