Cody's Story

I’m back to doing the things I love.

Cody Steele is measuring his recovery from shoulder surgery by the strings he can reach on his viola. Nearly a year out from surgery, he can play the A, D and almost the G strings which is pretty impressive for a man who was in intense pain after a fall in his garage.

“I was carrying boxes downstairs and talking – really not paying attention – and I fell,” said the State College resident. “Almost immediately, my wife who used to play rugby in college, recognized that my shoulder was dislocated.

Penn Highlands State College had just recently opened and they went to the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) for care. The skilled team in the ED gently put his shoulder back in place. A few days later when he was turning off his alarm clock, his shoulder was once again dislocated.

On his next trip to the Emergency Department, an MRI was ordered. He then met with Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine and general orthopedics.

“Before I even met with Dr. Clark, I researched his credentials online and was impressed,” said Cody. “He was very optimistic about my prognosis and I really liked his positive attitude.”

Following the outpatient surgery, Cody had three months of physical therapy to build his strength. He also took Yoga classes and worked out with a personal trainer.

Because as a technical writer Cody spends a great deal of time at his computer, Dr. Clark suggested that he use a narrow keyboard to keep his hands closer together.

“I appreciated the ease of scheduling appointments with Dr. Clark as well as his convenient location. Plus, his staff was very professional. It is great to have more healthcare choices in the State College area – especially skilled providers like Dr. Clark.”