Dr. CJ Talbert is termed a general orthopaedic surgeon with a sub-specialty interest in spine. Over 80% of his practice involves evaluation and treatment of spine conditions. This includes neck, middle and lower back, and sacrum issues. He also has considerable experience dealing with complex adult degenerative problems, particularly hip and knee.
Dr. Talbert has had special training at AI Dupont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, with Dr. G. Dean MacEwen, who is a world-recognized authority in the field of scoliosis and childhood hip disorders. At Southlake Orthopaedics, he can diagnose and manage most childhood orthopaedic conditions.
Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, Bachelor of Science
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 1979
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 1980
Ireland Army Medical Hospital, Fort Knox, Kentucky 1980
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 1981 to 1985
Training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was interesting in many ways. Military traditions and esprit de corps were abundant. We took care of U.S. senators, representatives, and officials, as well as foreign dignitaries and visitors. There were great learning opportunities with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Armed Forces Museum, the National Institute of Health and the United States Uniformed Health Service Medical School. I was fortunate to have been selected as Surgical instructor at USUHS Medical School. My spine training included rotations with Dr. Henry Bohlman, Case Western University Hospital Systems in Cleveland, Ohio; Dr. Robert Winter and Dr. Francis Denis,Twin Cities Spine, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Dr. Henry LaRocca, then editor of Spine Magazine, New Orleans, Louisiana. I spent two months with each and then did a six-month rotation in pediatric spine training at AI Dupont Institute.
After orthopedic surgery training, I was Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chief of the Department of Surgery at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, with the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division. I was prepared for overseas deployment. Had we been called to duty, I would have served as commander of a combat support hospital. Still today, there is a lot I miss about the military. I was proud to serve, as my dad had been a U.S. Marine at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.
Following my military duty, I resided in Pensacola, Florida, mainly because of the beautiful water and fishing. I was at West Florida Regional Medial Center from 1988 to 2000. I became chairman of an eight-man orthopaedic group and served on the hospital board of trustees. My most memorable times were running a combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine center. We were one of only a handful of spine cord centers in the state, and the only one in the Panhandle. Along with neurosurgeon Dr. Fletcher Eyster, we developed and promoted the “Feet First, First Time” program to try to prevent diving injuries to the spine. Dr. Eyster received national neurosurgery acclaim for this program.
I moved to Birmingham in 2000 joining Dr. Bill Bryant and Southlake Orthopaedics providing an emphasis of spine work to the practice. One of the lows of my career was his untimely death in 2006. Since being here, I have been affiliated with Brookwood Medical Center and recently finished serving as Subsection Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon in 2011. In addition, I have had the honor of being included in “Best Doctors in America” many times over the past 15 years.
All the above considered, my most rewarding accomplishment has been raising my four daughters.
I would like to share what you can expect of me and my staff. The physician-patient relationship is a very unique one. For my part, I am here to serve you. I appreciate and need your input and help. Usually, surgery is a last resort. I do my best to give you a clear understanding of your particular problem and available treatment options. I cannot control your outcome from treatment; but I can guarantee you I will do my very best.
Many spine and orthopaedic conditions can be made better or improved with fitness, weight reduction and cessation of smoking. Narcotics have very little place except in acute events. As a rule, they should be used for only two weeks after injury or surgery.
My staff and I have the training, capabilities, and experience to provide you a safe, satisfactory treatment outcome. I expect my staff to be respectful, courteous and fair. My expectations are the same of patients. We are in this together. We thank you for your help and understanding as we all focus on the same goal of getting you better and doing the activities you most enjoy.
