The Spine Center at Valley View is pleased to welcome Felipe Ituarte, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon, Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).
Prior to joining the Valley View team, Dr. Ituarte practiced spine surgery at OrthoMontana, a top-quality care provider in Billings, Montana. He completed his medical training at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, after finishing undergraduate work at the University of California, Riverside. In addition, he completed an orthopedic residency at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and a fellowship in spine surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Ituarte spent four years in the United States Navy before moving on to college. While in the U.S. Navy, he served as an aviation structural mechanic, working on F-14s, F-18s and other naval air power. This background helps him navigate the ins and outs of his professional life today.
“I identify problems in the body — that’s my mechanical background at work,” said Dr. Ituarte. “My goal is to treat my patients with a comprehensive approach and use my technical mindset to support surgical decision making. I start with the most conservative treatment and move toward more aggressive strategies in order to solve the problem for the long term.”
Dr. Ituarte enjoys spending time with his wife and children. Adventure is also a big part of his life. He enjoys mountain biking and hiking in the mountains, and has traveled to New Zealand, Turkey and Costa Rica in pursuit of great whitewater rafting.
As the regional authority in surgical and conservative care, The Spine Center at Valley View is a comprehensive provider of spine care with the most advanced technologies available. It takes pride in its unique ability to provide physical medicine and rehabilitative care, interventional pain management and ortho-spine surgery all under one roof. Backed by the entire Valley View system, including ValleyOrtho, the Spine Center at Valley View providers are able to diagnose more accurately and treat more personally so that patients can live happy and healthy lives.
Guided by a philosophy that surgery should be the last resort as a treatment option, the Valley View Spine Center aims to get patients back to their everyday lives as quickly, safely and smartly as possible. Extensive assessments, exercise-based physical therapies and conservative care are effective for most spinal problems.
Dr. Ituarte is now welcoming new patients at the Valley View Spine Center in Willits and Glenwood Springs. Patients may call 970.384.8060 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
About Valley View
Valley View is an independent, not-for-profit health system based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Founded in 1955 with funds raised by the community, Valley View Hospital has evolved to serve the healthcare needs of the region. In addition to its 78-bed hospital in Glenwood Springs, Valley View now includes an integrated system of specialty centers and physicians’ practices providing care in multiple locations across Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle and Mesa counties. Cardiovascular care, including open heart surgery, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgical and orthopedic care, provide a level of specialty care that enable patients to stay close to home for key healthcare needs. A network of primary care practices supports optimal health and the management of patients’ total health. As part of Valley View’s commitment to the community, it hosts health fairs, blood drives, a Kids & Teen Safety Fair and physician-led education series. Valley View has been recognized for performance excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Pathway to Excellence), Healthgrades, J.D. Power & Associates, Truven Health “Top 100 Hospitals”, Planetree, Survey Vitals, Consumer Reports, Women’s Choice Award and Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative. PeopleCare. That’s Valley View. www.vvh.org.