Biography

Dr. John Paul Elton believes that listening to his patients is the most important diagnostic tool at his disposal. The Harvard-trained foot and ankle specialist knows from experience that “where it hurts” is not always the actual cause of the complaint.

Dr. Elton’s fellowship training has given him the expertise to handle the full spectrum of foot and ankle disorders: from sports injuries and fractures to nerve and tendon disorders, deformities, and chronic pain. He emphasizes that most non-traumatic injuries can be resolved with non-operative treatment.

Philosophically, Dr. Elton will recommend surgical intervention only when other non-operatives treatments have failed. A good surgeon, in his opinion, is first and foremost a good doctor:  listening to a patient to understand how the injury or illness fits into the larger context of the patient’s life.

Dr. Elton is excited about innovations in joint replacement and the implications this may have for the foot and ankle. As people are enjoying longer and healthier lives, the desire to stay active is fueling the research that will make ankle replacement a viable option for many patients.

After completing his orthopedic surgery residency in San Antonio, Texas and his fellowship training in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Elton is delighted to be back in Colorado where he completed his undergraduate and medical school education. Dr. Elton is an avid cyclist and enjoys skiing and snowboarding, as well as camping and hiking with his wife and three children.