John Zavala, MD

John Zavala, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon at Orthopaedic Specialists of Dallas, located in Rockwall, Wylie, Forney, and Terrell, Texas. 

He grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended middle and high school at the Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving, Texas. He completed his college education at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in history and completed his premedical studies.

Dr. Zavala earned his medical degree from the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He subsequently completed his internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. 

While in residency, he served as administrative chief resident and was elected to participate in the American Orthopaedic Association Resident Leadership Forum. Following his residency training, Dr. Zavala was awarded a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas under the direction of renowned shoulder surgeon Richard Hawkins. He then completed a mini-fellowship in ankle and foot injuries under Angus McBryde at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama.

His research interests have included fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions, multimodal analgesia in total knee arthroplasty, and complications of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. He has presented at national meetings and published articles and book chapters on several orthopaedic subjects.

Dr. Zavala is married to Sarah Katherine, a non-profit fundraiser, and they have three children. His interests outside of medicine include spending time with his family, golfing, fishing, and traveling.