Christopher Folau
Beacon Bone & Joint Specialists Navarre
Office
(574) 647-5300
100 Navarre Place Suite 4440 South Bend, IN 46601
About
“Do the right thing.” Those four words, shared with Christopher K. Folau, DO, by one of his mentors regarding patient care, concisely describes his guiding principle as an orthopedic trauma surgeon.
Dr. Folau’s first job as an Emergency Medical Technician cemented his interest in health care and particularly in caring for injured people. He chose orthopedic trauma as his specialty because of his strong sense of duty to care for the injured. “As a surgeon, I am drawn to the challenge of managing a wide array of complex skeletal injuries relying on sound biomechanical and evidence-based principles to restore life, limb and function as best as possible,” he says.
Dr. Folau spent 12 years as a Health Care Specialist (Combat Medic, 68W) in the U.S. Army Reserves. Toward the end of this time, he began his studies in medicine. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Touro University Nevada, completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Community Osteopathic Hospital, and his Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
His specialty includes caring for patients with broken bones including the arms, legs and pelvis. He also treats bone and joint infections that have failed to heal after being broken (nonunion), or have healed in an incorrect position or alignment (malunion).
“Doing the right thing for my patients requires carefully listening to them to understand their preferences, values and goals. It requires a patient-centered approach where all clinical decisions are based on what is best for the patient,” he says. “It requires respecting their autonomy – their right to make informed decisions about their own heath care. And finally, it requires constantly maintaining and improving my own skills and knowledge as a surgeon so that I can provide each patient with the absolute best treatment I can deliver.”
In his own words…
Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My parents, who taught me dedication and sacrifice.
What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? Dishwasher at a Chinese restaurant. Lots of practical jokes happened in that kitchen.
What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite food: Indian Favorite movie: This is Spinal Tap
What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best was Physical Education Worst was English
If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President. His life story is incredible. Despite growing up in abject poverty, he accomplished great things academically, militarily and politically.
In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I’m passionate about being a dad. I love spending time with my kids and wife. I also enjoy spending time with friends, the outdoors (particularly the West), mountain biking, sailing, travel and food.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I was a terrible student growing up as I spent most of my time enjoying all the outdoor recreation Utah has to offer rather than focusing on my studies. It wasn’t until several years after high school that I began taking my education seriously. Fortunately, by the time I entered medical school, I had finally developed strong study/learning habits that helped me excel. In short, I was a late bloomer academically.
Christopher Folau
About Dr. Folau“Do the right thing.” Those four words, shared with Christopher K. Folau, DO, by one of his mentors regarding patient care, concisely describes his guiding principle as an orthopedic trauma surgeon.
Dr. Folau’s first job as an Emergency Medical Technician cemented his interest in health care and particularly in caring for injured people. He chose orthopedic trauma as his specialty because of his strong sense of duty to care for the injured. “As a surgeon, I am drawn to the challenge of managing a wide array of complex skeletal injuries relying on sound biomechanical and evidence-based principles to restore life, limb and function as best as possible,” he says.
Dr. Folau spent 12 years as a Health Care Specialist (Combat Medic, 68W) in the U.S. Army Reserves. Toward the end of this time, he began his studies in medicine. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Touro University Nevada, completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Community Osteopathic Hospital, and his Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
His specialty includes caring for patients with broken bones including the arms, legs and pelvis. He also treats bone and joint infections that have failed to heal after being broken (nonunion), or have healed in an incorrect position or alignment (malunion).
“Doing the right thing for my patients requires carefully listening to them to understand their preferences, values and goals. It requires a patient-centered approach where all clinical decisions are based on what is best for the patient,” he says. “It requires respecting their autonomy – their right to make informed decisions about their own heath care. And finally, it requires constantly maintaining and improving my own skills and knowledge as a surgeon so that I can provide each patient with the absolute best treatment I can deliver.”
In his own words…
Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My parents, who taught me dedication and sacrifice.
What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? Dishwasher at a Chinese restaurant. Lots of practical jokes happened in that kitchen.
What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite food: Indian Favorite movie: This is Spinal Tap
What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best was Physical Education Worst was English
If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President. His life story is incredible. Despite growing up in abject poverty, he accomplished great things academically, militarily and politically.
In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I’m passionate about being a dad. I love spending time with my kids and wife. I also enjoy spending time with friends, the outdoors (particularly the West), mountain biking, sailing, travel and food.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I was a terrible student growing up as I spent most of my time enjoying all the outdoor recreation Utah has to offer rather than focusing on my studies. It wasn’t until several years after high school that I began taking my education seriously. Fortunately, by the time I entered medical school, I had finally developed strong study/learning habits that helped me excel. In short, I was a late bloomer academically.
Primary Specialty
Surgeon
Practice
Beacon Bone & Joint Specialists Navarre
Gender
Male
Education
Touro University Nevada
Training
University of Mississippi Medical Center, UPMC Community Osteopathic, UPMC Pinnacle
Certification
University of Utah, The - 2011
Payment Options
American Express, Check, Discover, Financing, MasterCard, Visa
Not Accepting New Patients
Insurances Accepted
Community Health Alliance (CHA, Aetna, PHP Freedom, Cofinity), Cigna, Sagamore, First Health (via Community Health Alliance CHA), Aetna Medicare Advantage (Via CHA ACO, LLC), CareSource Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), CareSource Medicaid (HHW), CHA ACO LLC dba Beacon ACO, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage (UHC), UnitedHealthcare (UHC), UnitedHealthcare Medicaid (HCC), CareSource Marketplace, VA CCN Optum UHC, Mdwise Excel Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Mdwise Excel Medicaid (HHW), Tricare East Humana Military, Medicare FFS, Anthem BCBS, Managed Health Services Medicaid (MHS HHW), Multi Plan / Private Health Care Systems (PHCS), Humana, Anthem Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Medicaid Michigan FFS, Ambetter Marketplace (MHS), Humana Medicare Advantage, Managed Health Services Medicaid (MHS HCC), Anthem Medicare Advantage, Managed Health Services Healthly Indiana Plan (MHS HIP), Medicaid Indiana FFS, Anthem Medicaid (HHW HCC), Stratose / National Preferred Provider Network (NPPN), HealthSmart, Immergrun Health Network, Plain Church Group, Three Rivers Provider Network (TRPN)
Degrees
Doctor of Osteopathy
Admitting Hospitals
Memorial Hospital of South Bend
Office Name
Beacon Bone & Joint Specialists Navarre
Languages
English
Business Hours
Monday:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday:8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
Services
Trauma Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
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