Dr. John F. Cook, Jr., MD — Hand Surgery Evaluator
Orthopedic hand surgeon in Newport Beach. California Qualified Medical Evaluator since 1994.
Dr. John F. Cook, Jr. is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the hand and upper extremity who has been in private practice in Newport Beach since 1981. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and holds Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand from the same board, and he has been a California Qualified Medical Evaluator since 1994. He earned his medical degree from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, completed his orthopedic residency at McGill University’s Royal Victoria Hospital, and completed a clinical fellowship in hand surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He has served as Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and has taught courses on workers’ compensation report writing.
Why attorneys choose Dr. Cook
Dr. John F. Cook, Jr. has been a California Qualified Medical Evaluator since June 1994, reappointed every two years since, and he has practiced hand surgery, orthopedic surgery and microsurgery in Southern California since 1980. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has held the board’s Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand since 1989, with his current certification running through 2029. In 2015 he was also certified as an Independent Medical Examiner by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners.
Dr. Cook has also taught the medical-legal process to other physicians. From 2002 to 2005 he lectured in California State Qualified Medical Evaluation continuing education courses, the California Orthopaedic Association’s QME course and disability evaluation report-writing seminars at the University of California, Irvine. His topics included writing the workers’ compensation report, the ACOEM Guidelines and evidence-based medicine, and the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Attorneys receive reports from a physician who has taught other doctors how those reports should be written.
His peers have recognized his standing. He served as Chairman (1992–1994) and Vice Chairman (1988–1990) of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and as Past President of the Western Orthopedic Association, Orange County Chapter, and the Orange County Medical Association selected him for its Physician of Excellence Award in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. His published work on hand surgery includes the Journal of Hand Surgery and the textbook Difficult Problems in Hand Surgery.
Hand and upper extremity focus
Fellowship-trained in hand surgery, including microsurgery, with Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
QME since 1994
A California Qualified Medical Evaluator since June 1994.
Report-writing educator
Taught on workers’ compensation report writing, the ACOEM Guidelines and the AMA Guides from 2002 to 2005.
Hospital leadership
Former Chairman (1992–1994) and Vice Chairman (1988–1990) of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
Medical-legal experience
- California Qualified Medical Evaluator since June 1994 — Hand
- Faculty for California QME and disability-evaluation report-writing courses (2002–2005)
- QME, AME and expert witness evaluations through Sound Medical Evaluators
- Certified Independent Medical Examiner, American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (October 2015)
- Lecturer on the workers’ compensation report, ACOEM Guidelines and AMA Guides: California State QME continuing education courses, California Orthopaedic Association QME course (2003) and University of California, Irvine disability evaluation seminars
Evaluations Dr. Cook performs
QME
Qualified Medical Evaluations for California workers’ compensation disputes.
AME
Agreed Medical Evaluations when both parties select one examiner.
Expert Witness
Expert witness services in hand and upper extremity surgery.
Credentials and training
- Diplomate, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (1981)
- Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (current certification January 2020 – December 2029)
- Doctor of Medicine — College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (1975)
- Surgical Internship — Montreal General Hospital, McGill University (1975–1976)
- Orthopedic Surgery Residency — Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University (1976–1979)
- Visiting Fellow, Hand Surgery — Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (1978)
- Clinical Fellow in Hand Surgery, including microsurgery — Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Hand Rehabilitation Center (1979–1980)
- Clinical Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery — Thomas Jefferson University (1979–1980)
- B.A., Biochemistry — Bowdoin College (1971)
- Past President, Western Orthopedic Association, Orange County Chapter
- Physician of Excellence Award, Orange County Medical Association (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- United States Congress Certificate of Appreciation (1987), Afghan Medvac Project
Dr. Cook’s Approach
Each evaluation begins with a careful review of the complete record and a thorough examination of the hand and upper extremity. Dr. Cook explains his findings clearly and bases his opinions on the medical record, the examination and accepted medical literature, with the aim of being fair and impartial to every party, applicant and defense alike.