Dr. Craig R. Mahoney, an orthopaedic surgeon with Iowa Ortho, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the thirteenth consecutive year he has received this designation. This recognition matters because only seven percent of the nation's licensed physicians are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties in their regions, making it a significant indicator of sustained peer respect and clinical achievement.
The importance of this announcement extends to patients considering orthopaedic care, particularly those requiring joint replacement. Dr. Mahoney's philosophy emphasizes exhaustive nonsurgical options before recommending surgery, focusing on improving mobility, decreasing pain, and enhancing quality of life through evidence-based techniques. With over 23 years of practice and more than 8,000 successful hip and knee replacements, his approach represents a patient-centered model that prioritizes long-term outcomes over immediate surgical intervention.
Dr. Mahoney performs several advanced procedures including total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, revision surgery, computer-navigated joint replacement, impaction grafting, and vascular management in rotationplasty. His leadership roles as Physician Leader and Vice President of the Orthopaedic Service Line at MercyOne, along with his partnership at Iowa Orthopaedic Center, position him as an influential figure in regional healthcare delivery. The implications for the medical industry include demonstrating how specialized expertise combined with administrative leadership can advance joint replacement care standards.
The selection process adds credibility to this recognition, as Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by Castle Connolly's physician-led research team based on medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories. Doctors cannot pay to be selected, ensuring the designation reflects genuine professional merit. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at https://castleconnolly.com and in various partner publications.
Dr. Mahoney's educational background includes a medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, an orthopaedic surgery residency at Creighton/University of Nebraska Health Foundation with a dedicated research fellowship, and an Adult Reconstruction fellowship at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery. His professional contributions include authoring more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in publications like The Journal of Arthroplasty and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, plus leadership positions including President of the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association and Iowa Orthopaedic Society, and six years on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Councilors.
For patients, this repeated recognition provides assurance when selecting an orthopaedic surgeon, particularly for complex joint procedures requiring specialized expertise. For the healthcare industry, it highlights the value of combining clinical practice with research contributions and professional leadership. The ongoing acknowledgment of physicians like Dr. Mahoney reinforces standards of excellence in orthopaedic care that benefit both individual patients and broader healthcare systems through improved outcomes and innovative treatment approaches.
