Biography

John Z. Zhao, MD, is an assistant professor and foot and ankle surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Dr. Zhao specializes in foot and ankle surgery with clinical interests in minimally invasive techniques, reconstructive surgery, fracture care, arthroscopic surgery, and total ankle replacement. He utilizes evidence-based medicine to optimize both operative and nonoperative care for all foot and ankle pathologies. One of his keen interests is in the advancement of minimally invasive techniques, which utilize smaller incisions than traditional open techniques to achieve the same surgical goals, potentially improving patient outcomes, decreasing postoperative pain, and reducing scarring.

Dr. Zhao is a native of the Southwest Houston community. He grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, where he attended William P. Clements High School. After graduating salutatorian, he attended Harvard College for his undergraduate education, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with Thesis Highest Honors. He then received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School.

He remained in Boston for five years of orthopedic residency training, graduating from the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program at Harvard Medical School. Following residency, Dr. Zhao pursued a one-year subspecialty fellowship in Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. After many years away from home, Dr. Zhao is excited and honored to serve the community in which he grew up.

He enjoys sports, exercise, and travel in his spare time. Dr. Zhao is proficient in both English and Mandarin and is currently seeing patients in our Sugar Land and Memorial Villages offices.

You can click here to make an appointment.

Education

Undergraduate Degree
Magna Cum Laude with Thesis Highest Honors, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Medical Degree
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Residency
Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program, Boston, Massachusetts
Fellowship
Foot and Ankle Surgery, Campbell Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Total ankle arthroplasty
  • Fusion surgery
  • Foot and ankle fractures
  • Reconstructive surgery & deformity correction
  • Limb salvage
  •  Foot and ankle sports injuries
  • Achilles tendon injuries

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

  • Zhao JZ, Blazar PE. Collagenase Injection of the Dupuytren Hand. CSurgeries. 2016. doi:10.17797/qps5cwzfgu
  • Zhao JZ, Hadley S, Floyd E, Earp BE, Blazar PE. The Impact of Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum Introduction on Dupuytren Treatment Patterns in the United States. J. Hand Surg. Am. Elsevier; 2016 Aug;0(0):808–13. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.07.090
  • Bonner BE, Castillo TN, Fitz DW, Zhao JZ, Klemt C, Kwon Y-M. Preoperative Opioid Use Negatively Affects Patient-reported Outcomes After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty. J. Am. Acad. Orthop. Surg. 2019 Feb;1. doi:10.5435/jaaos-d-18-00658
  • Zhao JZ, Blazar PE, Mora A, Rozental TD, Earp BE. Clinical Outcomes of Collagenase Injections During a Surgeon’s Initial Learning Phase. J. Hand Surg. Glob. Online. Elsevier; 2019 Jul 1;1(3):161–5. doi:10.1016/j.jhsg.2019.04.001
  • Zhao JZ, Blazar PE, Mora AN, Earp BE. Range of Motion Measurements of the Fingers Via Smartphone Photography. Hand (New York, N,Y). 2020;15(5):679-685. doi:10.1177/1558944718820955
  • Zhao JZ, Kaiser PB, DeGruccio C, Farina EM, Miller CP. Quality of MIS vs Open Joint Preparations of the Foot and Ankle. Foot & Ankle International. 2022;43(7):948-956. doi:10.1177/10711007221081865
  • Zhao JZ, Ingall EM, Ritter Z. Radiographically Occult Nonunions After Application of Nitinol Compression Staples: A Report of 3 Cases. Foot & Ankle International. Published online April 11, 2022:5. doi:10.1177/10711007221080963
  • Ingall EM, Zhao JZ, Kwon JY. Keeping up With the Foot and Ankle Literature: A Practical “How-To.” Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics. 2022;7(2):3. doi:10.1177/24730114221095512
  • Ingall EM, Zhao J, Kwon JY. Revision Strategies for the Aseptic, Malaligned, Surgically Treated Ankle Fracture. Foot and Ankle Clinics. Published online May 2022:S1083751521001649. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2021.11.022
  • Schermann H, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Zhao J, Lubberts B, Kaiser P, Waryasz G. Use of a Lightweight Portable Fluoroscopy Device for Obtaining Weightbearing Ankle Images. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. Published online May 2022:S1067251622001545. doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2022.05.006
  • Ingall EM, Kaiser P, Ashkani-Esfahani S, Zhao J, Kwon JY. The Lateral Fibular Stress Test: High Variability of Force Applied by Orthopaedic Surgeons in a Biomechanical Model. Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics. 2022;7(2):247301142211064. doi:10.1177/24730114221106484
  • Zhao JZ, Ingall EM, Sharma S, et al. The Lateral Drawer Test: A New Clinical Test to Assess Mortise Instability in Weber B Fibula Fractures. Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics. 2022;7(3):1-7. doi:10.1177/24730114221112101
  • Bhimani R, Lubberts B, Hagemeijer NC, Zhao J, et al. Arthroscopic Assessment of Syndesmotic Instability: Are we Pulling Correctly in the Coronal Plane? Foot and Ankle Surgery. Published online September 22, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.fas.2022.09.007
  • Zhao J, Michalski M, Ingall E, Grisdela P, Kwon J. Does Screw Order Matter? A Technique Tip to Prevent Loss of Fracture Reduction During Surgical Fixation of Lateral Malleolus Fractures. The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery. 2023;(Online First). doi:10.22038/abjs.2023.65726.3147
  • Gardner S, Zhao JZ, Murphy GA, Rider C. Graft Reconstruction for Treatment of Chronic Achilles Tendon Ruptures. In: Master Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: The Foot and Ankle. 4th ed. ; 2024:720. 3
  • Miller CP, Stanwood K, Williams C, Zhao J, Raduan F. The Medial Mini-Open Supine Achilles Repair: Outcomes of a Medially Based Mini-Open Technique Compared With Prone Techniques. JAAOS Glob Res Rev. 2025;9(3). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-24-00390