Doctor Profile: Dr. K. John Hartman, M.D.
In the office and on the war front, meet Dr. John Hartman of Davenport, naval surgeon deployed to Germany.
« View the directory listing for John Hartman, M.D.
The Mississippi Valley Health Network of practices brings together a comprehensive group of physicians who share common values of patient-focused care in partnership with the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center. In each issue, we spotlight one of our network physicians who lives our mission to ensure patients have access to the best, most affordable and technologically advanced care in an outpatient setting — where we treat patients so they can fully recover and get back to their homes, families, and lives.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Boone, Iowa.
Tell us about your family: My wife Lori is a pediatric physical therapist. We have two daughters. Emma is nine years old and Christin six years old. Our son JJ is 28 months.
What inspired you to study medicine?
My grandfather, Dr. John MacQueen, was a pediatric neurologist at the University of Iowa. Most of my aunts were nurses, and I grew up talking about medicine at the dinner table.
Why did you choose to become a surgeon?
I grew up watching M*A*S*H* and I wanted to be Hawkeye. When I was a first-year medical student, I shadowed Dr. Cal Atwell in Muscatine. He inspired me to choose general surgery. He had such a diverse surgical practice, I thought – that’s what I want to do.
What areas of surgery are you most interested in?
I am very interested in all advanced laparoscopic surgery. I perform laparoscopic procedures such as splenectomy, adrenalectomy, anti-reflux surgery, colorectal surgery, and of course gallbladder surgery. I also perform laparoscopic hernia repairs. I am very interested in gastric and esophageal cancers and perform laparoscopic procedures for their treatment. I enjoy endocrine surgery including thyroid and parathyroid surgery. As a breast surgeon at the Center for Breast Health at Genesis, I provide a full range of surgical treatment for breast disease.
Tell us about your military career and why you decided to join the Navy?
When I went to college I knew I wanted to be a doctor someday. I had not really looked at the military for medical school. I had wanted to be a Marine. One night a few months before graduation I got a call from the USMC recruiter. He told me that a friend of mine had given him my name. He asked me what I wanted to do in the Corps. I said, “Sir, I want to be a doctor.” He laughed and said, “Well, son, we don’t have any doctors in the Corps. You’ve got to go to the Navy!”
What medical role do you play in the Navy?
I am a medical officer for the Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) in Rock Island. On my drill weekends I provide medical support for the sailors and Marines at the NOSC. I provided training for the Corpsman in Advanced Trauma Life Support.
We understand you will be deployed to Germany this fall? What will do you and how long will you be overseas?
When I am deployed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, I will provide services as a general and trauma surgeon for the sailors, Marines, soldiers, and airmen wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. I will be gone for about four months.
How do you feel about your deployment?
It will be very hard for me to be away from my wife and kids. But this is why I joined the Navy: For the opportunity to serve. For the chance to care for a lot of brave people who have put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.
