When Dave Meeker looks back on the past year, he describes it as a blur of appointments, procedures and recovery. But one thing stands out clearly: the high level of orthopedic care he received at OrthoIndy and how it helped him keep pushing forward.
The Beginning of a Journey at OrthoIndy
Dave has long struggled with a complex range of orthopedic issues, including arthritis, deformities and degenerative conditions. In August 2025, he came to OrthoIndy at Hancock Health at the recommendation of his daughter, Alyssa Burkhart, FNP-C, a family nurse practitioner and member of the OrthoIndy team.
Dave’s care journey began with a focus on his right knee. Years of severe degeneration and arthritis had left him in chronic pain and in need of specialized orthopedic care. He found that care with total joint replacement surgeon Dr. Mitch Beckert and the OrthoIndy team. Together, they moved forward with a total knee replacement surgery and the insertion of a permanent hybrid antibiotic spacer– designed for severe knee instability.
From there, his care naturally expanded across multiple specialties as new challenges surfaced – each one met with a clear plan and the right expert at the right time.
Treating Chronic Pain and Conditions
By October 2025, ongoing hip and spine pain led Dave to physiatry, where he began treatment with physiatrist Dr. Virgilio Chan. A hip injection was attempted to provide relief, and over the following months, he continued care with physiatry for targeted spine injections.
Despite those efforts, Dave’s hip pain persisted. That’s when his daughter, Alyssa, performed an assessment and connected his symptoms to his lumbar spine. She reached out to Mike Skonieczka, PA-C, who referred Dave to spine surgeon Dr. Greg Poulter. After evaluating him, Dr. Poulter recommended a different approach to address the ongoing discomfort caused by degeneration in the spine. It was the second injection that finally brought Dave meaningful relief.
In November 2025, Dave addressed additional concerns with the same level of coordinated care. He worked with hand and upper extremity surgeon Dr. Christy Kellams to treat a longstanding infection in his left index finger.
That same month, he met with foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Erica Fisk for a serious foot condition that had progressed from a pressure wound into a complex ankle and foot deformity.
Despite the growing list of challenges, Dave never felt like he was navigating it alone. Alyssa helped him navigate and filter a large number of proposed care. His care was thoughtfully coordinated across a team of experts at OrthoIndy, all working together toward his goal of restoring function and improving his quality of life.
“There were countless people at OrthoIndy who made my care possible, ranging from nurse practitioners, physician assistants, schedulers and other support personnel,” said Dave. “I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done. They saved my life four times in 5 months.”
Overcoming Setbacks
Then, in February 2026, everything changed again. After a major fall at home, Dave suffered a right femur fracture near his knee replacement.
His OrthoIndy team quickly stepped in – managing his pain, coordinating emergency care and moving him into surgery with orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Renn Crichlow. Just two weeks after his fall, Dave was already beginning his recovery journey once again.
Through it all, Dave experienced a full range of emotions – relief when a plan came together for his knee, fear when facing uncertainty with his foot and frustration while dealing with the aftermath of his fall. Even so, his confidence in his care team never wavered.
Looking Ahead
After everything he’s been through, Dave says he is looking forward to independent mobility as he moves towards a pending semi-retirement. This will include walks and vacations with his wife Connie, enjoying their five grandkids, living an independent retirement through walking with minimal assistance, cooking meals, driving himself to appointments and enjoying more time with his wife.
Today, he continues to heal and feels great about the progress he’s made.
“Despite all of the challenges I’ve faced, these results would not have been possible without the help of everyone at OrthoIndy,” said Dave. “I’m also thankful for the support from my family with my wife, Connie, my daughters Jennifer, Katrina and Alyssa – and my best friend, Coop!”
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For Dave, what could have been an overwhelming and uncertain journey became a coordinated, compassionate experience with OrthoIndy.
Learn more about how OrthoIndy can help you get back to what you love most at orthoindy.com.
