Spine Surgery at New Hospital: The First Patient's Story

A retired surgeon places his trust in UT Health San Antonio, becoming part of its history. 

By Susan Anasagasti 

John Toohey, MD, spent decades repairing spines and restoring hope. 

As a retired orthopaedic surgeon and former assistant dean at UT Health San Antonio, Toohey guided countless patients through the maze of chronic back pain, treating them with precision and compassion. 

But at age 74 — when spinal stenosis left him with his own excruciating pain and few options — the healer became the inaugural patient at the newly opened UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital. 

“You know how it feels when you hit your funny bone?” Toohey asked. “The pain was so bad. I couldn’t do anything. I’m an avid golfer, but I couldn’t play anymore. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t hike. I used to bike all the time, but I couldn’t even do that.”

For years, Toohey fought to keep his symptoms under control. Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and a regimen of epidural steroid injections provided temporary relief. But by last summer, even the injections couldn’t keep him on the golf course.

“I had tried everything,” he said recently. “For someone who was relatively fit, I had become a slug.”

Making the call for help 

The surgeon who had spent his life mending others knew it was his turn to seek help. He placed his trust in the people and institution he believed in most.

“I made an appointment at The Spine Center,” he recalled. “I showed up at the office with my MRI and said, ‘I need surgery. Let’s get on with it.’”

That office belonged to Christopher Chaput, MD, who worked alongside Toohey years earlier and now serves as chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio’s new hospital. Chaput is also the director of The Spine Center located at the UT Health Medical Arts and Research Center.

“I was really surprised when I showed up to my clinic a few months ago and my first patient of the day was my former spine partner here at UT Health San Antonio,” Chaput said. “He didn’t warn me that he was coming back to see me about his back.”

For Toohey, the decision to turn to Chaput was more than just familiarity. It was about confidence. He knew the rigorous standards required to be a truly skilled spine surgeon and Chaput had earned that distinction.

“A good spine surgeon doesn’t jump to surgery. They exhaust conservative treatments first and recognize that surgery isn’t always the answer,” Toohey said. “You have to assess the patient as a whole and determine what’s really best for them. There are plenty of cases where surgery isn’t the right option.”

So, when Chaput proposed the same surgical approach Toohey had championed for years, Toohey immediately knew he had found the right surgeon.

“I thought, ‘That’s good news. Now I don’t have to walk him through the surgery in the [operating room],'" he said, laughing. “I’ve been at this long enough to know exactly what needed to be done.”

A milestone for UT Health San Antonio

Toohey’s procedure, a two-level lumbar decompression and fusion, is routine in spine care. But for Robert Quinn, MD, chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio and a hospital board member who hired both surgeons, the surgery marked a significant milestone.

“The first case performed at [the new hospital] — a surgery by Dr. Chaput on Dr. Toohey — really speaks to the strength of our team and the caliber of care we provide,” Quinn said. “Having John place his trust in Chris shows just how much confidence we have in our physicians, and it’s a testament to the level of expertise that exists here.”

Facing the unknown

Like any patient, Toohey was apprehensive before surgery.

“I know all too well what can go wrong. Believe me, I’ve had things happen that are out of your control,” he said, his wife Myrna by his side. “But you have to have faith in people and trust that the institution has good doctors. I was apprehensive, but I wasn’t losing sleep over it. The only thing keeping me up at night was the pain in my back.”

For Chaput, Toohey’s confidence was both an honor and a challenge.

“I wake up every day thinking about how we can improve care,” Chaput said. “With the new hospital, we have the opportunity to continue setting a new standard for South Texas.” 

Chaput knows firsthand how the new hospital’s mission extends beyond technological advancements. At its core, he said, are the people — their skill, dedication, compassion and teamwork. 

“As a surgeon, there’s only so much I can do with my own two hands,” Chaput said. “What many patients don’t realize is how crucial the team behind those hands really is. I’ve come to know the nursing and anesthesia teams well, and their expertise gives me the confidence to honor the trust my patients place in me.” 

Jeff Flowers, MBA, FACHE, chief executive officer of the hospital, agreed. 

“Our hospital’s mission is rooted in hope and healing, but it’s our core values — service, integrity and teamwork — that set us apart,” he said. “By fostering a culture of collaboration across every discipline, it ensures every decision is made in the best interest of our patients and their families. It’s not just what we do, it’s who we are.” 

A full-circle moment 

The day of the surgery, Dec. 10, was full of personal meaning. In addition to being the first patient at the new hospital, Toohey was returning to an institution that had been central to his professional journey for decades.

Today, as Toohey slowly regains his strength and returns to his daily life, he also reflects on the trajectory of his career.

 He said his work defined him as a surgeon and later as an assistant dean in the Department of Graduate Medical Education at UT Health San Antonio. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Toohey decided it was time to retire.

It wasn’t an easy decision for someone who admits to being a workaholic. 

“I loved my job. I couldn’t get enough of it,” he said. But the demands of a long career eventually caught up with him. To make his retirement final, Toohey made a bold move: He let his medical license expire last summer on July 1. "I forced myself to quit,” he said.

From treating others to receiving treatment himself, the experience deepened Toohey’s appreciation for the patients he’s spent a lifetime serving — and for the skilled hands of those who now stand in his place. It also strengthened his pride in UT Health San Antonio. 

“From the minute I walked through the front door of the new hospital right before surgery, I was impressed,” he said. “Especially in this era of electronic everything, I was moved by the genuine human interest of me as a patient by everybody I encountered.” 

After his successful spinal stenosis surgery, Toohey now expects to spend four to six months gradually recovering. He’s motivated by what it will allow him to reclaim: his independence and his beloved game of golf.

"My body isn't what it used to be. Of course, it never is at my age,” he said with a smile. "Golf is my passion, my addiction. I’m looking forward to playing again. That's the last locker room I can get into anymore."