Dr. Bryan Hooks

Dr. Bryan Hooks – Orthopedic Surgeon, Veteran, ACES Award Recipient, and Community Advocate. 1997 AAHS Graduate

Dr. Bryan Hooks has devoted his life to healing, leadership, and service—values instilled by his parents, Gerald and Cynthia Hooks, and deeply influenced by his aunt and uncle, Vickie and Dr. Mickey Zernich. A pivotal childhood moment—joining his uncle on hospital rounds in scrubs—sparked a lifelong passion for medicine and human connection.

Dr. Hooks graduated with highest honors from Ambridge Area High School in 1997 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology with distinction from Westminster College in 2001. At Westminster, he was active in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and inducted into key academic and leadership honor societies. His education was enriched through global study experiences in the British Isles and Hawaii, broadening both his academic and cultural perspectives.

Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force through the Health Professions Scholarship Program, Dr. Hooks earned his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2005, graduating in the top of his class. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Humility of Mary Health System in Northeast Ohio, where he performed over 2,000 procedures and served as Chief Surgical Resident. He was selected for a highly competitive fellowship in Total Joint Replacement at the Cleveland Clinic. Over the years, he has authored multiple publications, presented research at state and national conferences, and served as a lecturer and moderator on the national stage.

From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Hooks served as an orthopedic surgeon and Major in the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, earning the Meritorious Service Medal for exemplary performance and leadership. Guided by the Air Force’s values—Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do—he seamlessly transitioned those principles into his civilian practice.

In 2015, he returned to western Pennsylvania to serve the Hermitage and local communities as part of UPMC’s orthopedic group at the Horizon and Jameson campuses. Today, he serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery and is a voting member of the Medical Executive Committee. He also serves as team physician for Thiel College, several local high schools, and the USHL’s Clark Cup-winning Youngstown Phantoms.

In recognition of his extraordinary service and dedication, Dr. Hooks was awarded UPMC’s ACES Award in 2025—an honor bestowed on fewer than 1% of UPMC employees each year. The Award for Commitment and Excellence in Service (ACES) celebrates employees who exemplify UPMC’s core values: Quality & Safety, Dignity & Respect, Caring & Listening, Responsibility & Integrity, and Excellence & Innovation. Dr. Hooks’ receipt of this award reflects his relentless commitment to patient care, clinical excellence, and community impact.

Dr. Hooks and his wife Angela, married since 2009, are the proud parents of four children: Brendan, Blake, Brody, and Brielle. Together, they established a family scholarship at Westminster College supporting students pursuing careers in healthcare or education. He continues to mentor medical students and residents and is a strong supporter of youth sports and conservation efforts in the Shenango Valley and Beaver County.

Whether in surgery, the classroom, or the community, Dr. Bryan Hooks leads with gratitude, purpose, and an unwavering dedication to serve.