Mercy South STL Expands Access to Orthopedic Care

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Mercy South STL Expands Access to Orthopedic Care

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Joe Poelker

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Phone: 314-525-4005

Cell: 314-724-6095

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Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mitch Wattles has joined the Mercy South (St. Louis) team. Dr. Wattles joins Drs. Stephen Benz, Adam Cochran, Rob Duerr, Hunter Fleming, Jeff Jenks and Shalen Kouk, nurse practitioner Rebecca Stauder and physician assistants Hope Bentrup, Haydan Ommen, Aliyah Patterson, Matt Ronai and Michael Raethka serving patients with Mercy Clinic Orthopedics – Southfork. You can get to know more about Dr. Wattles in his own words with this Q&A:

Why did you get into health care?

I wanted to go into health care since I was young. I seemed to always know I wanted to be a doctor. The thought of helping people with their health as an actual job was a goal.

What drew you to specialize in orthopedics?

I was drawn to orthopedics at a young age as well. I played sports as a kid, and I remember seeing my own orthopedist to receive much appreciated care after different injuries I suffered. Then there was seeing how my grandma, aunts and uncles got such great relief from joint pain and improvement in walking after their joint replacements. Seeing how much that improved their lives had a lasting effect on me.

Are there specific conditions or treatments you have particular interest in?

As I went through my training and education, I ended up being drawn to the patients in need of hip and knee replacements, which is the care I enjoy providing my patients.

Dr. Mitch Wattles, orthopedic surgeon

Why did you choose to join Mercy and specifically Mercy South?

I grew up in the St. Louis area, right across the Mississippi River from South St. Louis County in Waterloo, Illinois. Mercy South, which was St. Anthony’s back then, was the hospital I went to as a kid. I’m very excited about working here and helping the people in this area that has always been my home.

Do you mind sharing a little about your personal life?

My wife and I were high school sweethearts and went off to college together at the University of Kentucky. We always knew we wanted to come back to St. Louis where our families are. Our parents still live in Waterloo, but my wife and I live in Webster Groves with our four children, all boys ages 8 and under! We enjoy going to parks, playing outside and cheering on all the St. Louis sports teams as well as the University of Kentucky Wildcats. We really enjoy living in St. Louis after moving back in 2022 and look forward to making memories for many more years to come.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.