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The Opp Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon connecting for Mizell Memorial Hospital’s new orthopedic center in Opp on Friday, Jan. 20.

The orthopedic center, which is located on the second floor at Mizell, will be under the direction of orthopedic surgery specialist Dr. Sean Owen.

“I am originally from northern California and have liked working in small towns. I prefer that quite a bit, and that’s where I have built my practice. This was a great fit for me to join Mizell. It all came together almost like it was planned or pre-ordained,” Owen said.

Owen is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate, he was recruited and accepted a position on the UC Davis football team. As a lineman on the team, he suffered a career-ending shoulder injury. This would later draw him into his career choice of orthopedic surgery. After successfully completing his medical school training at Drexler University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he entered an orthopedic surgery residency through St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. He then furthered his training with a prestigious fellowship in Orthopedic Trauma from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“My dad was a contractor, and I feel orthopedic surgery is a lot like carpentry. I’m told I have always had a knack for taking care of people. The close community has been very supportive and came together to show support when someone is injured. It seems like they all flock to those, and that’s amazing to see. I’ve never seen it to that degree before.”

After completing his education, he opened Redwood Skeletal Trauma Clinic where he worked for 10 years in rural Humbolt County in northern California. Owen and his wife, Dana, moved back to Mobile in 2022 to be closer to family and for Owen to complete an MBA through the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. “Mizell is actually a bigger hospital here than the last one I worked at,” he said.

“We are extremely excited about Dr. Owen joining the healthcare team at Mizell Memorial Hospital. He brings a wealth of knowledge in industry-leading techniques and technology that will provide great benefits to patients. He is going to be a tremendous asset to our community and the surrounding communities we serve,” said Mizell CEO Mitchell Myers.

Owen added that he typically sees more trauma patients than those for orthopedic surgery.

“We are seeing some trauma and bad infections as well as really bad joints that need to be replaced. I enjoy difficult cases, which is why I did a trauma fellowship. A trauma fellowship is not just trauma. It’s the tough cases that I find really enjoyable.”

He offered some advice for individuals who make an annual visit to the doctor’s office.

“If it hurts, come on in and see us. As people get a bit older, they should always look at their bone density, and we are happy to help them. Any woman over the age of 55 and any man over the age of 65 should have their bone density checked.”

Mizell Memorial Hospital is located at 702 North Main Street in Opp. The Mizell Orthopedic Center, which first opened its doors to the public in December, is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays. To schedule an appointment, call 334-493-3541 ext. 2133 or 334-493-5704.