Dr. Hurt grew up in Austin with three siblings, and his father was a physician. At a young age, he developed a love for building, creating, and solving problems, which is something he gets to do every day in his orthopedic practice.
He attended Baylor University for his undergrad, followed by UT Southwestern Medical School, where he graduated in the top quarter of his class. Dr. Hurt then completed his orthopedic residency at Parkland Hospital, which formed his foundation as a surgeon today. After his residency, he pursued an additional year of training at the University of Kentucky, caring for athletes and honing his arthroscopic surgical skills. Upon finishing his sports medicine fellowship, Dr. Hurt returned to Austin and joined a small practice in Westlake.
During his early years in practice, Dr. Hurt met his wife, Ashley, when she was working in the Seton Main ER as a student nurse. They have four children: Sheppard, Stone, Jolie, and Myles, who are a gift, and he finds it a joy to raise them with his best friend. Shortly after Dr. Hurt and his wife were married, they joined the Austin Stone Worship, and Dr. Hurt’s faith in Christ is what keeps him grounded and inspires him to treat every patient as an individual of immense value, made in His image.
Joel Hurt, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Early in his career Dr. Joel Hurt kept a broad scope of practice, treating almost all musculoskeletal conditions. However, with time, he honed his practice to those areas he enjoys and excels at the most- knee and shoulder conditions. He generally sees over 130 patients per week and performs between 30 and 40 surgeries a month.
This extensive experience informs his treatment of all patients and empowers him to make clinical diagnoses and recommendations with great confidence. He still treats other areas of the body frequently, enjoying the satisfaction of offering his long-term patients a one-stop-shop. When he can do the job with excellence he does so and when they are better served with one of his many accomplished partners he is happy to get them to the place of best care.
Joel Hurt, MD attended Baylor University for his undergrad, followed by UT Southwestern Medical School, where he graduated in the top quarter of his class.
Treatment Philosophy
Dr. Hurt takes a direct, honest, and patient-empowering approach. He involves them in the decision-making process, and only recommends surgery as a last resort. If surgery is necessary, he offers the option to pray with any patient who wishes to do so before their surgery.
"Treating people with great care and respect, as I would want to be treated, undgirds every exchange I have with my patients. I start with ensuring they understand "why" I am recommending a certain treatment or making a specific diagnosis. This includes taking time to explain, draw pictures, review MRI's, or show surgical examples. It's your body...you deserve to know.
My communication style tends to be very direct, honest, and patient empowering. I don't feel like it's my place to make decisions for my patients about how they should live their lives. So if someone has knee arthritis (like I do) and still wants to go to CrossFit (like I do) then I'm not going to shame them...I'll do whatever I can within reason and good medical judgement to help them live their life well, trying to think outside the box whenever possible I'll give them the treatment options, pros and cons, and involve them in the decision-making process.
Finally, it's my custom and privilege to pray with any patient who wishes to do so before surgery. This is absolutely optional and I don't presume upon anyone's faith...but surgery can be unsettling and I find that the majority of patients appreciate the offer."
