ADVENTIST HEALTH LODI MEMORIAL - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon

Kevin Hilton, MD is board certified and fellowship trained as a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon. He specializes in getting patients back in the game. He is a graduate of UC Davis, the University of Kansas School of Medicine, the Los Angeles County/USC orthopedic surgery residency program and received a sports medicine fellowship with Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, Los Angeles. He trained under the late Dr. Frank Jobe, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon who was the longtime team physician for the LA Dodgers. Dr. Hilton served as a team physician for the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, LA Angels of Anaheim, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, LA Galaxy and the USC Trojans. He has also been active in caring for athletes from the LPGA, Sierra Community College, local high schools and Little League Baseball. He is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. He practiced in the Sacramento area for 14 years helping to restore form and function of athletes of all ages and levels. Dr. Hilton provides medical leadership for Adventist Health Lodi Memorial's Orthopedic and Sports Medicine program. Outside of work, Dr. Hilton is a classic muscle car enthusiast and an assistant scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America.

Job Titles:

• Orthopedic Surgeon Specializing in Hand Surgery

Dr. Nakata is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing with Adventist Health Lodi Memorial. Originally from Hawaii, Dr. Nakata moved to California in 1965. He received his undergraduate degree from Pacific Union College and attended medical school at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, where he also completed a hand surgery fellowship. Dr. Nakata provides comprehensive orthopedic care and specializes in hand surgery. After owning and operating a private orthopedic practice in Lodi for more than 30 years, Dr. Nakata decided to join Adventist Health in 2017. Outside of work, Dr. Nakata enjoys spending time with his wife, adult son and twin daughters. His hobbies include working on the farm, snow skiing and snorkeling.

Job Titles:

• Designer of the 65° Tibial Guide
• Orthopedic Surgeon Specializing in Total Knee Replacement ( TKR ), Anterior Cruciate Ligament ( ACL ) Reconstruction, and Meniscal Surgery

Dr. Howell is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Sacramento and Lodi. He joined Adventist Health Lodi Memorial with more than three decades of experience as a clinician, researcher, and innovator in total knee replacement (TKR), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and meniscal surgery. Dr. Howell has trained physicians on five continents and worked together with industry experts to offer the exciting approach to total knee replacement (TKR) called kinematic alignment. This alignment method for TKR is an innovative technique he developed in 2005 to improve placement of the orthopedic implants that form the new knee, resulting in more consistency and reliability in patient outcomes. Importantly, this approach allows for shorter lengths of stay and quicker return to prior function. According to ProPublica, Dr. Howell's readmission, complication, and infection rates after total knee replacement are among the lowest in the nation and he is considered among the Top 3% of California knee replacement surgeons. In the field of ACL reconstruction, Dr. Howell is the designer of the 65° Tibial Guide and EZLoc/WasherLoc anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction system for Zimmer Biomet Sports Medicine. This advanced procedure enables patients to rapidly recover motion and function without bracing, and return to sports and other activities just four to five months after ACL reconstruction. He is also a consultant for Biomet Sports Medicine and has developed instrumentation, implants, and educational materials for ACL reconstruction, which are used nationally and internationally. Truly a leader in his field, Dr. Howell is known for his professional manner and care for his patients. He completed his medical degree at Northwestern University and then completed his orthopedic residency at Thomas Jefferson University. He is a retired military professional who served our country during such critical times as Operation Desert Storm. Dr. Howell has been married 36 years to Lydia Pleotis Howell, M.D. who is the chairperson of the Department of Pathology at UC Davis. They have two daughters, Stephanie who works at LinkedIn and Stacey who is a third-year resident in internal medicine at UC Davis. When not seeing patients or operating, Dr. Howell likes to fly-fish and play a bit of golf. He stays active by walking, swimming, and cycling.

Job Titles:

• Surgeon
• Orthopedic Surgeon Specializing in Total Joint Replacement

Dr. McKenzie is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1973 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. After seven years as an officer, airborne ranger, platoon leader and company commander in the United States Army, he completed his service and went on to earn his doctor of medicine degree, internship, residency and chief residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Returning home to his native town of Lodi, where he is the fourth generation of a farming family, Dr. McKenzie opened his orthopedic and sports medicine private practice in 1990. He offers community members general orthopedic services, including arthroscopy, sports medicine and total shoulder, hip and knee replacements. Dr. McKenzie has strong interest and expertise in sports medicine, having designed, developed, patented, produced and marketed an arthroscopic meniscus instrument used worldwide in arthroscopic knee surgery. He currently specializes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Dr. McKenzie is an innovator in the area of total joint replacement. He coordinated the development of Adventist Health Lodi Memorial's comprehensive bundled payment program, leading administrative, operative, nursing care and financial teams to ensure its success. The bundled payment program offers patients coordinated, comprehensive total hip and knee replacement care, ensuring measured quality outcomes and financial value to all patients. Dr. McKenzie has been an active with Lodi Memorial since 1990, having served in various leadership positions including chief of surgery and chief of staff. For almost a decade, he served on the board of directors of the San Joaquin County Medical Society, including positions of treasurer, vice president and president.