Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Fellowship - Leadership and Faculty
Meet our Faculty
J. Benjamin Jackson III, MD, MBA, FAOA, FAAOS, is a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at Prisma Health in Columbia, South Carolina, where he also serves as the Lunceford-Moore Distinguished Professor of Orthopedic Research, Vice Chair of Research and a full Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia.
Dr. Jackson completed his undergraduate education at Mars Hill College in Asheville, North Carolina, where he competed in cross country and track and field at the Division II level and was a two-time NCAA Academic All-American. He earned an MBA from the USC Darla Moore School of Business and then finished medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he served as student body president. Jackson completed his orthopedic residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he received the resident teaching award. He then completed a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the University of Utah.
His clinical interests include injuries and disorders of the foot and ankle. A highly skilled surgeon and caring physician, Dr. Jackson is a national leader in foot and ankle conditions. He has published nine book chapters and more than 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts, in addition to being awarded more than $4 million of federal research funding, including from the DoD, NIH, and NSF.
He has lectured nationally for the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and National Hyperbaric Medicine Association. He serves on committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and AOFAS. He is a journal reviewer for five major orthopedic journals. He has been awarded a utility patent for an orthopedic device and has several other patents pending. Orthopedic manufacturers have recognized his work and he has been sought out to develop orthopedic devices and procedures.
Locally, he is the head team physician for the USC track and field and cross-country teams. He was a member of the medical staff for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Track and Field Trials and the 2022 track and field World Championships. Dr. Jackson is the foot and ankle consultant for USC, South Carolina, South Carolina State University, Newberry College, Allen University, Benedict College and Columbia International University. He has served as the president of the South Carolina Orthopaedic Association and chief of staff for Prisma Health’s Baptist Parkridge Hospital. He is the medical director for the Foot and Ankle Division at Prisma Health. Additionally, he serves as a leader on both hospital and departmental committees.
Dr. Jackson believes he can improve patient outcomes through quality research and individualized care. He previously officiated collegiate and professional soccer. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four boys.
Dr. Tyler Gonzalez is a Board Certified, fellowship-trained Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon. He is currently Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at University of South Carolina/ Prima Health. He earned his Bachelor of Science from University of California Berkeley, MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and medical degree from UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School, then went on to pursue a subspecialty fellowship training in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Throughout his carrier, Dr. Gonzalez has focused on improving patient care, medical education, and research. His committed interest and passion in translational, clinical and biomechanical research has prompted over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations.
Additionally, Dr. Gonzalez routinely lectures in regional, national, and international forums specifically on minimally invasive surgical approaches to foot and ankle surgery. As such, Dr. Gonzalez acts as an active reviewer for both Foot and Ankle International, Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics. Foot and Ankle Specialist, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons ( AAOS) and The American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons( ABOS) .
Dr. Gonzalez is an active member of various foot and ankle surgery societies including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), AOFAS Post Graduate Education Committee, AOFAS on Demand Education Committee, AAOS foot and ankle evaluation committee, ABOS foot and ankle recertification committee, International WBCT Society and founding member of FASSTER ( Foot and Ankle System to Speed Time to Expected Recovery) Consortium. He is the President and Co-Founder of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Inc. a collaboration of foot and ankle surgeons to improve delivery of health care, innovate on current surgical technologies and advance overall patient care. As such he is on various Surgery Design Teams, creating new surgeries and surgical tools to improve patient care. Additionally, Dr. Gonzalez has also focused on entrepreneurship in health care and been involved with several health care startups throughout his career.
Dr. Gonzalez has a clinical interest in minimally invasive (MIS) foot and ankle surgery, Charcot Marie Tooth disease, sports-related injuries and cartilage preservation and replacement surgery.
Outside of these clinical interests, Dr. Gonzalez's passions include his family including his 3 children, fishing, golfing, traveling the world, rowing, yoga and good food!
Stephanie Altobello, APRN, completed her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing at the University of Delaware in Newark and is certified as an Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Stephanie has worked in many areas of the nursing field and brings this unique perspective and knowledge to foot and ankle patients.
Her interests include disease prevention and wellness.
Anne Harper, PA-C, attended the University of South Carolina where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Biological Sciences as well as Psychology. She then attended the Medical University of South Carolina where she earned her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies.
She is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and holds certification for ATLS, PALS, and ATLS. She worked for 6 years in Trauma Surgery/Critical Care before transitioning to Orthopedics.
Anne is a native of South Carolina and enjoys providing care to those in her community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading and cheering for the Gamecocks!
