Jonathon Backus, MD
Jonathon Backus, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle conditions at The Steadman Clinic in Vail and Frisco, Colorado, where he also serves as Director of Foot and Ankle Research. A graduate of the Steadman Clinic Foot and Ankle Fellowship Program under Dr. Thomas Clanton, Dr. Backus brings expertise in the care of athletes and active individuals, with a focus on sports injuries, fractures, arthritis, arthroscopy, ligament instability, and complex reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Backus Biography
Dr. Backus earned his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Washington University in St. Louis. Following fellowship training in Vail, he spent time in private practice in Denver before returning to Washington University as an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. During his four years on faculty, he led clinical research on ankle instability, fracture management, and outcomes of motion-preserving procedures, and remains active in national collaborative studies.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Backus has authored numerous scientific publications and serves as a reviewer and editor for leading orthopaedic journals. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Foundation and has been recognized by his peers as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and serves as a physician for the U.S. Ski Team.
Raised in a small farming town in southern Illinois, Dr. Backus attended the University of Illinois, graduating with distinction in molecular and cellular biology. He also completed a Cancer Research Training Award Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health before pursuing his medical studies at Duke.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Backus enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and hiking with his family in the Colorado Rockies.
