Matthew Karam, MD, President

Orthopaedic Physician

Matthew Karam, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in treating traumatic injuries of the pelvis and extremities. This includes acetabular fractures, hip fractures, and fractures around joints in the upper and lower arms and legs.

Dr. Karam currently serves as the Vice-Chair for Education and is the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program director in the department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Karam has several active areas of research interest; these include surgical skills and simulation training for surgical education.

He has published multiple peer-reviewed scholarly articles as well as numerous textbook chapters. Dr. Karam serves as a member of many local, regional, and national professional organizations. He currently is president of the Iowa Orthopaedic Society Research Foundation.

Matthew Weresh, MD, Vice President

Orthopaedic Physician

Iowa native Dr. Mathew Weresh joined DMOS in 1997. Dr. Weresh specializes in hip and knee procedures, ranging from complex joint replacements to simple joint procedures and surgeries. Dr. Weresh is the first orthopaedic surgeon to serve central Iowa with specialty training in trauma and fracture care, which are primary interests of his as well. He has been published in several articles and presentations on the national level in the fields of hip, knee and general trauma/fracture care. Dr. Weresh enjoys working with all age groups, including adolescents. Outside of patient care, Dr. Weresh enjoys golfing, fishing and competing with the team-in-training marathon group, as well as supporting local school Dowling, among others. He also enjoys family time to the fullest.

Joseph Buckwalter, MD, Director

Orthopaedic Physician

Joseph Buckwalter, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in musculoskeletal oncology, reconstructive surgery, and trauma. He received his medical education here at the University of Iowa and has continued his education through teaching as well as multiple publications and reviews.

He has served as a leader of multiple professional organizations including being a past president for the Orthopaedic Research Society, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the American Orthopaedic Association. Awards such as the Cabaud Award, the Kappa Delta Award, the OREF/ORS Distinguished Investigator Award and the Bristol-Meyers Squibb/Zimmer Award highlight his outstanding orthopaedic research.

His contributions to medicine and science have been recognized by his election to the Institute of Medicine National Academy of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health Council on Councils.

Brent Overton, MD, Secretary/Treasurer

Orthopaedic Physician

Dr. Overton is a board-certified doctor with special interests in treating the hip, knee, and shoulder as well as spine microsurgery and joint replacement surgery.

A native of Traer, Iowa, Dr. Overton received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and his medical degree from The University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. He then completed residency training at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio.

When he’s not seeing patients, Dr. Overton enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and following The University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

Cassim Igram, MD, Director

Orthopaedic Physician

Cassim Igram, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in degenerative disorders of the spine, as well as spinal trauma, tumors, and infections.

After receiving his undergraduate and medical degree here at the University of Iowa, he completed his residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Igram did his fellowship in spine surgery at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.

He joined us after over 20 years in private practice. Dr. Igram’s primary practice is disorders of the adult spine. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive spine surgery.

Abdul Foad, MD, Director

Orthopaedic Physician

Abdul Foad, MD is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and Fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy.  He received his medical degree from Penn State University, his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery from the University of Texas Medical Branch and his fellowship in Sports Medicine from Ulleval Hospital and the International Olympic Trauma and Research Center in Oslo, Norway where he had the opportunity to work on Olympic and professional athletes.

Dr. Foad has published and given presentations on the national and international level.  He recently published a simpler and less invasive technique in shoulder surgery with a successful two-year outcome study.  He continues to publish several peer-reviewed, evidence-based research papers regarding knees and shoulders.  He advocates service with science and specializes in Sports Medicine.

In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, coaching his four children in various sports and playing Ms. Pac Man.

Tim Gibbons, MD, Director

Orthopaedic Physician

Dr. Timothy Allen Gibbons is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 15 years of experience providing state-of-the-art care at Mason City Clinic since 1995. He is a previous Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserves Medical Corps, for which he received a Bronze Star and commendation.
 
Dr. Gibbons graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at the Iowa State University College of Agriculture, before completing his medical degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.  After graduating, he completed a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and then chose to further advance his training through a fellowship in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the University of Iowa.

Mary Bechler, FACMPE

Executive Director

Mary Bechler is a Northwest Iowa native who graduated from Western Christian High School, Hull, IA.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Business Administration Degree from Briar Cliff College, Sioux City.

Her career in medical administration spanned 38 years.  She retired in 2006 as the CEO of The Center for Neuroscience, Orthopaedics and Spine (CNOS) at the Dakota Dunes. 

She is the current Executive Director for the Iowa Orthopaedic Society, The Iowa Orthopaedic Research Foundation and the South Dakota State Medical Society.  She is also on the staff of Sunnybrook Community Church.

Mary is active in church and community activities serving on various boards and mission projects. 

She and her husband Joe enjoyed 51 years together.