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John Morellato, MD

John Morellato, MD

Specialties: Orthopaedic, Orthopaedic Trauma, Orthopaedic Nonunions and Malunions

Gender: Male

Biography: John Morellato is a board certified Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon. He was born and raised on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia. After completing a degree in Pharmacy at the University of British Columbia and working there as a pharmacist he then moved to Australia to complete Medical School at the University of Sydney where he graduated with honors. After nearly two years working as a house officer at St George Hospital in Sydney, he then transitioned back to Canada where he completed residency training in Ottawa, Ontario at the University of Ottawa. During residency he completed an AO Trauma Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and board certified with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

He completed subspeciatly training in Orthopaedic Trauma by completing a fellowship at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, MD. During his fellowship he was able to participate in the AOTrauma North America Travelling Fellows Initiative travelling to Davos, Switzerland. He joined the faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after his fellowship and currently holds the rank of Associate Professor. He is an active faculty member with AO North America, a member of the OTA and currently serves as the Quality Officer for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

My Approach to Healthcare

My approach to health care is to treat all people who present with traumatic injuries as I would want my family. My goal is to help every patient I treat get back to enjoying and living their life as they were before their injury.

Practice Locations

1 UMMC Medical Pavilion
2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216
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2 UMMC Colony Park South
326 Commerce Center Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39157
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Accepted Insurance Plans

The University of Mississippi Medical Center accepts all plans, but may not be an in-network provider with your plan. We encourage you to contact your insurer and ask if the plan is in network with UMMC. Always contact your insurance carrier for specific coverage information.

Network Participation - 2026

MississippiCAN and CHIP [Managed Care programs promulgated by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid]

  • Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
  • Magnolia Health (Centene)
  • TrueCare

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace [Individual plans offered on healthcare.gov]

  • Ambetter from Magnolia Health (Centene)
  • Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, Inc.
  • UHC Marketplace (Madison only)

Medicare Advantage

  • Devoted Health Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP
  • HealthSpring Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP
  • Humana: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
  • United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP, CSNP, ISNP
  • WellCare (Centene) Plans: PPO, HMO, DSNP

Commercial - Group and Individual

  • Aetna Plans: PPO, HMO [Includes all facilities except UMMC Madison]
  • BCBSMS Plans: BlueCardPPO, State Health Plan (AHS), Federal Employee Plan (FEP)
  • Cigna Plans: PPO, HMO
  • United Healthcare Plans: PPO, HMO (Includes plans administered by UMR, UnitedHealth Group's wholly owned third-party administrator (TPA) subsidiary)

Transplant Only Networks

  • Optum Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, VAD
  • Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS) Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD
  • Interlink Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T
  • Celtic Plans: Ambetter, WellCare, Magnolia Health MississippiCAN, Magnolia Health CHIP • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT
  • Cigna Lifesource Plan: Commercial • Programs: Solid Organ, BMT, CAR-T, VAD

Dental

  • Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
  • Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial

Vision

  • Avesis Plan: MississippiCAN and CHIP (TrueCare)
  • Always Care/Unum Plan: Commercial

Rental Networks (Utilized by self-funded employer group plans and third-party administrators (TPAs))

  • Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN) [If MPCN is present on a Member/Subscriber ID, all UMMC facilities and providers are in-network regardless of TPA.]
  • First Choice Health Plan
  • Claritev (formerly Multiplan)
  • Zelis

Government Programs

  • Humana Military Plan: Tricare
  • United Healthcare Plan: Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks

Plans and Payors UMMC is not in-network with as of April 1, 2026

  • Oscar Health Plan: ACA Marketplace [Final negotiations taking place now. Anticipate in-network participation, effective June 1, 2026.]
  • Cigna (Connect EPO) Plan: ACA Marketplace
  • American Health Advantage Plan: Medicare Advantage
  • Patrius Health (BCBSMS) Plan: Medicare Advantage
  • Aetna Plan: Medicare Advantage

Education

Board Certification: Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma; Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Trauma
Fellowship:Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland
Internship:University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine
Medical Education:The University of Sydney
Residency:University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine

Experience

Current Positions

Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 3921607/2023 - Present

Specialty Certification Licensure

Licensure, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board Certified08/2021 - 12/2031
Licensure, Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada12/2013 - Present
Certification, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada06/2017 - Present
Licensure, Mississippi State Medical License09/2018 - Present

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Associate Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center2023
2023 Pillars: Recognition of Service & Inclusive Excellence – Honorable Mention, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Mississippi Medical Center2023
Robert A McGuire Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery2022
Outcomes of Patients with Femoral Fractures corrected by using Femoral Recon Nail, Adolescent Lateral Femoral Nail, or Lateral Femoral Nail - Grant, Johnson & Johnson / DePuy Synthes2022
UMMC Diversity and Inclusion Champion and Professional Development Certificate Program, UMMC Office of Diversity and Inclusion2021
Resident Teaching Award, University of Ottawa2017
Dr. Merv Letts Award for Scholarship, University of Ottawa2017
University of Ottawa Anatomy Prize, University of Ottawa2017
Canadian Orthopaedic Association Award, 3rd Place Resident Research Paper, Canadian Orthopaedic Association2016
Dr. Merv Letts Award for Scholarship, University of Ottawa2016
Outstanding Poster Presentation Award, University of Ottawa2015
Best Basic Science Paper, University of Ottawa, HBK Uthoff Annual Research Day2015
Highest Achieving Student in Medicine, University of Sydney2010
AM Taylor Scholarship In Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Sydney2009
Westmead Hospital Association Student Travel Grant, Westmead Hospital Association2009
Sydney University Sport Senate Scholarship - Rugby, Sydney University2009
Westmead Hospital Association Student Travel Grant, Westmead Hospital Association2008
Sydney University Sport Senate Scholarship - Rugby, Sydney University2008
UBC Sport Scholarship - Rugby, University of British Columbia2005
UBC Sport Scholarship - Rugby, University of British Columbia2004
UBC Sport Scholarship - Rugby, University of British Columbia2003
UBC Sport Scholarship - Rugby, University of British Columbia2002
UBC Sport Scholarship - Rugby, University of British Columbia2001