Orthopedic surgeon joins the Sheridan Orthopedic Associates team

An Orthopedic surgeon has joined the team at Sheridan Orthopedic Associates.

Dr. Christian Balcescu (Ball-chess-coo) received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and trained in spinal surgery in the Midwest. Balcescu said he believes surgery to be a last option and brings new perspective and new techniques to the Sheridan Orthopedic care team.

Balcescu moved to Wyoming after searching for the right place to settle with his wife and young son. The young family wish to one day purchase a small ranch in the area.   

Born in Bucharest, Romania, living with his grandparents and his mother, a young Balcescu witnessed the turmoil of the dissolving of the Eastern Bloc once under the control of Soviet Russia. Balcescu recalled that even two years after the fall of Soviet Russia, protests and civil unrest filled the centers of Romanian cities. 

It would be a random accident that led Balcescu to his calling. While walking to a Bucharest park with his friend, a vehicle jumped the curb and although the car missed Balcescu, his friend was badly injured. The collision caused spinal injuries, two broken legs, a broken arm and other injuries. True to his friendship, Balcescu would accompany his friend to orthopedic appointments for the next year and a half. The process of healing fascinated Balcescu, who wanted to learn how the body, with a little help, could heal itself.   

When he was 12 years old, his mother and grandparents moved with him to southern California to offer Balcescu a better future.  

The move was more than a bit of a culture shock for young Balcescu, who discovered that living in democratic California was a far cry from Romania, which was still recovering from communist Soviet control. But with the diversity of California, came an acceptance by his peers through school.   

School came easy to Balcescu, who discovered that Romanian schools were –to his surprise– ahead of schools in California. He was placed in advanced math and honors English classes. 

He attended College in Southern California, where he met his wife. A portion of Balcescu’s medical training was done in the underserved community of Riverside, CA, sparking his desire to move from the metropolitan area. Both he and his wife wanted something smaller, more simple than the fast pace of city life and to be surrounded by like-minded people. 

Balcescu currently works at Sheridan Orthopedic Associates, 307-674-7469, their website can be reached here.