About Dr. Semertzides

"Improving people's lives is my lifelong commitment."

—Dr. John Semertzides

Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he is a highly respected surgeon and an international authority on adhesion surgery. Dr. Semertzides' expertise is in the areas of adhesions and laparoscopy.

When Dr. Semertzides graduated from medical school in 1979, he had no idea his medical career would one day include the title "pioneer." But as only one of a handful of surgeons in the world willing and qualified to perform difficult "adhesion" surgeries, Dr. Semertzides takes great pride in his ability to relieve the pain and suffering of patients who have lost hope. His patients passionately recommend him, describing him as "warm and understanding," "a miracle worker," "a life saver," and "my last hope."

Throughout his surgical career which started as private practice in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1985, Dr. Semertzides has always focused on new, innovative, and effective ways to practice surgery.

The idea of Laparoscopy to do abdominal surgery fascinated him. In 1989 taught by Dr. Eddie Joe Reddick, the first surgeon in the United States to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomies, he started to perform these surgeries in Cincinnati; in 1990 he also started to perform laparoscopic appendectomies and hernias.

In 1991, Julie, a patient with 19 abdominal surgeries and near daily ER visits and hospitalizations, was referred to him for treatment. Dr. Semertzides knew that Julie's problem wouldn't be solved with a 20th operation. Something different should be done.

He started to research past treatments, recent developments, and think about new ways to treat abdominal Adhesions. His objective was to treat them so that scar tissue would not reform; or if it did, it wouldn't be so thick to make bowel function worse, but rather better.

The same philosophy holds today. He still treats patients with pioneering methods and materials. Since 1991 he has helped hundreds of patients that have suffered from adhesions. A percentage of them have been cured, another percentage has been improved and a third group has not. Even for this third group, Dr. Semertzides has offered relief by designing a personalized plan for each.

Professional Evaluation:
  • Certification American Board of Surgery-4/16/86
  • Re-Certification American Board of Surgery-10/16/98
  • Fellowship, American College of Surgeons 10/89
Professional Affiliations:
  • American College of Surgeons-1983
  • American Medical Association-1982
  • Ohio State Medical Association-1986
  • Indiana State Medical Association-1986
  • Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons-1994
  • American Association of Physicians and Surgeons-1995
  • American Hernia Society-2000
Consulting/Research Activities

John Semertzides, M.D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, applies CROSSEAL™ Fibrin Sealant to stop bleeding during a liver procedure. The components are mixed during delivery with an applicator device that can be used for two different application methods.


Faculty, Laser Centers of America 1989
( Surgical Instructor in the use of lasers and in laparoscopic techniques. I did cadaver research to develop and improve pelvic laparoscopic techniques.)
Private Preceptor to surgeons instructing techniques of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Researcher, international lecturer, instructor in the use of the Holmium laser in general surgery, Coherent Laser Corporation, 1990-92.

Instructor in laparoscopic techniques-1989-94, instrument and laparoscopic suture design consultant, Ethicon, Inc. 1992-93. (This work resulted in United States Patent #5,284,485 “Endoscopic Knotting Device”, February 8, 1994.)

Lecturer in laparoscopic and laser surgery, Missouri Laser Institute, 1990-91.

Lecturer in laparoscopic and laser surgery, Advanced Laser Services, 1990-92.

Surgical consultant for instrument design and research, Enable Medical Corporation, 1995.

Development of research protocol for the surgical treatment of chronic partial bowel obstruction from adhesions in human subjects-24 patients,1991-95. (This work resulted in United States Patent #5,601,579 “Method For The Treatment Of Bowel Adhesions”, February 11, 1997.)

Pioneer in the treatment of peritoneal adhesions in human subjects, development of treatment protocol in the use of Tisseel fibrin sealant, Baxter Bio-Surgery, 1999-04.

Only American member of Baxter Biosurgery Advisory Board – Adhesion Prevention, Domaine de Belesbat, France, July 6-7, 2001.

Developing techniques for the use of Crosseal fibrin sealant in the treatment of peritoneal adhesions, 2004-ongoing.

IRB approved clinical investigation in the utility of mesodermal cells in the treatment of very severe peritoneal injury, 2004-ongoing, Biomet Biologics/Cell Factor Technologies, Inc.