Dr. Greg Tchejeyan is more than a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. He’s a family man, an eagle scout, and a German Shepherd Schutzhund trainer. He’s a long-range sport fisherman, an outdoor enthusiast, and a 5-time Ironman Triathlon Finisher.
But above all, Dr. Greg Tchejeyan is a man of great integrity and dedication, two qualities that have brought him to where he is today.
Dr. Tchejeyan and his wife of 25 years have three beautiful daughters, who have followed in his footsteps towards success and achievement. As a family, they had long-upheld the ideal of setting and achieving goals, but that ideology manifested itself in a new way when Dr. T. turned 40. On this birthday, he made the commitment to himself to be in tip-top shape and ultimately become an Ironman Triathlete.
“I know that a physician is an advocate of health, but I believe they should also be an example of health.”
Dr. Greg Tchejeyan
Dr. Tchejeyan set a personal goal and he accomplished it. But this wasn’t a first for him. He has a long history of pursuing his dreams. In fact, that’s how Dr. T. found his calling to become an orthopedic surgeon. He set his mind to pursue his dream of healing others through surgery.
But exactly WHO he wanted to heal might surprise you!
The Early Years
13-year-old Dr. T. wanted nothing more than to get a dog. His parents wouldn’t agree to a puppy but instead encouraged him to volunteer at the local humane society to train and care for dogs. Dedicated to his goals, Dr. Greg started volunteering and became intrigued by the veterinary profession. As a high school senior, he began volunteering at a local vet clinic, where he was confronted with a situation that made him rethink this direction.
A dog was brought in for an unknown condition that caused him intense pain. With limited diagnostic tests available at the time, the decision was made to put him down and end his suffering. Later, an autopsy revealed that the pain was the result of a plastic bone in his stomach – something surgery could have fixed had they known the situation. Always seeking to heal, Dr. T. was disheartened by this pet’s fate. His love of animals never left him, but this experience helped him realize that he was meant to pursue a more life-giving field of medicine.
Pictured here: Dr. Tchejeyan with his German Shepherd, ‘Nucan Vom Tollhaus,’ with whom he regularly competes in the sport of Schutzhund (a German dog sport that focuses on training working dogs for tracking, obedience, and protection).
Higher Education
Coming from a medical and engineering family, Dr. T. knew he wanted to continue in the medical industry in college. He remained in his hometown of Santa Barbara, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCSB. During that time, he began working as an orderly at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he was exposed to a variety of medical cases. Upon peering into one surgery room window, he observed a skilled surgeon using drills and saws to perform joint replacement surgery. Now that was impressive and intriguing to a college-aged, pre-med student!
This led him to USC, where he began his medical school journey with a clear interest in orthopedic joint replacement. Dr. T. fondly recalls his time working in a biomechanics lab for orthopedic implant devices. There he was able to garner knowledge and experience with joint replacement devices and the bioengineering behind them. He graduated from USC in the Medical Honor Society.
Here, Dr. Tchejeyan sits on his Los Feliz apartment steps in Los Angeles, where he lived during USC medical school and residency.
Dr. Tchejeyan eventually completed his residency at USC, where he saw a wide variety of cases at the county hospital. Upon completing his residency, and due to his interest in athletics, he decided to pursue additional training at a fellowship in New York City that focused on sports medicine, particularly the knee. There, he studied under the tutelage of a world-renowned professor, Dr. John Insall, and other great surgeons who specialized in joint replacements and all types of knee surgeries. Sure, all that experience was great for the resume, but his sports-fan patients are more impressed that he was a part of the doctor team for the Knicks and the Yankees!
Despite many years of well-varied training and education, Dr. Tchejeyan firmly believes in continuing his education even today. He believes it’s important to stay up to date with the latest research in orthopedics. “It’s an ever-evolving field. The orthopedic surgery techniques are always changing, and I’m always researching and questioning new methods before I’ll adopt them into my practice,” says Dr. T., “I owe that to my patients.”
Understanding His Patients
Dr. T is known best for understanding his patients. For instance, sports has always been a passion of Dr. Tchejeyan’s. Originally from Santa Barbara, Dr. T. grew up playing water polo, surfing, fishing, swimming, biking, camping, and hiking. He still enjoys these outdoor activities today but becoming a 5-time Ironman Triathlon Competitor is what gave him a new perspective in his practice of medicine.
Being an athlete himself, Dr. Tchejeyan can relate to and understand his patients who seek to continue with their athletic passions.
“People don’t want to be told not to run,” says Dr. T, “That’s why I’m so passionate about the sports medicine specialty. I love helping people stay active, and preserve their joints…not always by having surgery, but even utilizing exercises and lifestyle changes to maximize joint health.”
Pictured here, Dr. Tchejeyan with the biggest fish he ever caught – a 107 lb yellowfin tuna.
The TJN Difference
Dr. Tchejeyan started his practice to offer a different approach to joint healthcare. He felt there was a need in the industry that wasn’t always being addressed. Dr. Tchejeyan warns against jumping into surgery, noting that his care and concern is what sets him apart:
“Doctors often order an MRI, see a finding, and determine what should be done solely on an MRI finding. This isn’t always the best approach. MRI findings are just that – findings. They don’t provide a diagnosis because they don’t tell the whole story. Being an athlete myself, I really try to listen to my patients and hear their problems. Then we use technology and their symptoms to determine a course of action together.”
Dr. T. is most proud of bringing a breadth of knowledge and training to his patients. His experience at USC County Hospital made him very comfortable with fractures and traumas since that’s what he saw most often. Likewise, his time with the New York Knicks and Yankees has given him the athletic perspective on shoulders, hips, and knees that most doctors can’t compete with. At the end of the day, Dr. Tchejeyan is ready for any case that comes his way!
TJN Orthopaedics Today
TJN Orthopaedics has been open for over 20 years in Thousand Oaks, California. Since then, Dr. Tchejeyan has performed over 11,000 surgeries with one of the highest success rates in the greater LA area. Want to know how he does it? Efficiency.
Being a goal-setter, Dr. T. set out to streamline the surgical process for the benefit of his patients. And…yes, you guessed it! He accomplished his goal!
He and his team realized that reproducibility translated to efficiency. They watched videos of their joint replacement surgeries to fine-tune their steps. Every tool and task is perfectly orchestrated to create a brilliant composition! As a result, a surgery that often takes 3 hours is fine-tuned to one hour or less. Nothing is rushed, but consistent attention to detail results in fewer complications from surgery.
Widely recognized as the “LA Knee Guy”, Dr. T, also routinely performs shoulder, hip, and knee surgeries at his full-service clinic. He’s spent years building relationships with the best partners in order to provide a team of pros for your surgery.
“We work with a dedicated anesthesia group, surgical team, and peri-operative physicians. I’m the quarterback, but the whole team is helping when you sign up with me! From the pre-op appointment to post-op physical therapy, I am involved in every part of surgery and recovery to ensure your healing.”
TJN Orthopaedics boasts a 4200 square foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment. He utilizes digital imaging on-site, ultrasound-guided injections, minimally invasive robotic arms, and more. With electronic medical records, parking in front, and first-floor entry – your visit to TJN Orthopaedics will leave you feeling comfortable and cared for.
Come visit our office at:
250 Lombard Street, 1st Floor
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
