The Dynamic Duo
Mark Prevost Sr. and Mark Prevost II share a commitment to providing cutting-edge care and transforming lives in the Jasper community.
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
Mark Prevost Sr.’s path to becoming a spine surgeon was anything but straightforward. Initially drawn to different surgical specialties, including maxillofacial and cardiothoracic, the New Hampshire-raised physician found his niche in orthopedics, inspired by the down-to-earth nature of those in the field and a mentor specializing in spine surgery.
"I fell in love with the intricacy of spine surgeries, my mentor's lifestyle, and his connection with patients. That's when I knew it was the right fit for me," he says.
During his orthopedic residency in Jackson, Mississippi, a chance trip to Smith Lake led Mark to discover and fall in love with the Jasper community. The rest, they say, is history.
Mark, his wife Sandy, and their children, Mark II and Matthew, moved to Jasper in 2001, and Mark went into private practice. Despite initial concerns about the demand for spine specialists in Jasper, Dr. Prevost has witnessed a continuous momentum across the 23 years he has served the community.
Following in his father's footsteps, Mark II also pursued a career in spine surgery. After completing his medical schooling and residency at the University of South Alabama and a spine fellowship at the Texas Back Institute, he returned to Jasper in 2022 to join his father in practice at Southern Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.
The two work together daily, yet no day is typical. Some are clinic-only days, following a standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule; others are surgery days that start at 7 a.m. and have been known to last 12 hours or more. While some might say that prolonged constant exposure to one's family would cause strain, the Prevosts have found the opposite true.
"We have a unique relationship of mutual respect," says Mark II. "We have worked together on projects at home over the years, so our collaboration comes naturally. I'm constantly learning in this role, and I can't think of anyone better to learn from or with than my dad. I'm a much better surgeon just one year after starting to work with him."
Mark Sr. adds that working with his son is a great source of joy. "The training Mark received at Texas Back Institute is some of the best in the world. I'm amazed at the caliber of his knowledge and skills. It has been an enjoyable time working together. We seem to do it seamlessly."
While they will continue to perform surgeries together at the local hospital, the two will soon take their working relationship to the next level by opening their practice, the Alabama Back Institute, in early 2024. Located in the former Downtown Foods building on 19th Street in Jasper, the new practice allows the Prevosts to enhance the level of care that patients can receive in their own backyard.
"We are firm believers that the best results come from hands-on patient care, and we are excited to be able to provide that to our community," says Mark II. "People may think they'll get better care if they go to Birmingham or another larger city, but that's not necessarily true. We want to personally invest back into the community by providing the best facility for them."
Mark Sr. adds, "Walker Baptist Medical Center has so graciously invested in such state-of-the-art equipment for us to best treat our patients; it's truly some of the best in the world. We will proudly extend that by offering top-of-the-line technology in our practice."
The Alabama Back Institute will feature an open MRI - the fastest and strongest in the state of Alabama - and high-performing X-ray equipment that reduces radiation exposure to patients and can capture special film from the skull to the pelvis in one image.
The younger Prevost brother, Matthew, will join his father and brother in practice at the Alabama Back Institute after completing his specialty training in the fall of 2024. Mark Sr. and Mark II gladly welcome the extra hands.
"The complex pathology we see here in Jasper is amazing. Just since Mark joined me, we've seen some cases that would be difficult for even the best-trained surgeons anywhere in the country, and they're certainly all-hands-on-deck operations," says the senior Prevost.
Mark II says that the complex pathology is due to the hardworking nature of the community.
"People aren't seeing us when they just have back pain. By the time we're seeing patients, their injuries are quite advanced. So much of the time, it's a result of intense physical labor performed over many years. I think that speaks volumes of the kind of people that make up this town and its surrounding areas."
And that appreciation for the community drives the Doctors Prevost to put on their scrubs and head to work each day.
"Working in this community allows us a unique opportunity to see the people we serve out in the world, maybe at a festival downtown or even at a sporting event. There's nothing like seeing a patient out in the community after an intense surgery, and they're walking taller and moving faster than they thought they'd ever be able to again. That is infinitely rewarding," says Mark II.
Outside of work, the Prevosts are just as involved in their community as they are while on the clock. Mark Sr. and Sandy enjoy renovating local properties for residential and commercial purposes and are leading the charge on the Alabama Back Institute buildout. Mark II and his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Anna O'Mary Prevost, are parents to Mary Ellen (4) and Mark III (2). The four enjoy participating in community events and initiatives, with their most recent new adventure leading Mark II to coach Mary Ellen's soccer team.
The Prevosts' unique bond, coupled with their upcoming cutting-edge facility, reflects a genuine desire to provide the highest level of care to the people of Jasper. But the Prevosts are not simply treating patients; they are transforming lives and contributing to the continued well-being of a community they hold dear. 78