Dr. John Wilker earned his medical degree from Case Western University in Cleveland Ohio and completed his residency at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. Throughout the years Dr. Wilker has taken pride in showing the same care and compassion for his patients as he would his own family.
Dr. Wilker has probably done more in his life than many of us will combined. What began as a normal college and career track developed into a path with some significant life turns that led him to a fulfilling medical career.
The decision to go into medicine wasn’t exactly his first career choice. Dr. Wilker began his college studies without any real focus given to medicine. In fact, he earned his master’s in metallurgical engineering, the study of metal production, from Ohio State University. However, during his studies, he soon realized he needed to rethink his decision.
“I figured out after four years that engineering probably wasn’t for me; I was more of a people person,” Dr. Wilker said.
During this time, Dr. Wilker’s wife was experiencing some medical issues. As he supported his wife and stood by her side, he got to witness firsthand just how lacking medical care can be. It was this experience that put the notion of medical school in his head.
“I thought I could probably do this and give her better care than she was getting,” he said. “And when I found out the Navy would put me through medical school, it was a pretty easy decision.
So, as a member of the U.S. Army, Dr. John Wilker earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. He then came to sunny Florida for his residency at the naval hospital in Jacksonville.
Upon retiring from the Army, Dr. Wilker went into private practice, where he has remained for over 30 years.
Dr. Wilker strives to make his patients feel heard and not feel like they’re just a number.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.
