One sleepless night in Seattle

A serendipitous story of two surgeons who met one morning in an operating room and formed a lifelong friendship.

By: Mary Goodwin
Drs. John Hendrickson and Fred Huang in Seattle UF College of Medicine graduates and Seattle physicians Drs. John Hendrickson and Fred Huang form a lifelong friendship thanks to their Gator ties. Matthew Ryan Williams
  1. 1948
    Hendrickson is born in Madison, Wis.
  2. 1971
    Huang is born in Man, W. Va., and his family moves to Plant City, Fla., which he calls home.
  3. 1975
    Hendrickson completes medical school at UF.
  4. 1981
    Hendrickson completes fellowship training in sports medicine in Aspen, Colo., and completes residency at the University of Washington in Seattle.
  5. 1996
    Huang completes medical school at UF.
  6. 1999
    Hendrickson and Huang meet in an operating room at Seattle Children's Hospital while operating on the infected hip of a 2-pound, premature infant.
  7. 2000
    Huang, then a chief resident, and Hendrickson arrive at the Seattle Gator Club to watch the Gators together.
  8. 2001
    Huang completes residency at the University of Washington.
  9. 2000
    Hendrickson and Huang go into private practice together at Proliance Orthopedic Associates.
John Hendrickson and Fred Huang at a Seattle coffee shop When UF College of Medicine graduates John Hendrickson, MD ’75, and Fred Huang, MD ’96, met in the operating room 12 years ago in Seattle, the two surgeons formed a unique relationship that would bond them as business partners and close friends. Matthew Ryan Williams