Orthopaedic Trauma Providers

Brianna Pendergrass, FNP-BC, earned her degrees in exercise science and nursing from Mississippi College. She began her career as a registered nurse working in the Emergency Department and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, where she developed a strong foundation in acute patient care. In 2018, she returned to school at Belmont University to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing degree. In 2020, Brianna served as a flight nurse in the United States Air Force where she was named the distinguished flight nurse of her class for leadership and top testing scores. With a longstanding passion for orthopaedics, she joined UMMC orthopaedics in 2025. She is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and providing evidence-based care, with a strong commitment to lifelong learning.

Patrick F. Bergin, MD, joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2011.  A native of Amite, LA, he finished high school in Natchez before receiving his undergraduate degree in biological engineering from Mississippi State University. He attended medical school at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed his residency at George Washington University in 2010 before completing his fellowship at OrthoIndy in Indianapolis. Dr. Bergin was promoted to associate professor and division chief of Orthopaedic Trauma within the department in 2017 and has since been awarded a tenured professorship on July 1, 2023. He is also the director of research for the department and the author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters. With the aid of the research department, he is the principal investigator of a number of multicenter research studies advancing the field of orthopaedic trauma. Patrick is married to Lacey Bergin, and together they have three amazing boys and one beautiful daughter.

Peter N. Mittwede, MD, PhD, was born in South Carolina, but spent much of his childhood in Ankara, Turkey. He returned to the United States to attend Belhaven University. He then completed the MD/PhD program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, with a PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Hester in the Department of Physiology. His research collaborations led him to an interest in orthopaedic surgery. He then left Mississippi to complete an orthopaedic surgery residency program at UPMC in Pittsburgh, followed by a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, prior to returning to Mississippi to join the faculty. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Mittwede is interested in education, community service and orthopaedic trauma research, and hopes to foster continued growth within the department in these areas. He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications in orthopaedics. Outside of medicine, Dr. Mittwede enjoys spending time with his family (wife, three sons and daughter) and friends, as well as watching and playing a variety of sports.

Matthew Graves, MD, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and attended Vanderbilt University for his undergraduate education. He applied for early admission to the University of Mississippi Medical School. After graduating medical school, he stayed at UMMC for his orthopaedic surgery residency. He completed two fellowships elsewhere, but returned to UMMC in 2006 and joined the department. He was former residency program director for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and was recently named chair of the department in 2023. He is also the Hansjörg Wyss AO Medical Foundation Chair of Orthopaedic Trauma. He lectures nationally and internationally and has a primary clinical focus on complex fracture care and nonunions/malunions. His secondary focus is adult education.

Joseph Dynako, MD, attended The University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, IN, where he completed a bachelor of science degree in biology while playing defensive end on the football team. As senior he was voted team captain, was a NAIA COSIDA Academic All-American, and received the team's Silver Helmet Award. He attended medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine and did all four years in South Bend on Notre Dame's campus. During medical school he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He then completed his residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. During residency, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He also was afforded the opportunity to do an in-folded AO Trauma Fellowship at the Kantonsspital Graubünden in Chur, Switzerland, (one of the four founding hospitals of the AO). Following residency, he completed an additional orthopaedic trauma fellowship at Harborview Medical Center in Seatle, WA, widely regarded as one of the top trauma fellowships in the world. He specializes in the care of all fractures of the pelvis and extremities, as well as the management of malaligned and unhealed fractures (malunions and nonunions).

John Morellato, MD, is a board certified orthopaedic trauma surgeon. He was born and raised on the west coast of Canada in British Columbia. After completing a degree in pharmacy at the University of British Columbia and working there as a pharmacist he then moved to Australia to complete medical school at the University of Sydney where he graduated with honors. After nearly two years working as a house officer at St George Hospital in Sydney, he then transitioned back to Canada where he completed residency training in Ottawa, Ontario, at the University of Ottawa. During residency he completed an AO Trauma Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and board certified with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He completed subspeciatly training in orthopaedic trauma by completing a fellowship at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. During his fellowship he was able to participate in the AOTrauma North America Travelling Fellows Initiative travelling to Davos, Switzerland. He joined the faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center after his fellowship and currently holds the rank of associate professor. He is an active faculty member with AO North America, a member of the OTA and currently serves as the quality officer for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Lori Reed, MD, earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology, graduating summa cum laude from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, before attending the University of Iowa College of Medicine. She completed her orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Nebraska/Creighton University, followed by a fellowship in Foot and Ankle/Lower Extremity Trauma at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute in Tampa, Florida.

Dr. Reed joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2015 and serves as a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. She specializes in foot and ankle surgery and lower-extremity orthopaedic trauma, with particular expertise in the treatment of complex fractures, fracture complications, and reconstructive procedures. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in foot and ankle trauma and has served as faculty for AO Trauma and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.