John E. Etlinger grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and received a B.A. from St. Mary's University in 1972. He received an MD from Texas Tech University in 1975, completed General Surgery Residency at Baylor University Medical Center in 1980, and was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1985.
John became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1986 and a Fellow of the Texas Surgical Society in 1988. He started his own private practice of General Surgery from 1980 to present.
- M.D., Texas Tech University, 1975
- B.A., St. Mary's University, 1972