Dr. Garland was born in Western North Carolina and lived in Asheville until age ten.  His family relocated to Melbourne, Florida when he was ten years old and he was fortunate to witness the Gemini and Apollo space programs firsthand.  It was at that point that he became interested in electronics and has held an amateur radio license ever since.

Dr. Garland is a graduate of Clemson University with an undergraduate major in microbiology with an emphasis in biochemistry.  He worked as a biochemist and microbiologist for two years and then did research in cardiovascular and neuropharmacology  for three years.  He and his mentor, Professor Al Ingenito, published several scientific papers in pharmacology.

He is a graduate of East Carolina University School of Medicine, was in the top five percent of his graduating class, and is a sustaining charter member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society.   Dr. Garland completed his internship in general surgery at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Carolinas Medical Center is the largest hospital system in both of the Carolinas and currently controls 4400 beds.  The residency programs there are traditionally among the best in the country. 

After completing residency, Dr. Garland remained in Charlotte in private practice and retained a teaching appointment with Carolinas Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery.  He served as an attending  member of the core orthopaedic trauma team and was also tasked with teaching residents.  His background in sports medicine was tempered by working with Dr. Glenn Perry (Charlotte Hornets, Charlotte Bobcats and the U.S. Olympic “Dream Team”), Dr. Robert Anderson (considered by many to be the finest foot and ankle surgeon in the world), Dr. Don D’Alessandro (Carolina Panthers team physician and nationally renowned shoulder surgeon) and Dr. James Kellam (internationally recognized in orthopaedic trauma).  He has had extensive experience with professional and collegiate sports teams and professional stock car racing teams.

Dr.   Garland and his wife, Noelle, have been married since 1979 and have three children.  His interests include his family and anything mechanical.  His major area of interest in orthopaedics is  in the arthroscopic treatment of afflictions of the shoulder, knee and ankle. He also has a great deal of interest in the treatment of  foot and ankle problems, orthopedic trauma,  and the surgical treatment of hand and elbow problems.