Dr. Takenaga attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied business economics. After two years in the business world, he pursued a master’s degree in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University in La Mirada, CA, and then started a Ph.D in philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin.
A passion to serve those in need prompted him to leave academic philosophy and pursue a career in medicine. He graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and then completed orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. During residency, Dr. Takenaga performed research, published articles, and presented at meetings on topics such as fragility fractures and the long-term outcomes of total hip arthroplasty.