John Salmon trained in medicine at the University of Melbourne and graduated in 1985. He completed the orthopaedic training program in Melbourne, in 1995. He then undertook fellowships in Australia and the United Kingdom for further training in shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand surgery.

John opened private practice at East Melbourne in 1997, and also held positions at two public hospitals: PANCH/Northern and the Monash Medical Centre - until 2002, when he resigned to focus on his growing private practice.

John performs surgery predominantly on the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Approximately 60% of his surgery performed is on the shoulder, much of which is athroscopic or arthroscope assisted. His interests include sporting injuries, rotator cuff injury and joint replacement. John performs approximately 700-800 operations per year.

John has performed surgery for a number of AFL and VFL clubs, as well as Melbourne Storm Rugby Club.