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Many take for granted the countless movements our joints perform daily. But when a knee, hip, or other joint is damaged from injury, arthritis, or over-use, even the slightest movement is agonizing. When faced with issues of the hip or knee, where can you go locally for quality care?

Dr. Nestor is passionate about skiing and mountain climbing. Photo courtesy: Washington Orthopaedic Center.

Dr. Bryan Nestor, Washington Orthopaedic Center’s newest surgeon, specializes in surgery of the hip and knee – including primary and complex hip and knee replacement and revision.

Growing up in rural South Dakota, Dr. Nestor recalls an aunt who worked as a scrub nurse. Her operating room stories drew him to medicine. “That was intriguing,” he says.

Gifted at both math and science, the surgical field was a natural fit for Dr. Nestor. He planned on becoming a cardiac surgeon, but a rotation in orthopedics changed his mind. “For the first time, I saw hip and knee patients coming back and it was pretty dramatic,” he says. “It can have a great effect on patients’ lives. To be able to give someone back their mobility is life altering.”

Dr. Nestor first came to the Northwest when he attended Gonzaga University for undergraduate studies. After earning a medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, he went on to complete his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine.

Climbing the Southwest Ridge of Mt. Superior in The Wasatch. “Sometimes the up is as exciting as the down,” Dr. Nestor says. Photo credit: Winslow Passey.

He completed a three-year military obligation with the Navy in return for his medical school scholarship. He thrived in the role, becoming Director of Total Joint Service at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. “It was a way to give back,” he says. “It was a great experience to be in a teaching environment.”

Afterward, he joined a fellowship program at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery, the number one ranked orthopedic hospital in the United States. Here, he was invited to join the surgical staff. “To be at an institution like that was so rewarding,” he says. “The level of efficiency and the intellectual exchange, interacting with residents and fellows, were both certainly things I enjoyed. The level of care I acquired and bring to patients, I am excited to share now in this environment.”

Dr. Nestor and his son Matt atop the South Teton about to ski the East Face and Amore Vida Couloir. Photo credit: Woody Lowry.

The author of many peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Nestor has lectured around the world on total joint replacement of the hip and knee. His society memberships include the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, and Eastern Orthopaedic Association.

While looking for a lifestyle change, Dr. Nestor became interested in an opportunity at Washington Orthopaedic Center. After a phone conversation with Dr. Slattery, he came for a visit. He was impressed by the Center’s level of service and quality of care. “There is a tradition in this practice of service and excellence for over 45 years,” he says. “I was impressed with that.”

The fantastic surgeons at Washington Orthopaedic Center also drew Dr. Nestor to the practice. “The camaraderie in the group and the support really has been something that I appreciate,” he says. “We work together for the betterment of the patient.”

The team effort and that shared concern for patients remind him of his training at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Nestor and Dr. Slattery at the summit of Monte Pasquale in the Ortlers of Italy. Photo courtesy: Dr. Nestor.

His fellow surgeons are equally enthusiastic to have him onboard. “We are excited to have Dr. Nestor join us with more than 20 years of experience in complex hip and knee joint replacement and revision surgery,” says Dr. Keith Birchard. “He is fellowship-trained in hip and knee surgery and was an instructor in the fellowship program at the number one orthopaedic hospital in the country. We are so glad that he has decided to return to his roots in the Northwest and provide this type of top-notch care to our patients.”

Dr. Nestor is grateful for his patients, and all they teach him. “They have given me far more than I did them,” he says. “It’s an incredible experience to watch someone be able to completely alter their life and all the joy, tears, and hugs after. There have been some great life lessons.”

Dr. Nestor also practices at the new Olympia location of Washington Orthopaedic Center. “It’s been an extraordinary journey,” he says. “I really have been blessed and I am grateful for all of my experiences. It’s very much a team sport. It is not a one-man or woman show.”

With a level of expertise that is exemplary, a passion for orthopedic care, and a caring dedication to his patients, Dr. Nestor is a superb addition to the outstanding team at Washington Orthopaedic Center. “I’m very grateful to be here,” he says. “I look forward to serving the community.”

Washington Orthopaedic Center

1900 Cooks Hill Rd.
Centralia
360-736-2889

704 Lilly Rd. S.E.
Olympia
360-754-2454

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