We continue our physician blog series with an informal Q&A with Nicholas Ting, M.D., a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement. He joined Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics in January 2019.
Dr. Ting, please tell our readers a little about yourself and your academic and professional background.
I’m originally from San Francisco but have been living mostly in the Midwest since 2005, when I began working toward my medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, which I completed in 2010.
From there, I went on to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Lerner College of Medicine for my residency. I then went to the East Coast for fellowship training in adult joint reconstruction at the OrthoCarolina Hip & Knee Center in Charlotte, N.C. I am honored that I was able to train at two of the nation’s top orthopedic programs in both my residency and my fellowship.
After my fellowship, but before joining Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics, I specialized in hip and knee replacement and reconstruction at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH (of Rush University Medical Center) in Chicago. I’m very excited to be in Kansas City now, offering the high-quality orthopedic care that Dickson-Diveley has long been known for.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery?
It’s very satisfying to help return patients to their life’s passions, whether they are former athletes looking to return to sport, weekend warriors trying to remain healthy and active, or people hoping to play with their kids or grandkids. Hip and knee replacements are among the most successful procedures in medicine, so my goal is to make the recovery process easier, faster and less painful.
My passion for orthopedics is coupled with my belief that outstanding patient care is multilayered. It means excellence in surgery and at the bedside, but also expanding our clinical knowledge about new technology and surgical techniques, so we can continue to provide our patients with better outcomes. For that reason, I’m proud to have conducted award-winning research on total hip and total knee arthroplasty, as well as co-authoring many articles for peer-reviewed publications.
What are your subspecialized areas of expertise?
As a specialist in total joint surgery, my primary area of practice involves degenerative conditions of the hip and knee joints, as well as failed hip and knee replacements. Besides hip and knee reconstruction and replacement (both primary and revision), I specialize in direct anterior hip replacement. I also am trained and certified to perform robotic-assisted surgery using Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology at Saint Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza in Kansas City, Mo.
As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, I am committed to excellence in both patient care and lifelong learning. As such, I value the support I receive from the medical community as a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and Mid-America Orthopaedic Association.
Do you coordinate care with other healthcare professionals?
Yes, we work together to help patients achieve the best possible outcome. Primary care physicians and interventional physiatrists will make referrals to me when orthopedic surgery is necessary. Similarly, I will refer patients to interventional physiatrists and physical therapists to rule out conservative care as a treatment option before performing surgery.
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If you are a patient or referring physician in need of more information about Dr. Ting or the procedures he performs, please contact Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics.
Patients can request appointments by calling 913-319-7600. And, while a referral from a primary care physician or other provider is not required, physicians can refer a patient to Dr. Ting by faxing the patient’s name, birthdate and insurance information to 913-253-1707.
