Orthopaedics welcomes new specialists

picture disc.The UNMC department of orthopaedics has welcomed four physicians who specialize in foot and ankle trauma, the hand, pediatrics and joints.

“The addition of these highly qualified orthopaedic surgeons gives us the ability to provide the most comprehensive orthopaedic care in the state and region,” said Kevin Garvin, M.D., chairman of the orthopaedic department.

The new physicians and their specialties are:

  • Mike Clare, M.D. — foot and ankle trauma
  • Ake Nystrom , M.D., Ph.D. — hand
  • Susan Scherl, M.D. — pediatrics
  • Todd Sekundiak , M.D. — joint specialist

Overall, the practice of orthopaedics consists of several specialties including adult reconstruction, traumatology, musculoskeletal oncology, spine, foot and ankle, pediatrics, sports medicine and hand/upper extremity.

picture disc. Dr. Clare, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, earned his medical degree from UNMC in 1996. He did his orthopaedic surgery residency at Creighton University/University of Nebraska Health Foundation and a post-graduate fellowship at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute/Tampa General Hospital. The Minneapolis, Minn., native is a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association. For several years, Dr. Clare has served as the Millard West High School football team physician.

picture disc. Dr. Nystrom is an associate professor who holds appointments with the department of orthopaedic surgery and surgery. He earned his medical degree in 1977 from the University of Umea School of Medicine in Umea, Sweden. He did a residency in hand surgery at the University of Umea and fellowship at the University of Louisville, Ky. He earned his Ph.D. in venous anatomy in 1990 from the University of Umea. Before joining UNMC, he was at the University of Pittsburgh, where he had served as director of hand surgery since 1994. Dr. Nystrom is a native of Goteborg, Sweden.

picture disc. Dr. Scherl, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1987. She did a general surgery residency at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and an orthopaedic surgery residency at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. She did a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Before joining UNMC, she served as an assistant professor of clinical surgery at the University of Chicago.

picture disc. Dr. Sekundiak, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, earned his medical degree in 1987 from the University of Manitoba, Winnepeg, Manitoba. He did his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, and an arthroplasty fellowship at the Arizona Centre for Joint Replacement in Phoenix and Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s and Central DuPage Hospitals in Chicago. Since then, he has served as an assistant professor in the department of surgery at the University of Manitoba, medical director of the Manitoba Rotary Bone and Tissue Bank, head of the Subsection Adult Hip and Knee Canadian Medical Association, and examiner of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.