Meet the Providers

Richard E. Duey, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon who has received extensive training in the areas of arthroscopic shoulder surgery and sports medicine. Originally from southwest Missouri, Dr. Duey spent 6 years, between the ages of 7 and 14, living in Africa where his parents served as missionaries. This unique experience provided him with valuable insight into what it means to live a life of service to others. Upon their return to the United States, Dr. Duey’s family settled in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he completed his high school education. After graduation, he returned to Africa and lived aboard a hospital ship affiliated with Mercy Ships, an organization whose mission is to bring hope and healing to the world’s poor. He spent a total of 5 months serving as a part of Mercy Ships before returning home. Dr. Duey completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in biology-chemistry. From there, he attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Upon completion of medical school, Dr. Duey was accepted into a 5-year residency training program in orthopedic surgery at the University of Kansas in Wichita, Kansas. It was here that he received outstanding training in the various disciplines of orthopedic surgery. After residency, Dr. Duey spent a year specializing in orthopedic sports medicine with Keith Nord, MD, in Jackson, Tennessee. During this time, he managed and treated a variety of sports-related injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions in patients both young and old. Dr. Duey has a strong personal interest in caring for and treating shoulder problems. Therefore, he completed another year-long fellowship in arthroscopic shoulder surgery with Stephen Burkhart, MD, in San Antonio, Texas. This unique opportunity provided him valuable experience treating complex shoulder conditions utilizing cutting-edge arthroscopic techniques. His life experiences and an outstanding education have been instrumental in shaping Dr. Duey into the physician he is today. His desire is to provide the highest level of care for each patient using the best nonsurgical and surgical treatment techniques. He also strives to educate his patients about their condition and assist them in making treatment decisions that are right for them. He counts it a privilege to serve the people of San Antonio, Boerne, and the surrounding areas. When not working, Dr. Duey enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. Together, they like to travel and spend time with friends and extended family.

• Fellowship-trained in orthopedic shoulder surgery and sports medicine
• Board certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS)

Dr. Joel B. Nilsson is a board-certified orthopedic and hand surgery specialist. He has lived in the San Antonio and Hill Country area since 2003, when he moved here to serve the military population. Dr. Nilsson has been in private and military practice for more than 20 years, gaining expertise in robotic joint replacement, arthroscopic sports reconstructions, general orthopedic procedures, surgery of the hand, elbow, and shoulder, and the use of numerous minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Nilsson graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and spent a 14-year career in the U.S. Army, enjoying assignments in Hawaii, Korea, El Paso, Washington D.C., and Tennessee before moving to San Antonio. In San Antonio, he spent 5 years teaching orthopedic residents at Wilford Hall Medical Center and then Brooke Army Medical Center. He served two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2006 and is a decorated veteran and patriot. Dr. Nilsson has been in private practice since leaving the military in 2008 and currently lives in Boerne with his wife Lisa and their family. He enjoys watching car racing and professional soccer. He also loves playing golf with his daughter and riding his motorcycle with his sons. Dr. Nilsson considers caring for his patients a ministry and knows healing comes in many forms. He often gets gifts and hugs from happy patients who enjoy his healing and humor.

• Fellowship-trained orthopedic hand surgeon
• Board certified in orthopedic surgery and surgery of the hand by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS)
• Member, American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Dr. Ritchie earned his bachelor of science degree in biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where he was a standout athlete on the Falcon’s football team. He then attended medical school on a military scholarship at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. After medical school, Dr. Ritchie served three assignments as an Air Force flight surgeon: first at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, then at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and finally, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Following his time as a flight surgeon, he was accepted to the only Air Force orthopedic residency in the country at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Ritchie was then hand-picked to lead the Air Force’s Pediatric Orthopedic Department. His sub-specialty training in pediatric orthopedic surgery and scoliosis was obtained at the prestigious University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Upon completion of his fellowship training, he returned to San Antonio where he served as the Chief of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center and Consultant to the Surgeon General for pediatric scoliosis and orthopedics. While assigned to Wilford Hall Medical Center, he was also the Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and held a teaching position at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as an Assistant Professor of Surgery. During his time in the Air Force, he was also honored to serve three combat tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dr. Ritchie is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and holds current medical licenses in Texas, Colorado, and Utah. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, the Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Bexar County Medical Society. Dr. Ritchie is married with three children and in his free time enjoys snow skiing, mountain biking and swimming.

• Fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon
• Board certified in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Member, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
• Member, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Member, Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons