Scott Nielsen, MD

Scott Nielsen was born on a cattle ranch in Idaho. Ranch life taught him the value of hard work, responsibility, and perseverance. His family later moved to San Diego, where he discovered a love for surfing and the ocean. The Nielsen family eventually settled in Utah, where Scott spent his teenage years wrestling, snowboarding, and mountain biking.

Dr. Nielsen earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, and went on to complete fellowship training at Scripps Clinic in San Diego. He is a board certified, lower extremity fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex joint reconstruction, primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty, orthopedic trauma, and musculoskeletal infection care. 

From a young age, Scott was fascinated by medicine. He was drawn to first aid, emergency care, and learning how the human body worked. That curiosity grew into a passion for anatomy and physiology and eventually led him to pursue medicine. Orthopedic surgery combined everything Dr. Nielsen loved, including problem solving, biomechanics, working with his hands, and restoring people’s ability to move and live active lives.

“What makes orthopedic surgery so rewarding is the opportunity to reduce suffering, restore mobility, and improve quality of life. Helping someone return to work, play with their grandchildren, enjoy the outdoors, compete in sports, or simply walk without pain is incredibly meaningful. Seeing patients regain the ability to do the things they love is why I enjoy what I do.”

Outside of medicine, Scott enjoys spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife for more than 20 years and together they have raised three amazing children, along with two dogs and two cats. They like to joke that their family is “solar powered.” If the sun is out, the Nielsens are usually outside. Whether it is surfing, wake surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, boating, spearfishing, or free diving, Scott loves being active in the mountains or on the water. He is also passionate about nutrition, exercise, breathwork, and lifelong learning. His family has been his greatest source of joy, perspective, and purpose.