About Your Surgeon: Dietrich Kayser MD
I was drawn to medicine by a passion for science, love for people, and a need to fix things. During medical school at MUSC, I discovered orthopedics, a field that allows me to truly make a difference by restoring function and improving quality of life. Even today, it remains one of the few specialties that has the potential to definitively fix problems. Every day, I get to sit with people and work with them to see what nonoperative and surgical tools we have to try to get them back to comfortably doing the things they want or need to do.
Through my training and career I have maximized my exposure to orthopedics. Including learning from giants in the world of medicine and orthopedics at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio where the founding fathers of orthopedics and anatomy trained and educated. This experience at a level 1 trauma center, alongside working with professional athletes, and community partners, gave me a broad and deep understanding of musculoskeletal care. My time in the military further honed my skills. I was challenged to not only learn about the care for fast paced patients at home but also in an austere environment. All the while, I have pursued opportunities to learn from international experts and industry leaders to ensure I am always offering the best possible care for my patients.
What sets me apart/ My practice
What I love about my practice is its holistic approach to orthopedics. I’ve intentionally sought training and experiences that allow me to care for a diverse range of patients— from infants to centenarians, with interests ranging from board games and cooking to Ironman triathlons and mixed martial arts. I not only enjoy taking care of these different people but also all parts of them. By not having a transactional relationship solely treating their joint, shoulder, or sports injury, I build meaningful relationships with my patients. This helps me better understand their unique needs and work with them toward their goals, no matter what injury they have or what chapter of life they are in. Together, we can focus on maximizing nonoperative treatments, and when needed, we can carefully decide on the best surgical plan for you.
About My Logo
The international symbol for orthopedics is the Tree of Andry, named after the French physician Nicolas Andry. He wrote a book titled Orthopédie, from which the term “orthopedics” was coined. This word is derived from Greek: orthos, meaning “straight,” and pais, meaning “child.” In his book, Andry aimed to teach methods for preventing and correcting skeletal deformities in children. The cover featured an image of a straight stake and rope used to guide the growth of a crooked sapling.
My logo is inspired by this history but adapted for our modern context. Instead of a deciduous tree, it features the pine, the state tree of North Carolina. Rather than a sapling, it depicts a mature tree that has benefitted from the work of its predecessors and now plays an active role in our beautiful Carolina environment.
