WBLAS Community Services & Recreation

For orthopedic surgeon and joint replacement specialist Viktor Tollemar, MD, his path to a medical career arose from several factors. The son of a nurse and engineer, he was drawn to a career that would enable him to help people and fix problems. In medical school, orthopedics — and joint replacement, specifically — was a good fit for his mechanically inclined mind.

“I really became enamored with orthopedics and, in particular, joint reconstruction early on in medical school,” Dr. Tollemar said. “The profound impact of a hip or knee replacement on the quality of life of someone suffering from arthritis was unlike any other medical or surgical intervention I had ever seen.”

After graduating summa cum laude from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in pre-medicine, Dr. Tollemar earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Michigan and a fellowship in adult reconstruction at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.

Dr. Tollemar’s practice philosophy:  “I see the surgeon and patient having a relationship that enables them to come to a mutual agreement about whether surgery is the best course of action. It should not be one-sided, as it’s not up to the surgeon to decide when it’s time for surgery."

Instead of a unilateral decision, Dr. Tollemar’s approach to patient care focuses on communication. “I want to communicate my recommendation, but I also want to listen to the patient to learn how symptoms affect the individual’s life."

When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter. He is an avid photographer and woodworker. He also enjoys the outdoors and spends time hiking, camping, and exploring the wilderness in the backcountry.