Dr. Nathan J. Kopydlowski, MD

Dr. Nathan J. Kopydlowski is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery. He currently serves at Advocate Aurora Grafton Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he has been providing advanced orthopedic care since October 2022. Known for his commitment to patient-centered treatment and surgical excellence, Dr. Kopydlowski focuses on helping patients restore mobility, reduce pain, and return to the activities they enjoy.

Dr. Kopydlowski completed his Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where he served as a Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow and Assistant Attending Physician in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Prior to his fellowship training, he completed a rigorous six-year Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Saint Louis University. His educational foundation includes earning a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School and a Master of Science in Clinical Research from the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School. He graduated magna cum laude from Kalamazoo College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Economics.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kopydlowski has maintained a strong dedication to orthopedic research and academic scholarship. His research interests have included shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine, trauma, biomechanics, and clinical outcomes. He has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in respected medical journals, contributed to several orthopedic textbook chapters, and participated in groundbreaking studies examining orthopedic conditions, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation strategies. His work has been recognized through grants, scholarships, and presentations at regional, national, and international conferences.

An active member of the orthopedic community, Dr. Kopydlowski belongs to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES). He has delivered lectures and educational presentations on topics including shoulder instability, rotator cuff pathology, tendon injuries, and fracture management. His research presentations have earned recognition at prestigious meetings, including awards for innovative work exploring the use of immersive virtual reality in shoulder arthroplasty training.

In addition to his clinical and academic accomplishments, Dr. Kopydlowski has been recognized throughout his career for outstanding academic achievement and leadership. A former collegiate football scholar-athlete, he received multiple Academic All-American and Academic All-District honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. Today, he continues to combine clinical expertise, research excellence, and compassionate patient care to advance the field of orthopedic surgery and improve outcomes for patients with shoulder and elbow conditions.

• Columbia University Medical Center - Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship, 2021–2022
• Saint Louis University - Orthopedic Surgery Residency, 2015–2021
• University of Michigan Medical School - M.D., 2015
• University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School - M.S. in Clinical Research, 2014
• Kalamazoo College - B.A. in Biology, Minor in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, 2010

• Fellowship-Trained Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon
• Board Certification information not provided

• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society Inductee (2010)
• National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society Inductee (2010)
• COSIDA Academic All-American, First Team Football (2009)
• COSIDA Academic All-District, First Team Football (2009)
• COSIDA Academic All-District, Second Team Football (2007)
• Kalamazoo College Dean's List (2006–2010)
• MIAA Academic Honor Roll (2006–2010)
• Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society (2007)
• Merit Scholarship Recipient, Kalamazoo College
• 1st Place, NYSSOS Annual Meeting & Symposium (2022)
• 3rd Place, OREF Northeast Regional Resident Research Symposium (2022)

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Member since 2015
• American Shoulder and Elbow Society (ASES), Member since 2019

Selected Articles and Publications:

• Lanham NS, Ahmed R, Kopydlowski NJ, et al. "Does the Timing of Tenotomy During Biceps Tenodesis Affect the Incidence of Popeye Deformity and Clinical Outcome?" Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2022.
• Fortney TA, Tedesco LJ, Kopydlowski NJ, et al. "National Hockey League Fights per Game and Viewership Trends: 2000–2020." Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2022.
• Kopydlowski NJ, Tannenbaum E, Bedi A, Smith MV, Sekiya JK. "An Increase in Cranial Acetabular Version with Age: Implications for Femoroacetabular Impingement." Journal of Arthroplasty, 2014.
• Kopydlowski NJ, Tannenbaum EP, Smith MV, Sekiya JK. "Characterization of Human Anterosuperior Acetabular Depression in Correlation with Labral Tears." Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014.
• Tannenbaum E, Kopydlowski NJ, Smith MV, Bedi A, Sekiya JK. "Gender and Racial Differences in Focal and Global Acetabular Version." Journal of Arthroplasty, 2014.

Book Chapters and Review Publications:

• Dislocation of the Proximal Tibiofibular Joint. Insall & Scott Surgery of the Knee (2012)
• Management of Proximal Tibiofibular Instability. Surgical Techniques of the Shoulder, Elbow, and Knee in Sports Medicine (2013)
• Functional Anatomy of the Hamstrings and Quadriceps. Hamstring and Quadriceps Injuries in Athletes (2014)
• Posterior Shoulder Instability in the Contact Athlete. Sports Injuries to the Shoulder and Elbow (2015)