CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital is excited to welcome Dr. Dietrich Riepen, fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeon, to the Durango community. As the first trauma-trained orthopedist in the region, Dr. Riepen brings complex fracture care close to home.
Born and raised in Dallas, Dr. Riepen felt called to a career as a physician during his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas - Austin while his father battled a terminal illness. After college, he returned to Dallas for medical school at UT Southwestern.
“In medical school, I found a passion for musculoskeletal anatomy and helping treat trauma patients on surgery rotations, which led me to choose orthopedic surgery as a specialty,” Dr. Riepen says.
Dr. Riepen met his wife, Dr. Lindsey West, in medical school. She is now a dermatologist in Durango. The pair both completed their respective residencies at UT Southwestern/Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
After residency, they moved to Reno, Nevada for Dr. Riepen’s orthopedic trauma specialization at one of the highest-volume trauma fellowships in the United States. While living in Reno and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains, they discovered how much they enjoyed the mountains and living in a smaller city, leading them to explore the Four Corners region and Southwest Colorado for their next step.
“We were immediately drawn to Durango – the community, the nature, and the career opportunities,” Dr. Riepen says. “Lindsey and I hope to call this our long-term home.”
Dr. Riepen believes the most rewarding part of his job is to restore function after injury and to be there for his patients throughout the entire process.
“With modern techniques and technology, injuries that were once life-changing are now much less so,” he says.
Dr. Riepen looks forward to expanding the capabilities at Mercy Hospital and Mercy Orthopedics Associates.
“Previously, some emergency trauma cases had to be flown across the state for treatment,” he says. “My goal is to keep as many of those patients local as safely possible. I am really excited to have this opportunity to serve the people of this area.”
Josh Neff, President of Mercy Hospital, echoed the enthusiasm for Dr. Riepen’s arrival.
“We are very pleased to have Dr. Riepen join the team at Mercy,” Neff says. “His arrival further demonstrates our commitment to advancing our clinical capabilities and providing high-quality outcomes by expanding access to specialty care for the Four Corners region, keeping patients close to home.”
Dr. Riepen is now available to see patients at Mercy Orthopedics Associates. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about available services, please call 970-764-9400.
