Adrian B. Ryan, M.D.

Dr. Adrian Ryan was born in Anchorage and raised in Unalakleet, where much of his family still lives. He graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.S. in Chemistry and then attended University of Washington Medical School. He completed an internship in family medicine at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. His general surgery internship and orthopedic residency were done at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.

Dr. Ryan is the only Alaska Native orthopedic surgeon in the world. He was a representative for the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, an international organization representing Inuit people of the Arctic from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia, from 1998 to 2005. He was also a representative for the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat Conference in Copenhagen.

His father began their family business, Ryan Air, in 1959. Dr. Ryan began flying at age 14, got his private license at 16, and his commercial license at 18. He was a commercial bush pilot from 1974 through 1982. He still flies frequently, mostly in Alaska and Oregon. He also flies to Nome where he participates in regular orthopedic clinics.

In addition to flying, Dr. Ryan enjoys traditional fly-fishing and salmon fishing. He frequently flies other AFOC physicians on fishing trips. His special orthopedic interests are knee and shoulder arthroscopy and total hip and knee replacements.