Nolan Horner, MD

Dr. Nolan Horner is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon caring for patients throughout Chicagoland. After earning his medical degree from McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and completing orthopedic surgery residency at McMaster Orthopedics, he pursued subspecialty fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

His training was shaped by visiting observerships at some of the most respected institutions in orthopedic sports medicine, including the Hospital for Special Surgery, Stanford University, the Steadman Clinic in Vail, and Rush University Medical Center. These experiences refined his approach to complex shoulder, hip and knee conditions in both everyday patients and elite athletes.

Dr. Horner has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and scientific abstracts. His work has appeared in leading journals such as JAMA, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy. He served as principal investigator on the NO PAin randomized controlled trial, a multicenter study evaluating opioid-sparing pain control after knee and shoulder arthroscopy that was featured in national news outlets.

His research has been presented at major international meetings, including ISAKOS, ISHA, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and the Canadian Arthroscopy Association. He has been awarded research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation for his work on postoperative pain management.

Beyond the clinic and operating room, Dr. Horner has served as a team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Steel, DePaul University Women's Basketball, the Chicago Fire, the Chicago White Sox and at the MLB Spring Training. That experience caring for professional athletes informs how he counsels every patient on realistic timelines, expectations and return to activity.

Dr. Horner's practice is built on a patient-centered philosophy: listening carefully, explaining options clearly, and tailoring treatment to each person's goals. He believes the best outcomes come from shared decision-making, whether the path is non-operative care, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, or a more extensive reconstructive procedure.

He treats conditions of the shoulder, knee and hip, sports injuries and orthopedic trauma, with a focus on evidence-based medicine and minimally invasive techniques whenever appropriate. His aim is to restore function with as little disruption as the underlying problem allows.

Dr. Horner also has a particular interest in biologic treatments, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, as part of a broader, evidence-informed approach to non-operative care. He stays current with the evolving evidence behind biologic therapies and incorporates them thoughtfully when they are a reasonable option for a patient's condition and goals.

Dr. Horner sees patients at Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine locations across Chicagoland, including Oak Brook, St. Charles and the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago.