Dr. Brion James Beerle, MD

Dr. Richard Garner was born in Canada and grew up in Vancouver, B.C. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a double Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and zoology, enrolled in Johns Hopkins University, and became a U.S. citizen at age 27.

While in residency in Louisville, he received a scholarship from the American Rheumatological Society, which allowed him to study for one year at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford, England. There, he observed some of the earliest arthroscopic surgeries as well as some of the early hip and knee replacements.

Dr. Garner completed a hand fellowship in Louisville and then spent from 1973 to 1976 in Vancouver, Washington as Chief of Orthopedics and the Barnes/VA Hospital. He moved to Anchorage in 1977 to work at the Alaska Native Medical Center, and joined AFOC in 1979. He has special interest in spine, total joint reconstruction, hip arthroscopy, and surgery of the shoulder.

Dr. Garner enjoys cross-country skiing, …motorcycling, hunting and fishing, sailing, climbing. He has conducted orthopedic clinics in Seward and volunteered at orthopedic clinics at Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center for many years. He has given orthopedic clinics in Nome and volunteered in Swaziland, Africa.

Dr. Garner has three children.