Dr. Nick Doman: Providing Orthopaedic Care in His Hometown

In Adrian, Michigan, healing runs in the family. Meet Nicholas (Nick) Doman, DO, an orthopaedic surgeon with ProMedica Physicians, whose journey into medicine began long before medical school.

Medicine was part of Dr. Nick Doman’s life from an early age. His dad was a family practice provider for almost his whole life.

“I grew up being able to see him and how he interacted with his patients, and kind of that special bond that they had.” Dr. Nick shares. “They were coming to see him in a time of need, and he was able to help them.”

Dr. Doman’s father, Dr. Dan, shares that when Dr. Nick was a kid in the ’90s, it was common for parents to have their children work at the family business.

“Nick and his sister were in their early teens, or maybe even before that, and they were working at our office answering the phone, getting used to the flow of the practice and learning what we needed to do to take care of the community,” Dr. Dan shares. “I think he enjoyed that part of it.”

These moments in his dad’s office shaped him. It wasn’t long before Dr. Nick knew that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“At a really early age, I knew my purpose was to help people. I think that was just my soul knowing that,” Dr. Nick shares.

Finding His Calling in Orthopaedic Surgery

Spending time in his father’s office gave Dr. Nick an inside look at medicine. But what truly captured his interest was watching a knee replacement surgery as a junior in high school. The experience brought together two things he already loved — helping patients and working with his hands. The combination sparked a passion that set his career path.

“He job-shadowed with one of my colleagues who was an orthopaedic surgeon. I think he really enjoyed it. And he knew that’s what he wanted to do,” Dr. Dan shares.

Dr. Dan explains that as a high schooler, Dr. Nick had a special interest in saltwater aquariums, and he built the stands for the aquariums himself. So, when his son expressed an interest in a profession that combined his love for medicine and working with his hands, Dr. Dan wasn’t surprised.

“I knew I needed to be able to use my hands to help fix people. As soon as I saw an orthopaedic surgery, I thought, oh I’m hooked, this is it,” Dr. Nick shares.

Following a Family Legacy of Patient-Centered Care

Dr. Nick reflects on the shared experience of medicine with his father.

“As I went through schooling, it was fun to see how my dad’s experience related to mine. We went to the same medical school. Then when I was out on my own practicing, it was nice to bounce ideas off him from a primary care aspect. You know, ‘How can we make patient care better?’” Dr. Nick shares.

Dr. Nick carried lessons from his dad’s practice that continue to shape the way he treats patients today.

As a child, he remembers seeing his dad juggle a busy schedule while still making patients feel valued. He would even bring patients coffee in the waiting room, noticing that no one seemed to mind the wait. It was their relationship with Dr. Dan that mattered most.

With retirement, Dr. Dan enjoys family and grandkids. And Dr. Nick’s schedule is now busier than ever. Still, he finds balance and makes time for the things that matter most.

“It’s also really great to see him as a husband and a father and a family man, and as a community person. He’s now much more busy than I am, but, we still try to get together and golf and boat and things like that. It’s fun to see how he’s raising his children and interacting with other people in the community. We’re very proud of him,” Dr. Dan shares.

A Patient-First Approach to Orthopaedic Care

Outside of work, life for Dr. Nick centers on family and balance. But in the office and operating room, the focus shifts to advancing orthopaedic care. Dr. Nick brings together experience, technology and a commitment to improving each patient’s life.

Dr. Nick shares that he loves his job because he gets to help patients get back to doing what they want to do. Orthopaedic surgery can be an important part of a patient’s treatment plan. It can help get your joints, tendons and ligaments all back to their normal state to allow you to do what you want to do.

“Being able to help patients on a daily basis is part of my purpose. To get up every morning and be able to go to the office, or go to the hospital to perform surgery, I get up and I’m happy to do that,” Dr. Nick shares. “For patients to trust me enough to come see me, for me to help them is something I don’t take lightly.”

Dr. Nick also believes no concern is too small. Whether it’s an ankle sprain, a broken bone or arthritis, he wants patients to feel comfortable coming to him for care.
Building trust, he says, starts with an honest, open relationship between doctor and patient.
“It’s my job to help you feel safe, seen and heard, so you’re comfortable going into whatever you need to do to get you back to normal,” Dr. Nick shares.

Understanding Your Orthopaedic Treatment Options

To Dr. Nick, it’s important that every patient understands their injury and the treatment options – both surgical and non-surgical.

At a patient’s first appointment, Dr. Nick reviews their case and discusses a plan. He outlines where treatment will begin, how it may progress and what the end goal looks like.

“Many patients who come to see me kind of know going into it that at some point surgery might be in their future. But we talk through that and they’re comfortable with it by the time we get to that point,” Dr. Nick shares.

If surgery is part of the plan, Dr. Nick emphasizes that recovery and mindset play just as important a role as the procedure itself.

Having undergone two shoulder surgeries when he was younger, Dr. Nick understands the recovery process firsthand.

“No one really told me what to expect. So, I pride myself in telling patients what to expect during the recovery process and making patients as comfortable as they can be if they do need surgery,” Dr. Nick shares.

“We talk about the recovery process; we talk about the things you can do to help your outcomes. And if you have a great mindset going into it, you’re going to have a great recovery and great results. And so, that’s just as important,” he adds.

Comprehensive Orthopaedic Care Close to Home

Helping patients live without pain — and having fun doing it — is Dr. Nick’s passion. After years away for medical school, residency and fellowship, coming back to his hometown of Tecumseh, Michigan, and joining ProMedica makes that passion even more meaningful.

“To be able to raise our family here in the same area we grew up in is something special. I get to help people that I grew up with: my friends, my family, my neighbors,” Dr. Nick shares.

“Not only just help them but give them the best care possible. We have the latest technologies here,” he adds. “We have a lot of subspecialties at ProMedica that many bigger hospitals don’t have, and we’re lucky enough to have them in this small community.”

Whether you see Dr. Nick in his office or at his kids’ baseball game, he strives to be the same person everywhere he goes.

“I think it’s awesome to be able to live in the same community that I care for patients. I’m involved, I’m out, I’m about. I think that’s important,” he shares.

Dr. Nick is proud that his boys get to see him serving the community, just as he once saw his own father do.

“It’s fun to be able to see my boys interact with some of my patients and for them to get to see what Daddy does,” Dr. Nick shares. “It makes me proud to know that they get to see me take care of people.”

Helping Patients Get Back to What They Love

What keeps Dr. Nick going is seeing patients return after surgery and resume the activities they love.

“I think the biggest compliment is when patients come back in and you can just see this look on their face,” Dr. Nick shares. “Just the joy and the gratitude that they get to do what they want to do again — whether that’s sports, playing with grandkids or walking without pain.”