Nantucket Cottage Hospital Announces Expanded Orthopedic Care

Nantucket Cottage Hospital announced this week the addition of four physicians to its orthopedic program, expanding access to advanced surgical and sports medicine care on the island.

Dr. John J. Tierney, D.O., Dr. Thomas H. Wuerz, M.D., M.Sc., M.S., Dr. Martin M. Dolan, M.D., and Dr. Alfred W. Hanmer, M.D., FACS, will now be seeing patients on-island to provide orthopedic care.

For many Nantucket families, Dr. Tierney and Dr. Wuerz are already familiar names. Both physicians have cared for island patients for years through Manning and Associates Physical Therapy, which became part of NCH last summer.

This fall, Dr. Dolan will add new specialized services for hand, wrist, and elbow conditions, "filling an important gap in care on the island," the hospital stated in its announcement.

Dr. Alfred W. Hanmer joins the team as a new physician in the orthopedic clinic, bringing decades of experience in total hip and knee replacements as well as advanced hip preservation techniques, including arthroscopy, labral repair, and reconstruction.

"His expertise enhances the breadth of services available locally and ensures that patients needing complex procedures can begin their care journey right here on Nantucket," NCH stated.

The hospital is also welcoming two orthopedic physician assistants.

“These additions mark an exciting moment for our community,” said Amy E. Lee, president of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “Our patients deserve the very best care, and with this team, they’ll receive it without needing to travel off-island. What makes our program unique is the collaborative approach, surgeons, physician assistants, therapists, nurses, and staff working side by side to support every patient, from the first appointment through recovery. It’s care that is not only world-class, but also deeply personal.”

The hospital provided the following background on each physician:

• Dr. Tierney brings more than three decades of leadership in shoulder and upper extremity reconstruction, knee preservation, and occupational medicine, with experience as a team physician for USA Gymnastics and Westwood High School.

• Dr. Wuerz is a leader in hip preservation and sports medicine, directing the Hip Preservation Program at New England Baptist Hospital and caring for athletes at Harvard, the U.S. Ski Team, Boston Ballet, and Chicago’s professional sports organizations.

• Dr. Dolan specializes in surgical and non-surgical treatment of hand, wrist, and elbow disorders, serves on the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Atrius Health, and teaches at Harvard Medical School.

• Dr. Hanmer brings extensive experience and clinical leadership, enhancing specialized services for patients through his depth of knowledge and commitment to advancing care.

“With the talent and skill these physicians bring, our community now has access to orthopedic services that are rarely available in small, rural hospitals,” Lee added. “But what truly matters is how this care will improve everyday life on Nantucket, helping people get back to work, return to the sports they love, and stay active in our unique island community.”