Dr. Brian Bear's practice is focused on the shoulder, elbow, hand, microvascular, traumatic, and reconstructive surgery. He is listed as a Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor and is on the Best DoctorsR list.
Dr. Brian Bear's practice is focused on the shoulder, elbow, hand, microvascular, traumatic, and reconstructive surgery. He is listed as a Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor and is on the Best DoctorsR list.
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you more about myself and my experience in health care. Originally from Winnetka, Illinois, I attended Northwestern University graduating in 1987, cum laude, president of Mortar Board Senior Honor Society and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. I continued my studies at Northwestern University School of Medicine, receiving my medical degree in 1991 as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Following my graduation, I pursued advanced orthopedic training at Cornell Hospital for Special Surgery, which is ranked as the top orthopedic hospital in the United States. In addition, I completed a specialized training fellowship program in elbow and hand surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
My practice is focused on shoulder, elbow, hand, microvascular, traumatic, and reconstructive surgery. It is my mission to provide you compassionate care with expertise comparable to any major university center. I am humbled by my inclusion in two prestigious quality health care listings: as a Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor, and the Best Doctors list. Earning a place on either list is a result of being nominated by other physicians and a thorough review by the listing organization into my background, professional achievements, patient satisfaction, and positive treatment record. Inclusion on the Best Doctor list is a direct result of other doctors selecting me as the person they would choose to treat themselves or a family member. These are honors I take very seriously and I am committed to maintaining the high standards they represent with all my patients.
I am actively involved in continuing education, have given numerous lectures, and published many orthopedic articles. As Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, I have been awarded the Golden Apple teaching award and the Excellence in Teaching award. I am a reviewer for the acclaimed Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and currently serve as a faculty member at the Orthopedic Learning Center, where I teach other surgeons the latest techniques of hand, elbow and shoulder surgery. I hold Associate and Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery positions respectively at University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago where I help train medical students, family practice residents, and orthopedic surgery residents.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to further improve your experience at OrthoIllinois. My goal is to provide the best medical care available to help you return to an active and pain-free lifestyle.
Sincerely, Brian Bear, M.D.
Conditions and Treatments
Basil Joint Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Circulation Problems
Congential Hand Conditions
Cubital Tunnel
De Quevair's Tenosynovitis
Distal Radius Fracture
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Fracture
Flexor Tendonitis
Fractures
Frozen Shoulder
Ganglion Cysts
Golf Elbow/Medial Epicondylitis
Hand or Arm Pain
Joint Replacements
Lacerations, including Tendons and Nerves
Mallet Finger
Nerve Problems in the Upper Extremity
Numbness and Tingling
Osteoarthritis of the and
Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow
Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand
Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder Arthroplasty
Shoulder Bursitis
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder Labral Tears
Sprains and Strains
Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Tennis Elbow/Lateral Epicondylitis
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) Injuries
Trigger Finger
Trigger Thumb
Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury
Training
Bachelor’s Degree, Northwestern University
Medical Degree, Northwestern University
Residency, Cornell Hospital for Special Surgery
Fellowship, Shoulder, Elbow, Hand, and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, Mayo Clinic
Memberships
Board-certified: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Associate Professor: University of Illinois School of Medicine, Rockford
Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery: Rush University Medical Center
Review editor: The Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Member: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Member: American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Member: Illinois Assoc. of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Member: Mid-America Orthopaedic Association
Member: Chicago Hand Society
Member: Winnebago County Medical Society
Hospital Affiliations
Ortho Illinois Surgery Center
OSF St. Anthony Medical Center
Rockford Ambulatory Surgery Center
SwedishAmerican Hospital
Mercy Rockford Hospital
Van Matre HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
Very pleased
He was very thorough, listened well to my questions, and very informative.
The best of the best!
Saw Kasandra LaMere, she was 5 star.
Dr Bear is consistently amazing. On my visit 8/20/24, Rachel who checked me in was aggressive, pushy and acted with more authority than she will ever have. I was seeing Dr Bear for a follow up visit after weeks of PT to alleviate excruciating pain from a torn rotator cuff. The recent injection and weeks of PT have eliminated a great deal of the pain and Dr Bear would advise as to whether PT was needed going forward. Rachel asked me if I was having pain in my shoulder and I said no, not at this moment. Rachel then leaned forward, crossed her arms and in a very condescending tone asked, if you’re not having pain then why are “we” here? She was also aggressive while taking my BP and her overall attitude made me feel like a disobedient 6 yr old. If anything, she should have been as happy as I was to not be in the unbearable pain I’d had previously. I’ve been a patient at Ortho exclusively for over 8 years and she is the first and hopefully last emp I encounter who is so arrogant.
My first visit with Dr. Bear, and he and his staff truly won me over! Everyone was so kind and helpful, and Dr. Bear was very knowledgeable about my condition. Gave me wonderful advice. I would strongly recommend Dr. Bear and everyone I encountered during this visit. Thank you all so much!
Very happy with my appointment and Dr. Bear
The best hand Dr. and a great person.
I feel he was very knowledgeable and listened. He also made sure we understood what he was telling us.
did a great job explaining everything to us