About Us
Dirk L. Slade, MD & Zachary S. Jager, MD
The hand surgeons at Intermountain Healthcare’s Southwest Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine specialty clinic are committed to providing the highest level of care with kindness and compassion. They offer a broad spectrum of care to treat a wide variety of hand, wrist, and elbow conditions. To schedule an appointment and book your consultation, visit the Intermountain website.
Professional Summary
Education
George Washington University – School of Medicine
Washington, DC | Doctor of Medicine
Residency
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Army Medical Center
Augusta, GA | Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington, DC | Hand Surgery
Board Certifications
Amerian Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Utah Medical Association
Dirk L. Slade, MD
I was born and raised in rural Utah where I developed a deep love for this beautiful state and its wonderful people. It is also where I learned the meaning of hard work, the value of patience and the necessity of perseverance. I am a veteran of the US Army having served in the Medical Department to care for active duty soldiers, retirees and veterans along with their families in times of peace and conflict. I love our Country and our veterans of the US Armed Services.
I chose to pursue a career in hand surgery because I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible human body and its ability to adapt, respond and heal. I wanted to be involved in the process of helping the body heal so people can get back to functional living. The impact of degeneration and injury on function is clearly evident in hand and wrist problems. One of the most frequently stated frustrations I hear from patients when they are experiencing hand pain or dysfunction is, “I use my hands for everything.” And truly, our hands are one of the primary means we have of interacting with our environment and accomplishing our personal goals. Any decrease in hand function quickly becomes an obstacle in our overall function and independence. My greatest professional reward comes when I get to help people overcome some of these obstacles and I see them reclaim meaningful hand function and resume their life activities.
My time spent away from work is dedicated to my family, my church and being outside hiking, cycling, running and exploring the beautiful Southwest.
Professional Summary
Education
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI | Doctor of Medicine
Residency
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda, CA | Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI | Hand Surgery
Board Certifications
Amerian Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Hand Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Zachary S. Jager, MD
Dr. Jager is a native of Utah and attended Utah State University. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, followed by residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at Loma Linda University in Southern California. He then returned to Medical College of Wisconsin for subspecialty training in Hand Surgery. Dr. Jager joined Southwest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in 2020 after practicing in Rapid City, South Dakota for five years. Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, mountain biking, skiing, and boating.
Dr. Jager developed a passion for hand and upper extremity anatomy early in his medical training. This interest continued to grow throughout his residency and he had the opportunity to further develop his diagnostic and surgical skills with additional hand surgery fellowship training. As a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand, he enjoys providing high-quality, detail-oriented care. He values working together with patients and their families to develop individualized treatment plans and recognizes the importance of a collaborative approach with clinical, surgical, and therapy teams to maximize successful outcomes.