September 19, 2025

Meet Tyler Calkins

Hip and Knee Specialist 

Where are you from? 

I am a proud West Virginia native (the only state that is entirely within the Appalachian Mountains) and was born in Parkersburg. It is a town built on the confluence of two major rivers and is home to the most famous island along the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island, which houses a famous mansion built in 1789 and carries a lot of prior Indigenous People, U.S. history and military significance.

What made you choose adult reconstruction  as a specialty? 

Hip and knee replacements are some of the best surgeries we can offer in all of modern medicine. It consistently delivers a very real and tangible positive impact in the daily quality of life of our patients. Not to mention, the surgeries are very enjoyable, and we get to use many tools, technologies, and implants to help us get the best results in an ever-evolving field.

What brought you to WashU Medicine Orthopedics? 

WashU is a world class institution with a rich history of excellence in orthopedic surgery. It really hit all the high points and delivers endless opportunities to excel as an academic clinician as my career unfolds. It was an honor to be invited to join this group and grow alongside them.

What aspect of your practice do you find most interesting or rewarding? 

First and foremost, seeing patients through their whole journey of daily pain all the way to a successful result after surgery is just the best feeling I’ve discovered in my adult working life. Outside of that, researching new ideas that come to fruition and watching trainees progress in their surgical skills and knowledge is very rewarding.

What's on the horizon for reconstructive orthopedic medicine?

The field is rapidly evolving with a surge of robotic assistance, artificial intelligence and new implants and materials. We still must do our best in vetting these advancements before broadly adopting them as a new gold standard.

What's the best advice you ever received? 

Life is short! Keep those you love close to you and take time for yourself and your health and happiness.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

I love the four seasons of the outdoors and the activities that come along with that including mountain biking, cycling, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and golf. I’ve made it my mission to hike as many new national parks as I can. I really enjoy live music including my most recent obsession, bluegrass. Lastly, I can’t forget to mention cheering on the West Virginia Mountaineers…rain or shine!

If you weren't a physician, what would you like to be doing? 

I would like to work in the environmental science sector working on real world applications for sustainable energy with a side gig of volunteering at ski mountains and national parks.

Anything else you'd like to share?

My significant other is a future orthopedic surgeon. We both eat, sleep and breath orthopedics!

Learn why patients choose WashU Medicine Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.