As a surgeon, it’s safe to say that Chad T. Zehms, MD, has seen it all. In addition to his work at Optim Orthopedics — where he performs hip arthroscopy with advanced techniques in labral repair and reconstruction as well as a host of other surgical and non-surgical procedures — his career has taken him from the battlefield of Afghanistan to the hallowed tundra of Lambeau Field.

After receiving his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, his naval service brought him to Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia where he served his residency. It was this same service that saw him deployed with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Konduz, Afghanistan.

“We were the tip of the spear,” he said. While many of his patients were fellow service members, he saw nearly half of his patients were Afghan civilians. “We were the first line outside of corpsman in the field. Our job was to stabilize injuries, save lives and get patients to the next place where they had more capability. It was an investment in these people to get them to see the U.S. military is trying to be your friend.”

Returning to the states, he found his calling on another field, this time the gridiron, as a trauma consultant for the Green Bay Packers. While it was worlds away from Afghanistan, treating patients with thousands watching in the stands, he approached it with the same clinical precision. “At the end of the day, the actual job doesn’t change,” he said. “A $25 million quarterback and an Afghan farmer both break their leg the same way.”

A passionate sports enthusiast, Dr. Zehms enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Melissa, and five children. He is an avid runner and has competed in several marathons.