Dr. Ryan Bauermeister Joins Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons

Northwest Iowa Bone, Joint & Sports Surgeons (NWIBJ) is welcoming podiatrist Dr. Ryan Bauermeister to its Spirit Lake office beginning August 3. For Dr. Bauermeister, the move is more than a new job; it's a homecoming.

Dr. Bauermeister grew up in Spencer, and after years of training away from the area, he and his wife, Allie, recently bought a home back in his hometown. The couple, high school sweethearts who both attended Northwestern College in Orange City, are raising their two young children, Theo and Sage, close to family and the lake-country childhood they both remember fondly.

“Being able to raise our kids in an area that we grew up in was a big part of the decision to return,” Dr. Bauermeister said. He also pointed to the quality of care available locally: “I've always been impressed with the healthcare here. The support, and the variety of specialties in such a small setting, is really unusual. It’s great to see this level of care at a facility this size.” 

Dr. Bauermeister's path to podiatry started in a research lab. After graduating from Northwestern College, he worked in a lab studying lower-limb rehabilitation in stroke patients at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Along the way, he discovered what he enjoyed most wasn't the research itself, but the people.

“My favorite part of the research process was getting to know the patients,” he said. That realization, along with mentorship from local podiatrist Dr. Blankers, set him on a new path.

He went on to earn his medical degree from Des Moines University in 2023 and completed his residency in the Waterloo–Cedar Falls area, where he trained extensively in rural practice settings, experience he says prepared him well for returning to a smaller community.

At Lakes Regional Healthcare, Dr. Bauermeister will treat the full range of foot and ankle conditions, from sports injuries, bunions, and diabetic wound care to trauma. Sports medicine, he says, is a particular favorite.

“I like sports medicine. I think that's probably my favorite facet of care,” he said. “Podiatry's great because you get a little bit of everything – everyday can be a new and exciting challenge.”

Dr. Bauermeister will be based primarily out of NWIBJ’s Spirit Lake office, with a weekly clinic day planned in Estherville. Patients do not need a physician referral to schedule an appointment. They can call the clinic directly. Appointments with Dr. Bauermeister begin August 3. To schedule, call the Spirit Lake office at 712-336-8708.