Andrew D Thomas, MD

Hand Surgery Specialist

I have been fascinated by the complexity, strength, beauty, and humanness of the hand since early in my medical training. As a hand surgeon, I strive to restore function and health to hands that have encountered injury or disease and do so noninvasively whenever possible. Importantly, the treatment plan that I reach in conversation with patients incorporates the social, family, athletic, and work contexts of the hand disease or injury.

Hand Surgeon Dr. Andrew Thomas’s Practice Philosophy

With my patients, I see my job as having a conversation about various therapeutic approaches that can help my patients get from the place where they needed to seek care to a place of the fullest possible return to health and function. In the care of hand problems, more than almost any area of medicine, it takes a partnership between the patients and the treatment team to achieve the best possible outcome. I strive to educate my patients about their condition, how it affects their hand’s function, and how treatments can help, guided by the observation that the more informed the patient is, the better they will do.

Dr. Andrew Thomas’s Background and Additional Qualifications

In addition to being hand surgeon practicing within a larger orthopedic group, I’m also a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I understand how important it is not only to have full function, but also to consider the aesthetic implications of various treatments and minimize scarring. Because of my background in athletics, I emphasize the importance of exercise and health as we work to get patients back into their full capabilities.

I serve as a board member for the Summit Orthopedics Research Institute, which promotes clinical research at Summit and helps providers offer more treatments to their patients through clinical trials.

I was an English literature major in college, which sometimes surprises patients. I credit my interest in literature with helping me hone my communication skills, which I use daily in my medical practice. That may be one reason why I have been repeatedly chosen as a “Top Doctor” from 2017 to 2026.

Dr. Andrew Thomas’s Personal Interests

I live in St. Paul with my wife of 25 years. We have three college-aged daughters and an elementary school-aged dog. I am an avid woodworker and play tennis only on days that end in “y.”

Long ago, I was the captain of my rugby team in college, which has provided some insight into the challenges and rewards of athletics. Even longer ago, I served in the United States Army as an enlisted infantryman, assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, in Washington, DC, and hold Tomb Guard Identification Badge #364.