About Me
A native of Edina, Minnesota, hip and knee surgeon Michael Baer, M.D., grew up in a busy household with three brothers. In high school, he had a complex knee injury that was treated by surgeon at Summit Orthopedics. “I’m a living testament to the power of great musculoskeletal care and the outstanding care patients receive at Summit,” Dr. Baer said.
Dr. Michael Baer’s background
After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Baer earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, followed by a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School. After residency, he attended the renowned Scripps Clinic Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, where he received specialized training in simple and complex hip and knee arthroplasty, revision arthroplasty, and nonarthroplasty joint preservation.
During his medical and orthopedic training, he found it rewarding to work with people who are severely disabled by their hip or knee arthritis, suffering painful symptoms that require them to alter their lifestyles in a way that aren’t acceptable to them. “Getting those individuals back to doing the activities they find meaningful, even if it’s just getting around and being able to play with the grandkids, is highly rewarding,” Dr. Baer said.
Dr. Michael Baer’s practice philosophy
Another aspect of hip and knee care Dr. Baer enjoys is getting to know his patients as he helps them along their treatment journeys. “In this specialty, you don’t just meet someone and operate. It’s a longer relationship. I enjoy spending time with my patients up front, answering their questions, and helping them understand what is causing their limitation. Then, I lay out the options, and we work together to figure out what works best for that individual at that time in the person’s life,” he said. “Spending ample time at the beginning leads to a high rate of successful surgeries that get patients back to a life that they’ll enjoy and find meaningful.”
Overall, Dr. Baer said, “I’m your neighborhood orthopedic surgeon with a primary goal of helping people through the complex issues that come from musculoskeletal injuries and arthritis. I use a collaborative approach to figure out what works best for my patients and their lifestyles, to get them back to that life.”
When to seek treatment for your arthritis
Arthritis doesn’t have to spell the end of an active life. If you are experiencing worrisome symptoms or persistent pain, the renowned arthritis specialists at Summit Orthopedics can help. We work with you to confirm a diagnosis and develop an appropriate conservative treatment plan. If nonsurgical treatments fail to support your lifestyle goals, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons will consult with you and discuss appropriate surgical options. Summit is home to innovative joint replacement options. Our Vadnais Heights Surgery Center is one of a select few nationally to receive The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement.
Start your journey to healthier joints. Find your arthritis expert, schedule an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.
Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.
Education
Undergraduate Studies
Bachelor of Arts |Sociology and Pre-Health Studies
University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame, IN
Medical School
Doctor of Medicine
Stritch School of Medicine | Loyola University Chicago — Maywood, IL
Residency
Orthopedic Surgery
University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, MN
Fellowship
Scripps Clinic Adult Reconstruction
Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital — San Diego, CA
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS)
Specialties
My Team
My Team
At Summit, each physician works alongside a team of professionals to care for you, our patient.
Locations
Reviews
replace_with_js
Survey feedback for replace_with_js
12/09/2024
Reviews
Articles
Resources
Resources
Publications
Does Inpatient Mobilization Predict 1-Year Mortality Following Femoral Neck Fracture Treated with Hemiarthroplasty?
- Podium presentation at the International Geriatric Fracture Society (October 2017)
- Published in Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (February 2022)
Is Cementless Superior?: Commentary on an article by Vikesh Gupta, MBChB, et al.: “Revision Following Cemented and Uncemented Oxford-III Primary Medial Unicompartmental Knee Replacements. A 19-Year Analysis from the New Zealand Joint Registry”
- Published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (October 2020)
Analytics in Sports Medicine: Implications and Responsibilities that Accompany the Era of Big Data
- Published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (February 2019)
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction: patient selection and perspectives
- Published in Orthopedic Research and Reviews (September 2017)
Revisiting Fulkerson’s Original Technique for Tibial Tubercle Transfer: Easing technical demand and improving versatility
- Published in Arthroscopy Techniques (August 2017)
Conversion of External Fixation to Open Reduction and Internal Fixation for Complex Distal Radius Fractures
- Published in Orthopaedics & Traumatology Surgery & Research (February 2016)
Accuracy of Digital Pulse Oximetry in Determining Vascular Occlusion
- Poster presented at Albert’s Day Research Symposium – Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (2014)
Patient Comprehension of Emergency Department Discharge Instructions: Improving Patient Recall with Discharge Videos
- Poster presented at Albert’s Day Research Symposium – Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (2013)
Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid (TUDCA) Improves Function in Cold Storage Hearts
- Poster presented at the Lillehei Heart Institute Annual Cardiovascular Research Retreat (2010)
Cardiac Troponin I A164H Transgenic Copy Number Determination
- Poster presented at the Lillehei Heart Institute Annual Cardiovascular Research Retreat (2009)