Wayne K. Nelson

Dr. Nelson grew up in Arizona as the oldest of 6 children. After graduating from high school he worked for two years in Mexico City as a missionary. Following his return to the United States he graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University before attending Mayo Medical School in Rochester, MN. He completed residency and fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and earned board certifications in both general and vascular surgery. During fellowship Dr. Nelson received extensive training in endovascular aortic reconstruction and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society.

In 2013, Dr. Nelson became the region’s first fellowship trained, board certified vascular surgeon. Early on, he worked with St. Charles Hospital system to design and open the hybrid operating room which brought technology to the patients of Central Oregon that was previously only available in a few select medical centers in the country. He has served as Chief of Vascular Surgery since 2014 and is currently Chair of the surgery section at St. Charles Hospital.

Dr. Nelson and Dr. Jundt created Oregon Vascular Specialists in 2017 after realizing a critical need for a practice that could deliver timely, state of the art, and cost-effective vascular care to the area. With offices in Bend, Redmond, and Klamath Falls, the practice has revolutionized care delivery in previously underserved locations by bringing together vascular ultrasound, office based procedures, hospital care, and critical follow up.

Dr. Nelson specializes in fenestrated endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms, open and TCAR technique for carotid artery disease, endovascular management of peripheral artery disease, treatment of venous disease, and anterior spine exposure for ALIF procedures. His favorite part of vascular surgery is the long term relationship he establishes with all of his patients as they manage vascular disease using medicine, exercise, minimally invasive procedures or open surgery.

When not working Dr. Nelson spends time with his wife of over 20 years and their 4 teenage boys boating, biking, overlanding, skiing and shooting. In 2019 he earned his SCCA license and formed OVS Racing LLC. He hopes to spend more time at the race track in the upcoming years.