Dr. Duane D. Tippets is known by his patients for being calm, reserved, and most of all—kind.  He is easy to talk to and does so easily with his patients.  Whether you are a future patient, or have been a patient of Dr. Tippets’ for years, we believe there will certainly be new things you learn in this “out of the office”artice.

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Raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Tippets grew up spending summers hiking, camping, fishing and water skiing.  His winters were full of basketball practices and games as a member of the Highland High School basketball team.  Active and adventurous, upon graduation from high school, Dr. Tippets enlisted in the Army and then spent two years in Tokyo, Japan, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Returning stateside, he graduated from the University of Utah and went to medical school in Bethesda, Maryland at the Uniformed Services University followed by an internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  A lover of travel, and fearless in the face of new scenery and cultures, Dr.Tippets moved to Honolulu, Hawaii for his orthopaedic residency.

Interestingly, orthopaedics was not the first specialty he decided upon.  “I was interested in OB-Gyn during medical school and delivered over 30 babies during my third and fourth year,” Dr. Tippets recalls, “however, I realized there was an awful lot of night work.”  It’s true—delivering babies is rewarding, but likely quite unpredictable as it relates to the time of day one might be working.  Dr. Tippets tells us that as he investigated orthopaedics, he discovered a love for it.  “I found orthopedics to be fun, and being able to help most patients was a definite plus.”

So, after traveling all over the world—how did Dr. Tippets end up here, in Anniston, Alabama?  “After residency in Honolulu, I was the stationed at Noble Army Hospital Fort McClellan and found Anniston Orthopedics to be the best group and perfect for our family.”  And a growing family, it was.  The Tippets made their home in Jacksonville, where they raised their 8 children and today, enjoy spending time with their 17 grandchildren.  

His love for adventure and outdoor activity continue and are being passed to the next generation.  “I enjoy spending time swimming, boating and water skiing, especially with grandchildren.”  Dr. and Mrs. Tippets also still enjoy traveling back to Hawaii when they get the chance.  Most of all, they are enjoying watching the legacy of love, family, hard work, and commitment they have built.  “I hope to be remembered as a physician who treated all patients with compassion and respect,” Dr. Tippets says.  

As is typical for these articles, we asked Dr. Tippets what advice he would give to his children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.  He said he would advise them to get as much education as they could and, when confronted with a difficult problem, “listen to your mother…she is always right!”  

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