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Daniel Slawski is a retired Orthopedic Surgeon who spent the majority of his professional career in Sports Medicine. Following his graduation from Washington University in St Louis, he attended the Washington University School of Medicine on a U.S. Air Force Scholarship and then went on to complete a residency in orthopedic surgery and a fellowship in sports medicine. Dan spent four years on active duty as an Air Force Major. He served as a regional sports medicine specialist, department chair and surgeon. His practice included active duty personnel from all branches, dependents, retirees and former POWs. During this time, while treating veterans from World War II to Desert Storm, he saw the far reaching impact that military service can have on individuals and families.
After separating from the military, Dan moved to Kearney, Nebraska where he was the founding partner and President of New West Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery. His clinical practice was primarily sports medicine in nature and he was the athletic trainer supervisor for over 50 high schools in Central Nebraska and Northern Kansas. He had a 20 year association with the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he was Adjunct Assistant Professor and served as Head Team Physician for all sports, as well as Medical Director for both the Athletic Training Program and the Human Performance Laboratory. In addition, he was Chair of the Board of Managers of Heartland Ambulatory Surgical Center. Dan published 18 scientific journal articles and was a frequent speaker at local, national and international meetings and belonged to numerous medical societies.
Dan’s honors and awards include a National Merit Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa, the Medical Fund Society Prize in Surgery as the Outstanding Senior Medical Student in Surgery, Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, Kearney Hub Freedom Award for Humanitarian Service and the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He has served as a past member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Nebraska State Advisory Board, the Nebraska Brain Injury Association Steering Committee, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine Council of Delegates, the Washington University Medical Center Alumni Association Executive Council and The American Journal of Sports Medicine Board of Reviewers.
After retiring from his Nebraska practice in 2016, Dan and his wife Jo moved to Columbia, Missouri. For three years, he worked part time as a sports medicine specialist at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute of the University of Missouri. In October 2019, he fully retired from medicine to devote his undivided attention to serving as President of Guardian Hills, which he and his wife co-founded the previous year.
Dan & Jo have been married for over 40 years and have three adult sons, three daughters-in-law and two grandsons.
Our mission is to provide the resources to facilitate the development of positive responses to the physical, emotional and relational injuries which impact those who have served as the guardians of our nation.