Dr. Pitcher originally grew up in Minnesota and completed his undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University.  His initial draw to California was for graduate school where he completed a PhD in Chemistry at the University of California Berkeley studying under professor Carolyn Bertozzi.  Following this, he realized that his career goals were to focus more on patient care.  He traveled to New York for medical school at Columbia University.  He was brought back to the Bay Area to pursue his residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery at the UCSF.

During this time, he developed a special interest in upper extremity surgery including the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. This led him to seek subspecialty fellowship training in hand surgery at the Cleveland Clinic with renowned surgeons such as Dr. Peter Evans and Dr. Harry Hoyen. Under their guidance, he had the opportunity to become comfortable with a wide variety of complex hand and upper extremity surgeries including microvascular injuries, nerve and tendon repairs and transfers, and complex fracture fixation. His fellowship training included pathology extending from the fingertips up to the shoulder, and encompassed both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for these problems.

Dr. Pitcher’s special interests include management of all hand, wrist and elbow conditions.  This includes nerve and tendon injuries in both the general and athletic populations. He also treats all common conditions of the upper extremity including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, thumb arthritis, fractures, and shoulder rotator cuff tears. As your physician, his goal is to explain the nature of your condition as well as both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. In order to accomplish this, he utilizes a shared decision making approach.  This allows him to tailor your treatment to you as an individual so as to achieve your personal goals and maximize your quality of life.

Dr. Pitcher lives in Oakland with his wife, Valerie, and their two golden retrievers. His outside interests include hiking, snowboarding, woodworking, and all of the amazing outdoor activities that California has to offer.

Education:

Undergraduate: Saint Cloud State University, Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biology

Graduate: University of California Berkeley, PhD in Chemistry

Medical: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Residency: University of California San Francisco, Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic / Combined Hand Fellowship