Father and son reflect on the values that built Northern Arizona Orthopaedics
FLAGSTAFF (June 12, 2025) — In celebration of Father’s Day, Northern Arizona Orthopaedics (NAO) honors the intertwined legacies of two remarkable father-son teams—Dr. Roman and Dr. Yuri Lewicky, and Dr. Merrill and Dr. Mickey Abeshaus—whose generations of care reflect decades of integrity, compassion, and excellence that have made NAO a Flagstaff treasure.
A little more than 50 years ago, NAO began with a simple dream—to provide exceptional care in a small mountain town. Founded on the humble vision of Dr. Roman Lewicky and his partnership with Dr. Merrill Abeshaus in the 1970s, NAO has grown into one of Arizona’s most trusted orthopaedic practices. Today, that legacy continues through Dr. Lewicky’s son, Dr. Yuri Lewicky, and a dedicated team of specialists who put patients—and people—first.
Dr. Roman Lewicky arrived in Flagstaff in 1975, drawn by the community, the scenery, and the opportunity to make a difference. He joined Dr. Abeshaus, who had come to Flagstaff a few years earlier after serving in Tuba City – located in northern Arizona within the Navajo Nation. Together, they established the foundational values that would define NAO for decades: excellence in care, surgical innovation, and, above all, compassion for every patient.
Early on, NAO became known for pioneering efforts in arthroscopic surgery, with patients traveling from across Arizona to receive cutting-edge procedures long before they were common practice. Meanwhile, Dr. Roman Lewicky served as team physician for Northern Arizona University athletics, deepening NAO’s connection to the local community. But more than technical skill, it was the culture of humility, trust, and integrity that made NAO different.
“We treated our patients like family,” said Dr. Lewicky. “We explained everything – every risk, every step. We believed in transparency and doing the right thing, even if it meant writing off the bill.”
That same culture endures today, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Yuri Lewicky, who followed in his father’s footsteps. The two worked side by side for seven years before Dr. Roman Lewicky’s retirement. “I tell people all the time, perfection is unattainable—but the goal is perfection, and I’ll die trying,” said Dr. Yuri Lewicky. “The standard my father set is the standard I aim to uphold every day.”
Today, NAO has grown into a practice of subspecialists who treat everything from spine and joint issues to hand injuries and sports medicine. But even as it has expanded, its mission remains unchanged.
“The people who find us are meant to find us,” Dr. Yuri Lewicky said. “That spirit of care, of doing what’s right, of building something lasting—that came from day one, when my dad and Dr. Abeshaus found each other. And it still lives here today.”
As Northern Arizona Orthopaedics looks to the future, its heart remains rooted in the past: in the belief that great medicine starts with great humanity.
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About Northern Arizona Orthopaedics
Northern Arizona Orthopaedics is one of the largest orthopedic practices in the region, with clinic locations in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley and the White Mountains/Lakeside. To treat all of your musculoskeletal care needs, we have surgeons specializing in multiple sub-specialties of bone and joint care, including spine. As part of the Northern Arizona community for more than 50 years, we have built a reputation for quality care and Experience You Can Trust. For more information, please visit https://northazortho.com/.
About Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo)
Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo) is the national leader of integrated musculoskeletal value-based health outcomes management, practice management and health system service line management. This includes comprehensive expertise across all MSK specialties, including orthopedics, spine, neurosurgery, hand, pain management, rehabilitation and neurology. HOPCo’s integrated care, analytics and facilities development and management platforms have proven to increase the quality of patient care while reliably reducing the total cost of care across the care continuum for practices, health systems and payors alike. HOPCo’s affiliated payors, practices and health systems successfully participate in highly efficient value-based contracting (bundled payments, chronic episodes of care initiatives, population health programs and other advanced risk-based arrangements) utilizing HOPCo’s proprietary platforms, IT solutions, integrated analytics and evidence-based comprehensive care pathways. Visit https://hopco.com to learn more.
Media Contact:
Annebeth Ahrenholz
Communications Specialist
Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo)
annebeth.ahrenholz@hopco.com
Background note for context: Dr. Merrill Abeshaus founded NAO in 1972 as the first full-time orthopaedist in Flagstaff, later practicing alongside his son Mickey for five years before his retirement. Mickey then continued in orthopaedics until 2008 before transitioning to a career in wealth management
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