Dr. Marie Dusch is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic hand and upper extremity surgeon specializing in the latest nonoperative and operative treatments for children and adults with injuries and conditions of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Dr. Dusch’s goal is to alleviate pain and improve hand, wrist, and elbow function so that her patients can return to the activities they enjoy.
She is currently the only surgeon on the Central Coast who offers ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, which is a minimally invasive carpal tunnel release technique that offers a smaller incision, shorter recovery time, decreased pain, a quicker return to activities, and a lower complication rate compared to standard open surgery.
Conditions that Dr. Dusch treats include, but are not limited to:
* Nerve compressions such as carpal, cubital, and radial tunnel syndrome * Fractures, dislocations, and instability of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow * Arthritis, tendonitis, tendon lacerations, ligament injuries, and sports injuries of the hand, wrist, and elbow * Nerve repair and reconstruction * Dupuytren’s contracture, ganglion cysts, trigger finger, and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis Dr. Dusch (pronounced D+hush) also takes pride in caring for the community by taking general orthopedic and hand surgery call. She is adept at treating fractures throughout the upper and lower extremities. Since moving to the Central Coast, Dr. Dusch loves the small-town atmosphere and feeling like she is always treating her neighbor.
Dr. Dusch received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University where she graduated top of her class and was awarded the prestigious Mason and Marsden Prize in Chemical Engineering. She then received her medical degree from the University of California San Francisco, which is widely regarded as one of the top medical schools in the country. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Southern California, which is a busy level I trauma center. She completed her hand and upper extremity fellowship at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, New York, which is consistently ranked #1 for orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Dusch has been identified as a leader in her field. After graduating from residency, she was selected for the AOA Emerging Leaders Program. Dr. Dusch currently serves on the board of directors for the California Orthopedic Association where she helps advocate for appropriate orthopedic care for her patients. She is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons (ABOS), the Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society, and the J. Robert Gladden Orthopedic Society where she helps mentor the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. She is proud to be among the 8% of practicing women orthopedic surgeons.
In her free time, Dr. Dusch is serious about staying fit, spending time outdoors, and adventure travel. After cheerleading through college at Stanford, she was a certified Spin instructor during medical school. She practices what she preaches about the importance of weight bearing exercise for bone health and can be found lifting weights at the gym. She also recently fell in love with hot yoga for its physical and mental benefits. Dr. Dusch considers herself a very proud member of the Central Coast community. She already has thousands of photos saved of the beautiful Pismo Beach sunsets on her phone.
She cares for patients in our Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, and Templeton offices.
