Dr. Ninomiya’s journey into medicine was inspired by a close friend and role model who introduced him to medical school. After initially working as an engineer in chemistry at IBM, he made a career change to orthopedic surgery, focusing on joint replacement. This field has allowed him to build long-term relationships with his patients while seeing immediate, life-changing results. Practicing at Cibola General Hospital has been one of the most rewarding chapters of his 30-year career, where the challenges of rural medicine and the diverse cultural mix have enriched his experience. Outside of work, Dr. Ninomiya is passionate about photography, hiking, flying planes, and pickle ball. He also retired after 38 years in the Air Force as a full colonel, where he served as a flight surgeon and orthopedic surgeon.