Inspirational Doctor of the Year

In a community rich with compassionate healers and dedicated medical professionals, one name stands out in 2025 as a beacon of excellence and service: Dr. Nicholas A. Piantanida, Colorado Springs’ Inspirational Doctor of the Year.

A family and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Piantanida has been a fixture in Colorado Springs’ healthcare landscape for nearly two decades. His current work reflects a rare combination of clinical skill, leadership and heart.

Dr. Piantanida’s path to medicine began with service. A graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, he spent 26 years as an active-duty physician in the U.S. Army, completing two Afghanistan combat tours before retiring as a colonel in 2014. His military honors, including the Order of Military Medical Merit, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and two Combat Air Medals, reflect a career marked by courage, sacrifice and leadership under fire.

It’s not just his resume that defines Dr. Piantanida. It’s his impact. Since transitioning to civilian life, he has poured his time and energy into the Colorado Springs community. He served as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Olympic Training Center.  He is not only the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Head Team Physician but also the physician founder of the citywide UCHealth Concussion Care Program. The UCHealth Concussion Care Program is a multi-disciplinary team spread throughout Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. This team of certified concussion experts aligns with rapid access and evidence-based treatment protocols to nurture patients with mild brain injury (sports concussion) back to school, work, and, ultimately, the activity they love.

Dr. Piantanida is among a team of regenerative medicine experts at UCHealth.  He uses Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and extracorporeal shock wave treatments to assist and transition patients with chronic overuse tendinopathy, joint arthritis, shoulder calcinosis and plantar fasciosis. Beyond his clinical and volunteer service, Dr. Piantanida is a tireless advocate for the medical community. As President and Board Chair of the El Paso County Medical Society, he works to support fellow physicians, promote ethical leadership and foster stronger community health initiatives across the region.

From 2018-2024, Dr. Piantanida was named a Top Doctor in Family Medicine, Sports Medicine, in Colorado Springs Magazine. This peer-selected honor speaks volumes about the respect he commands within his profession. This year, he is honored for his skill and spirit of service, resilience and leadership.

When asked where he receives his inspiration, he quickly identifies: his parents, Vern and Paula Piantanida; his wife, Elizabeth Piantanida, MD; and his three sons, Nicholas, Nathan, and Christian. He recognizes his teachers, Dr. Francis O’Connor and Dr. Jonathan Finnoff, who continue sports medicine learning to this day.  His medical staff and beloved patients challenge and inspire him daily. Bishop James Golka and author Mrs. Frannie Rose inspired him in his faith. His journey in learning to lead started back when he was at West Point. But today, the way his leadership has been shaped is by Margaret Sabin and by the El Paso County Medical Society Board members.

Dr. Nicholas A. Piantanida reminds us all that medicine, at its best, is not only a science — it’s a calling. He exemplifies what it means to inspire through military service, local advocacy and hands-on healing. For parents of children aspiring to serve in healthcare, he would have you embrace them with every inclination to shape a life measured by the journey of compelling service.  For that and so much more, we proudly celebrate him as Colorado Springs’ 2025 Inspirational Doctor of the Year.