Originally from South Louisiana, Dr. Walker grew up the oldest of four boys in a household with deep rooted Southern values of respect, faith, and hospitality. He was always encouraged to work hard in school, which eventually led him to graduate with Honors from Nicholls State University with a major in Biology and Chemistry.
After completing his undergraduate training, Dr. Walker began his medical training at Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. While in medical school, Dr. Walker was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society in his junior year and graduated at the top of his class. For the first three years of medical school, he planned to practice Heart Surgery. However, by a chance event he was asked to assist in a breast reconstruction. The process of taking someone who had an important part of them missing, in this case a patient who had mastectomies for breast cancer, and making them feel whole again was a moving and life altering experience. After delving into the breadth of Plastic Surgery and how much good he could provide with this profession, Dr. Walker never looked back.
Following medical school, Dr. Walker matched into one of the top Plastic Surgery Residencies in the Southeast at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Here, he received training in a robust, high volume program and saw all aspects of Plastic Surgery, from pediatric craniofacial and hand surgery to cosmetic surgery. During his training, he published numerous papers on topics including Breast Reconstruction, Hand Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Skin Cancer and Facial Reconstruction, Wound Care, and Burn Reconstruction. He finished with exceptional training; with his residency in the top 98th percentile for procedures performed in the country that year. Following Residency Training, Dr. Walker completed his Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in his continued commitment to offer the highest quality care to his patients.
Dr. Walker is also active in medical mission work, traveling across the world during his residency at Wake Forest to help pediatric burn patients and patients with cleft and craniofacial disorders. He continues this important work with Operation Smile as an internationally credentialed Burn Surgeon, helping provide and teach advanced burn care throughout the world. He considers it an honor to use his training to help provide for those who are in need and less fortunate.
With deep rooted family values, Dr. Walker desired to practice in a strong community environment, and North Texas was a perfect fit. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and playing guitar and piano.
His passion for his career along with the satisfaction that comes from the smiling faces of satisfied patients is the driving force for his motivation to be a lifelong student of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Walker's Publications:
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Walker, Nicholas J., Park, Jungwon, Rebowe, Ryan, Motamedi, Vida, Runyan, Christopher M., Tucker, Scott. Pre-pectoral vs Sub-pectoral Breast Reconstruction in High Body Mass Index Patients. 2020. Annals of Plastic Surgery
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Satteson ES, Driscoll C, Khan M, Walker NJ, Bagg MR, Person DW, Tannan SC. Efficacy of Abductor Pollicis Longus Suspensionplasty Compared to Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition. Hand. 2020, Feb 26
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Joseph A Molnar, MD, PhD, Nicholas Walker, MD, Thomas N Steele, MD, Christopher Craig, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, Jeffrey Williams, MMS, PA-C, Jeffrey E Carter, MD, James H Holmes, IV, MD. Initial Experience with Autologous Cell Suspension for Treatment of Deep Partial Thickness Facial Burns. Journal of Burn Care and Research. 2020
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Walker, Nicholas J, Jones, Veronica M, Kratky, Lauren, Chen, Haiying, Runyan, Christopher. Hematoma Risks of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs used in Plastic Surgery Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2019
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Walker, Nicholas J., Pestana, Ivo A. Autologous Breast Reconstruction Skin Paddle Designs: Classification & Aesthetic Outcomes. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery Open. 2019
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Rudolph, Megan A., Walker, Nicholas J., Rebowe, Ryan E., Marks, Malcolm W. Broadening Applications and Insights into the Cross Paramedian Forehead Flap over a 19-Year Period. JPRAS. 2019
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Walker, Nicholas J, Crantford, John C, David, Lisa R. Chief Resident Cosmetic Clinics: An Analysis of Resident Experience and Outcomes over a 13 Year Period. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2018.
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Walker, Nicholas J. Cleft Lip. St. Petersburg FL, StatPearls Publishing, LLC, 2018
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Satteson ES, Walker NJ, CJ Tuohy, Molnar JA. Extensive hand thermal and blast injury from electronic cigarette explosion: A case report. HAND
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Michael Reynolds, David A. Kelly, Nicholas J. Walker, Clayton Crantford, Anthony Defranzo.. Use of Integra® in the Management of Complex Hand Wounds from Cancer Resection and Non-Burn Trauma . HAND 1–6 © American Association for Hand Surgery, 2017, DOI: 10.1177/1558944717692090
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Walker, Nicholas. Thermal Burns. St. Petersburg FL, StatPearls Publishing, LLC, 2016