Northwestern Center for Orthopedics (NCO), a leading Orthopedic private practice located in downtown Chicago, represents the melding of two long-standing Chicago-based orthopedic practices, Medical Associates of Chicago and University Orthopaedic Surgeons. Established in 1911 by Dr. Paul Magnuson, Northwestern Center for Orthopedics is the continuation of one of the oldest orthopedic specialty groups in the country. Paul Magnuson was instrumental in founding the orthopedic training program at Northwestern, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the current Veterans Administration Hospital s ystem after World War II. Other members of the group have been Dr. James Stack, Dr. Dave Bachman, Dr. Proctor Anderson, Dr. John Hefferon and Dr. Scott Cordes who carried on the tradition of this original group.

While the Magnuson and Stack group was based primarily at Passavant Hospital, the other main orthopedic group at Northwestern was based at the old Wesley Hospital with Dr. Edward Compere, Dr. William Schnute, and Dr. Clinton Compere. For much of its history, the Northwestern Orthopedic Department was chaired by Dr. Edward Compere and subsequently his brother, Dr. Clinton Compere. Dr. Robert Thompson and Dr. Paul R. Meyer are other well known surgeons associated with this group. Dr. Clare Giegerich continued this practice after the retirement of the other physicians under the name University Orthopaedic Surgeons, S.C.

In 1995, the two groups merged and formed Northwestern Center for Orthopedics. In 2006, NCO was joined by another specialist, Dr. Bryan Lapinski, to round out the group as we know it. Today, NCO is composed of five physicians with broad experience in total joint replacements, sports injuries, foot and ankle injuries, pediatric and general orthopedics. Located in the neighborhood of downtown Chicago, the practice is affiliated with Children's Memorial Hospital.