
Mary Kate Thayer, MD
“It’s really hard to do the things you love without your hands, so I’m driven every day to help patients get back to their family activities and hobbies.”
Video Appointment Help & Information
Specialties and Areas of Focus
- Hand
- Wrist
- Elbow
- Pediatrics
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
- Upper Extremity Trauma & Fracture Care
Dr. Mary Kate Thayer is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery in both adults and children. She finds satisfaction in helping patients return to work, family, hobbies, and sports through a thorough and thoughtful approach that values open communication about treatment options.
Background
Dr. Thayer received her BA in psychology from the University of Washington and her MD from Saint Louis University School of Medicine where she graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors). She then returned home to the Northwest and completed her Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the University of Washington. To finalize her training, she relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, and completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Curtis National Hand Center, one of the top fellowship programs in the country. There, she received world-class training in the treatment of both common and complex disorders of the hand and upper extremity.


Dr. Thayer is published in the topics of hand, wrist, and trauma surgery and has presented much of this research at national and local meetings. In addition, she has a passion for mentoring and education. She has participated in the Perry Outreach Program and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society’s mentorship program. These programs both share a goal of inspiring young women to become leaders in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Thayer finds satisfaction in helping patients restore function of their upper extremity to return to work, family, hobbies, and sports. She works directly with patients to develop individualized care plans, both surgical and non-surgical, to achieve these goals. This is achieved through open communication with patients and education about the diagnosis and treatment options. She prides herself on a thorough and thoughtful approach to each patient. She has a special interest in fractures, sports injuries, arthritis, and nerve conditions of the upper extremity.


Dr. Thayer is a local Washingtonian. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Lew, and her daughter. She is an avid runner, cooking enthusiast, and Seattle sports fan.
Publications
A Morphometric Analysis of Hamate Autograft for Proximal Scaphoid Reconstruction, April 2021
Variations in Hook of Hamate Morphology: A Cadaveric Analysis, October 2018
Changes in Provider Treatment Patterns for Dupuytren’s Contracture: Analysis of Trends in Medicare Beneficiaries, October 2018
Concomitant Upper Extremity Fracture Worsens Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Hip Fracture, June 2018
Current concepts in hand and upper extremity amputations, March 2018
Classifications in Brief: Regan-Morrey Classification of Coronoid Fractures, February 2018
Complications of Semiconstrained Distal Radioulnar Joint Arthroplasty, December 2017
Complications of Aptis DRUJ Arthroplasty, September 2017
Awards
Hand Surgery
2021, 2022, 2023
Education & Credentials
Medical School
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO
Residency
University of Washington, Orthopaedic Surgery
Seattle, WA
Fellowship
The Curtis National Hand Center
Baltimore, MD
Board Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery




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Medical Assistant
Maya Witherspoon, CMA
+1 (425) 507-0783
Surgery Scheduler
Alexis Blumenzweig
+1 (425) 507-0728
Scribe
Afini Ishaque
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