Some people have the kind of professional career dreams are made of. They plan, work hard, succeed, help people along the way, then retire to devote themselves to the next phase…wherever and whatever that may be. For Dr. L. Anthony Agtarap, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates (OlyOrtho) has been his home away from home since 1997. He was hired directly out of medical training and closes out his orthopaedic surgical career on December 31, 2024.
But as we all get ready to ring in 2025, Agtarap knows his patients are – and will remain – in good hands. He’ll continue to care for his existing patients along with surgical cases and knows the OlyOrtho team will step in to maintain their high quality of treatment well into the future.
An Orthopaedic Career Running from Christmas Eve 1997 to New Year’s Eve 2024
Agtarap’s undergraduate education was from Washington State University but this crimson Cougar then switched team colors and finished his Doctor of Medicine, General Surgery Internship and Orthopaedic Surgery Residency as a University of Washington Husky.
He was finishing up UW surgical training when he was approached by a colleague on Christmas Eve. Agtarap was asked if he’d come down to Olympia and learn more about OlyOrtho’s growing team. And the rest, as they say, is history. “This has been my one and only job,” says Agtarap. He joined their team in 1997, and his last surgical day before retirement will be December 31, 2024.
But current patients won’t be left in a lurch. Though surgeries end in December, he’ll provide post-surgical follow-up well into the first quarter of 2025.
Dr. L. Anthony Agtarap: OlyOrtho’s Man with a Plan and the Skills to Carry it Out
“In a way, I’ve been planning my retirement since high school,” says Agtarap. “I wanted to pick a career I was passionate about and work hard until retirement in my mid-50s.” He was one of the youngest partners at the age of 29, and he’s now one of their youngest retirees.
But don’t dust off the party hats and order the cake quite yet. The last few months of 2024 have been and probably will be the busiest of my career, says Agtarap. “All my surgical slots are full, and things are super busy. But it’s fun to go out at the top of my field.”
Agtarap started as a general orthopedic surgeon but today he says 95% of patients are knee related. “The general shift in orthopaedics is to become sub-specialized,” he explains, so that’s exactly what he’s done. The majority of cases involve knee replacements or arthritis care with a large number of sports medicine and non-surgical knee treatment worked in.
Experiencing Orthopaedic Industry Changes Firsthand at OlyOrtho
It’s not hard to see (and hear) how life has changed since 1997. Back then, the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Hanson and Jewel topped our radio charts, and most families still used dial-up internet with its less-than-melodic connection.
In orthopaedic surgery, Agtarap says that he’s seen orthopedic advancements paralleling our aging patients, an active population with an increased need for care. He says that OlyOrtho has kept pace by carefully matching their care teams and new hires to meet both volume and this community’s specific needs.
“There have been big changes in surgery,” says Agtarap, “in joint replacements, materials and surgical trends. Implants now last from 20 to 30 years, and many surgeries are outpatient, with the patient being discharged within a few hours instead of needing overnight stays.” He also credits improvements in surgical approaches as well as robotic assisted procedures and using AI as a clinical and diagnostic tool. “It’s all pretty amazing,” he says.
Looking Ahead While Honoring the Experience of the Past
Agtarap explains that OlyOrtho is always recruiting talented new members, so he isn’t worried about who’ll fill his shoes. They’re bringing on a new sports medicine specialist in January 2025, and the existing surgical and non-surgical teams are always ready and willing to meet new patients.
For his own future, Agtarap and his wife are looking forward to more time for travel and staying active in the outdoors. He eventually sees himself looking for ways to mentor or volunteer to share his experience, even continuing with some peripheral involvement at OlyOrtho. But first, he says, “it’s time to take a deep breath, reflect and enjoy the next chapter of my life.”
As the new year approaches, if you or someone you love needs orthopaedic care, book an Olympia Orthopaedic Associates appointment online or by calling 360.570.3460. With numerous specialties, services and locations, you’re sure to greet 2025 with a spring in your step and a renewed ability to enjoy all the sports, activities and hobbies you love. Just like Dr. Agtarap will be doing after his well-deserved retirement, of course.
