F. Ray Nickel, MD

Expertise in:
Foot & Ankle / Knee / Sports Medicine

Locations:
Ventura

F. Ray Nickel, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon serving patients in Ventura, specializing in foot and ankle surgery, sports medicine, and reconstructive surgery. With decades of experience, Dr. Nickel is known for advanced arthroscopic techniques and comprehensive care for sports injuries and joint reconstruction.
Dr. Nickel completed his orthopedic residency at UC Irvine and a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital. Since 1985, he has been a trusted part of Ventura Orthopedics, providing expert surgical and non-surgical treatments.
He is actively involved in teaching, hospital committees, and has published research on arthroscopic surgery and sports injuries. Dr. Nickel is also the sports medicine physician for Ventura College athletics and has volunteered internationally to provide orthopedic care.
Outside of work, he enjoys surfing, skiing, fishing, and backpacking. He lives in Ventura with his family.

Patient Resources
Achilles Tendon Stretch

Dr. F Ray Nickel has been my doctor for several foot surgeries. I trust him completely. He is sympathetic, thorough, and has explained the surgeries and the post op in detail. I strongly recommend him.

Dr. Nickel was so informative. He gave us a lot of time for questions and he was direct with his answers. He was very precise with his surgery on my ankle. By no means was my case easy. The result is that my ankle has no pain. Thank you Dr. Nickel. I think very highly of you, and so do my two friends who you diagnosed.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional care I received from Dr. Ray Nickel. His professionalism and attentive manner were truly remarkable. He took the time to thoroughly listen to my concerns and patiently addressed all of my questions, leaving me feeling well-informed and confident in the plan of care. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Nickel to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and compassionate physician.

I have total confidence in Doctor Nickel, he did a great job repairing my shattered great heel last year, so when I came to him with the new Achilles issue on the other side his experience and confidence and listening skills made it quite pleasurable and give me lots of trust in his abilities.

Dr. Nickel was straightforward, thorough, answered all of my questions, and gave me options for treatment. His staff were all very helpful and knowledgeable.

Dr. Nickel was very thorough with details on my problem and care options. I have seen Dr. Nickel for various orthopedic situations for over 35 years and am very confident in his solutions and care

Dr Nickel is amazing. As a young person struggling with an arthritic ankle, I have had a hard time coping with the reality of my situation. Some doctors have made me feel put off and felt like a waste of time. Dr Nickel takes the time to educate me about my condition, answer my questions, and give me productive and supportive advice to better manage my condition as it progresses. Words can’t express my graditude for this standard of care. I highly recommend Dr Nickel if you have an ankle problem.

Dr. F. Ray Nickel and the whole staff was amazing. Not only were they patient but they answered every question I had. Not once did I feel like I was being pushed towards one option or another. Dr. Nickel laid out my options and gave me unbiased data. Once I made my choice I felt comfortable and he gave me a great overview and laid out my recovery. Serious injuries are never easy but having a great group of medical individuals make It a lot easier.

Undergraduate Degree:
University of California, San Diego

Medical Degree:
University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio

Internship:
General Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center

Residency:
Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center

Fellowship:
Orthopaedic-Diabetic Reconstructive Surgery, University of Southern California / Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
Foot and Ankle Surgery, University of Southern California / Whittier Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital and Orthopaedic Hospital

Board Certification:
General Orthopaedics/Sports Subspecialty, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

American Medical Association

American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

California Medical Association

California Orthopaedic Association

Christian Medical & Dental Society

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

Surfer's Medical Association

Hospital Affiliations

St. Johns Regional Medical Center

Community Memorial Hospital

St. Johns Pleasant Valley

Channel Islands Surgery Center

Ventura Orthopedics Surgery Center