Seth Ahlquist, M.D. is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery. He cares for patients throughout Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding communities.
Dr. Ahlquist provides comprehensive care for conditions affecting the entire upper extremity, from shoulder to fingertip (shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand). His clinical interests include fractures and traumatic injuries, arthritis, tendon and ligament disorders, peripheral nerve conditions, sports-related injuries, and complex upper extremity reconstruction.
In addition to standard hand and wrist procedures, Dr. Ahlquist performs primary and revision arthroplasty of the shoulder and elbow; arthroscopy of the shoulder and elbow, as well as nerve and tendon transfers for conditions such as paralytic shoulder. He treats patients of all ages and emphasizes thoughtful, individualized care using both advanced surgical and non-surgical techniques to help patients restore function and return to the activities that matter most to them. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Ahlquist earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at UCLA Health, followed by the prestigious Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship at OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dr. Ahlquist also completed an international traveling fellowship in Paris, where he trained with leading wrist and shoulder surgeons, Dr. Merlini and Dr. Valenti. He has also received specialized training in the use of the TOUCH® CMC 1 Prosthesis by KeriMedical, a thumb joint replacement for the surgical treatment of thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis.
Dr. Ahlquist has authored more than 20 scientific publications and has presented his research at regional, national, and international conferences. His work has been supported by competitive research grants, including funding from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and recognized with multiple honors and awards from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, California Orthopaedic Association, and Western Orthopaedic Association.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Ahlquist enjoys spending time outdoors, following college sports, playing soccer, and spending time with his wife and three children.
Download Dr. Ahlquist CV.