Nicolas E. Walsh is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 physiatrist

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...

. Dr. Walsh is currently a professor

Professor

A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...

 and chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is an institute of health science education and research, located in the South Texas Medical Center....

.

He was appointed chairman of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 1998.

He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1969 and later joined the Navy SEALs. He did two tours in Vietnam and received two silver star

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....

s and a purple heart

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...

for his service. He received his masters degree in biology from Marquette University and received his medical degree from the University of Colorado.