Dr. Nicholas Czosnyka is a General Surgeon at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic, North Avenue. Dr. Czosnyka received his medical degree at Rush Medical College in Chicago, Ill. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Gundersen Medical Foundation in La Crosse, Wis. Dr. Czosnyka chose to specialize in General Surgery because it allows him to have a broad scope of practice, be hands-on in many procedures, and to make a definitive difference in patients’ lives. He feels that the most rewarding part of practicing medicine is the ability to intervene in a way that dramatically improves someone’s life, as well as the immediate sense of accomplishment and benefit to the patient. In his free time, Dr. Czosnyka enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, hiking, canoeing, biking, hunting, and playing guitar. Dr. Czosnyka specializes in the following: • Breast surgery • Dialysis access • Endoscopy • Gastrointestinal surgery: gastric, pancreatic, gallbladder and biliary system, liver, small intestine, colon and rectal • Hernia surgery: ventral, umbilical, inguinal and complex abdominal wall hernias • Hemorrhoid procedures • Trauma and acute care surgery • Vein ablations