Richard J. Nasca was born in Elmira NY. He is a graduate of Georgetown College and Georgetown Medical School. He completed his internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and post graduate training in Surgery and Orthopaedics at Duke and Affiliated Hospitals. From 1970-1972 he served as Chief of the Amputee and Hand Services at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital caring for Vietnam casualties Dr. Nasca held teaching appointments in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine and the University of Alabama School of Medicine. During his time in practice he specialized in caring for patients with spine deformities, injuries and disorders. He is married to Carol T Smith RN for 50 years and have three children and one granddaughter. He lives in Wilmington NC where he has been involved with The Good Shepherd Center, the U. of North Carolina Wilmington Life Long Learning Program and College of Health and Human Services. He has co-authored 3 books.