Physician-led care, rooted in Southern Utah

The Guardian team brings non-surgical sports medicine, musculoskeletal care, and full-spectrum family medicine together under one roof in Cedar City, Utah.

The story behind the name

Founded by Dr. Nathaniel Nye, MD — a fellowship-trained, board-certified sports medicine physician and Air Force veteran — Guardian was built to deliver expert diagnosis and proven, evidence-based treatment for patients of all ages.

The name “Guardian” is drawn from Zion National Park’s twin peaks, the North and South Guardian Angels — a fitting symbol for a practice built to watch over the long-term health of Southern Utah’s families and athletes.

During a 2026 hike to the summit of South Guardian Angel, Dr. Nye was facing the decision to either start a new clinic in Cedar City or continue a career in academic medicine in the eastern US. The stillness, solitude, and clarity afforded by this majestic mountain and surrounding landscape helped crystallize his decision to prioritize the wellbeing of his family, his relationships with patients in Southern Utah, and his love of the incredible mountains, canyons, and wilderness of this region.

Sandstone mountain above red rock slopes and scattered trees under a blue sky
“I truly love teaching and research, helping advance the field. I've had many great mentors in this area and I will miss being involved with teaching residents and fellows. But I will continue to be involved with medical writing, lecturing, and teaching as much as I can in Southern Utah.”
— Dr. Nye

What we do

Comprehensive, evidence-based care spanning specialty care (sports medicine) and primary care (family medicine) — supported by advanced diagnostics and image-guided treatment.

  • Sports & Musculoskeletal Medicine

    Non-surgical diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems in all patients, not just athletes. This includes sprains, fractures, osteoarthritis, concussions, connective tissue disorders, and conditions that have not yet been fully diagnosed.

  • Point-of-Care Ultrasound

    High-resolution diagnostic ultrasound at the bedside for accurate, timely answers — often avoiding the need for costly MRI or radiation-heavy CT. You can also discuss the images with your provider during your visit.

  • Ultrasound-guided Injections & Regenerative Medicine

    Ultrasound guidance enables pinpoint accuracy to improve safety and effectiveness while helping minimize pain. Treatment options include PRP (traditional and ExoCube), prolotherapy ("sugar injections"), nerve hydrodissection, and other advanced techniques. Cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections are also options. We will review these options with you to determine your best option(s).

  • Running Medicine

    Detailed gait analysis, retraining, and footwear guidance to break the injury cycle and keep runners healthy, performing at their best.

  • Family Medicine & Primary Care

    Full-spectrum, longitudinal care for all ages — wellness, prevention, and chronic disease management.

  • On-Site Diagnostics

    Digital X-ray and laboratory services under one roof for faster, more coordinated, more affordable care.

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility, etc.

    I am passionate about providing outstanding care for patients with connective tissue disorders, including hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). My approach begins with listening and understanding your journey. We review your history and perform a physical exam, incorporating the latest international diagnostic criteria and comprehensive genetic testing (when appropriate) to arrive at an accurate medical diagnosis. We also evaluate what additional conditions may be underlying, and how these may be affecting your health and daily life. I work collaboratively with you to coordinate multidisciplinary care tailored to your unique needs, help you better understand your condition, and navigate the path toward improved function and quality of life.

  • Fracture Care

    Using point-of-care x-ray and ultrasound, we will diagnose the fracture accurately and evaluate carefully for additional complications. The injured area is then splinted or casted based on current guidelines for orthopedic care. We will conduct all needed follow up care and imaging, or when needed, refer to an orthopedic surgeon.

  • PRP & ExoCube

    State-of-the-art platelet-rich plasma therapy, achieving maximum platelet counts and injection completed with ultrasound guidance using proven techniques(1). We also offer ExoCube, which is a very modern process that concentrates the most bioactive molecules from platelets, with the potential for faster and more reliable results.

A different kind of practice

By combining primary care and specialty sports medicine in a single community-based setting, we create real advantages for patients:

  • Earlier, more accurate diagnosis with on-site expertise and point-of-care X-ray and ultrasound
  • A strong emphasis on patient education and shared decision-making
  • Conservative, image-guided care that helps many patients avoid unnecessary surgery
  • Faster, same-day access through a physician-led, team-based model
  • Coordinated, head-to-toe continuity across sports medicine and primary care
Ultrasound scan

Nathaniel Nye, MD, FAMSSM, CAQSM

Founder & Medical Director

Dr. Nathaniel Nye is a fellowship-trained Sports Medicine physician who specializes in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and related conditions. He utilizes ultrasound to provide high-resolution imaging at the point of care to enable accurate and timely diagnosis. He has extensive experience with ultrasound-guided injections and provides multiple cutting-edge therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, and hydrodissection. He also has a passion for running medicine and provides detailed running gait analysis. He has published many research articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and has extensive teaching experience at the medical school, residency, and fellowship training levels. He is an Air Force veteran with 13 years of active duty experience and two overseas deployments.

13

Years of active-duty service in the U.S. Air Force

35+

Peer-reviewed articles & book chapters published

AMSSM

Elected to and served four years on the national Board of Directors

Ready to get started?

Schedule a visit with Guardian Sports Medicine & Family Health, or explore our vision for care in Southern Utah.

Citations

1PRP & ExoCube
  1. 1.1

    Finnoff JT, Hall MM, Adams E, et al. American Medical Society for Sports Medicine position statement: interventional musculoskeletal ultrasound in sports medicine. Clin J Sport Med. Jan 2015;25(1):6-22. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000175

  2. 1.2

    Daniels EW, Cole D, Jacobs B, Phillips SF. Existing Evidence on Ultrasound-Guided Injections in Sports Medicine. Orthop J Sports Med. Feb 2018;6(2):2325967118756576. doi:10.1177/2325967118756576

  3. 1.3

    Bruyn G. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography: Guided injection and aspiration of joints and related structures. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2022. UpToDate

  4. 1.4

    Wu YT, Chen SR, Li TY, et al. Nerve hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Muscle Nerve. Feb 2019;59(2):174-180. doi:10.1002/mus.26358

  5. 1.5

    Daley EL, Bajaj S, Bisson LJ, Cole BJ. Improving injection accuracy of the elbow, knee, and shoulder: does injection site and imaging make a difference? A systematic review. Am J Sports Med. Mar 2011;39(3):656-62. doi:10.1177/0363546510390610