Meet Our Providers
Our physicians are double board-certified vascular surgeons with expertise and training in venous disease. They have published scientific papers and book chapters and have presented at national and international meetings. They serve as proctors for physicians in training.
Our nurse practitioners are vein experts. They have decades of experience in surgical care and are passionate about patients. We care about what we do. So relax, you’re in good hands!
YS Robert Kim, MD FACS
Dr. Kim is a Vascular Surgeon at Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center. He is fellowship trained and board certified in vascular surgery, general surgery and venous medicine. He holds a special interest in the minimally invasive treatment of venous disease. Dr. Kim studied medicine in the U.S. and England, completed a fellowship in Vascular & Endovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and a General Surgery residency at the University of Southern California where he was Chief Resident of Los Angeles County General Hospital. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Society for Vascular Surgery. In his spare time, Dr. Kim enjoys car detailing, arranging family get-togethers, and cycling/hiking/hanging with his wife Airine!
Aksel G. Nordestgaard, MD FACS
Dr. Nordestgaard is the founder of Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center. He has the training and credentials you want in a vein surgeon with over 20 years of experience as a vascular surgeon in the Puget Sound area. He has been board certified by the American Board of Surgery and was the first physician in Pierce County to accomplish Phlebology board certification. Dr. Nordestgaard studied medicine in the U.S. and Copenhagen and is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Phlebology, Washington State Medical Association as well as several European medical societies.
Katie Zahour, ARNP
Katie Zahour is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner at Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center. She brings nearly a decade experience in a wide breadth of disciplines including Cardiology, Bariatric Surgery, Urology, and Exercise Science. Katie is a practicing Exercise Physiologist who loves teaching fitness classes when she is out of the clinic. Katie is a native of Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse where she earned a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology. She also received an Adult Nurse Practitioner degree at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. Katie has lived all over the U.S. but decided to live in the Pacific Northwest specifically for the rainy cooler climate. Prior to joining Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center, Katie worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the surgical department at Multicare where her duties involved care for patients both in the operating theatre as well as in the outpatient clinic. Outside of work, Katie enjoys reading romance novels, spending time with friends, and, of course, exercising.
Jessica Speir, ARNP
Jessica Speir is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner at Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center. She received a Master of Science degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. In addition to Vascular Surgery, Jessica has had considerable experience working in Neurology, Trauma Surgery, and General Surgery. She has lived all over the US including Virginia, Washington, Hawaii, and Indiana. When Jessica isn’t hard at work she enjoys golfing, camping, and hiking with her husband and three children.