Dr. Nygaard was born in Lillehammer, Norway. In 1929 he received his M.D. degree from Oslo University. For two years he practiced in Norway before moving to Lacrosse, Wisconsin where he was surgical assistant at the Gunderson Clinic. In 1931, Dr. Nygaard began a fellowship in surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His services included medical hospital, general medical and surgical diagnosis, and operative surgery. After completing his Mayo fellowship, Nygaard returned to Norway and for three years held the position of Assistant Professor of Surgery at Oslo University.