Welcome
Specialties
Anatomical
Spine
Treatment
Deformity, Osteoporosis, Trauma/Fractures, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
My approach to treating patients
When many people consider visiting a spine surgeon, often, their first thought is "Oh, I don't want or need surgery." In fact, they may be right.
Surgery is only one of many treatment options. Many of my patients never need to have surgery - many times rehabilitation of the spine is all that is needed. I work closely with a team of local physiatrists, pain management specialists, and physical therapists who, like me, believe in conservative methods. If a spinal condition can be rehabilitated without surgery, that is what should be done. I inform my patients of all the treatment options they have for an injury, and what the advantages and disadvantages are of each option. There is a lot of valuable patient information available today that can answer many questions a patient may have, or help to calm some concerns they may have. I believe that our staff and I may be your most valuable resource for any thoughts or concerns you have, which is why we are here.
The best compliment I receive is when patients recommend me to one of their family members or friends. My patient's trust is of utmost importance to me. Any spinal condition can cause you concern and anxiety - you may not know what is wrong and what needs to be done to correct your symptoms. My main approach to helping you is to keep you well informed - through dialogue between us and through external sources of information that are available. It is my job to help you understand why I take, or do not take, certain actions.
When you come to see me as your spine surgeon, surgery is not your only option. Oftentimes through rehabilitation and available prescriptions, your symptoms may be adequately addressed. If you do require surgery, I'll keep you informed of why surgery is required, what will be done in the surgery, and what to expect as an eventual outcome after surgery.
Thank you for visiting this web site. Please feel free to contact us anytime at with any questions, comments or concerns. We'd love to hear from you!
Contact Information
Other staff in my practice
Here is a list of my staff, along with their titles:
Debbie Cizek - Eastside Site Administrator. Debbie is in charge of the day-to-day activities of our eastside office. She has been instrumental in ensuring that patient care and customer service are our two top priorities at Orthopedics International.
Heather Gagon - Medical Assistant & Surgery Scheduler. Heather will meet with you after you check in and talk with you about your symptoms, what other physicians you have seen regarding your symptoms, and what your thoughts are regarding your condition. Heather will also help you set up your surgery and assist you through the entire preoperative process. She will ensure that your preoperative experience runs as smoothly as humanly possible.
Stacy Hicks, PA - Stacy is a Physician Assistant and works with the entire spine team in order to provide the best clinical care for all of our patients. He is a physican extender and provides his services both in the clinical and surgical settings.
Kathy Ehrman - Insurance Billing Specialist. Kathy can assist you with any insurance or billing questions you may have.
When you enter our practice our receptionists will greet you, take your insurance information and let the other staff know that you are here for your appointment. When you leave the waiting area and come to one of the examination offices, my medical assistant, Heather, will measure your vital signs. Heather will talk with you about your symptoms, what other physicians you may have seen because of your symptoms, and what your thoughts are regarding your condition.
Stacy and I will then take your full clinical history and perform a thorough physical examination. We will then order and review any xrays and/or advanced imaging studies (i.e. MRI, CT scan, etc.) of your spine. Finally, a formal diagnosis of your condition will be made and a treatment plan will be formulated. Conservative, non-surgical treatment is the preferred course of action for the vast majority of our patients.
If surgery is determined to be your best treatment option, however, Heather can help you sort through the nessesary preoperative steps in order to ensure that the process is as pain-free as possible. Kathy can assist you with any insurance or billing questions you may have. Mary Pat and Debbie are always available to speak with you regarding any questions or concerns you may have regarding just about anything related to our practice individually, or healthcare in general.
No spine surgeon practices without the support of a professional team and I am certainly no exception! I am pleased to introduce you to our highly trained and eager treatment team that makes everything possible.
Together, we are committed to providing the best possible spinal care to our rapidly growing patient family.
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