I am a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in adult spinal pathologies. My practice is dedicated to providing exceptional spine care. I have gained significant experience in spinal care including orthopaedic training at the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency program, a chief resident in orthopaedic spine care at Massachusetts General Hospital, a spinal fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University and three years as a spine surgeon in the United States Air Force medical hospital, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. I believe that continuing education is an important aspect of a surgeon’s practice. For this reason, I have participated as a faculty member and director of numerous courses to train other surgeons in the complexities of spinal surgery. As well, I have completed specialized research in the areas of race, ethnicity, and gender in clinical disparities, total disc replacement and patient education improvement. I returned to my hometown, St. Louis, in 2002 as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Spine Surgery at Washington University Medical School. In 2005 I joined the Orthopedic Center of St. Louis. In 2014, I launched Town & Country Crossing Orthopedics (TCCO), located next to Wellbridge and Whole Foods Market. This new practice is structured as a unique clinical venture described as a physician-owned management service organization (MSO). My primary goal in starting TCCO was to create a state-of-the-art clinic environment that would optimize operating efficiency, control costs, and allow private physicians to maintain 100 percent control of their respective practices. TCCO allows clinicians to “go big,” yet still preserve their clinical independence and quality standards, while achieving economies of scale.
I believe in meeting my patient’s individual needs through comprehensive evaluation and treatment design to help the patient maintain an active lifestyle. Most spine problems can be treated with non-surgical techniques. Surgery is an option after exhausting all non-operative approaches. We offer the most recent spinal technologies as well as more traditional spinal treatment technologies to provide our patients with a broad option of orthopaedic spine care intervention.
I feel that the patient/doctor relationship is a partnership. My job is to provide you (the patient) with information to help you make an educated decision that best suits your needs. It is critical to develop a dialogue through which patients can understand the process of spinal care and the various options for treatment. A knowledgeable patient will make the best decision about his or her health. For this reason, I explain every step of the treatment process. As well, I ask that my patients participate in the decision-making process. I will present to you a realistic outlook on the results that you may achieve with surgery options. As well, I am honest and straightforward about the risks that might be involved with surgical treatment. Our purpose is to help you through your spinal treatment. It is important that the patient/doctor relationship be open and honest. I am committed to helping you become informed about your spinal condition and the multiple treatment choices available to you. My nurse, Lori Burke, and I will also provide you with patient education materials including access to our website, pamphlets and video tapes to give you the added appreciation of your condition and the treatment options.
Your spine health is my top priority. I strongly believe that the spinal treatment process is a two-way endeavor which requires both my commitment as well as your active participation. From your very first visit in our office, we will make a conscious effort to assure that you feel comfortable discussing with us the intricacies of your spine health. We encourage open and direct communication. We will listen to your needs and include them in the diagnostic and treatment process and we encourage your input and feedback throughout your care. We will provide you with patient education resources, in print and online, to help you make decisions regarding your spine care.
It is very common for patients to tell me when they are presented with the option of seeing a spinal surgeon that they “do not want to have spine surgery.” In most cases, these patients are correct. No one should “want spinal surgery,” however, there are a small group of patients whose quality of life is significantly compromised and in that circumstance, surgery should be considered as a last resort. Spinal surgery is only one of the many treatment options available to patients. Most patients we see never need to have surgery. Frequently, physical therapy, rehabilitation and pain management will be effective treatments for the bulk, of the spinal pathologies we encounter. We believe that conservative methods should be exhausted and, only when patients have exhausted these treatments, should surgical treatment be considered.
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