Robert C. Vercio, MD, is fellowship trained in all aspects of surgery in the hand, elbow and shoulder. He completed the Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is passionate about patient education and partnering with patients, working together to help them make the best treatment decisions. He is skilled in ultrasound of the upper extremity for diagnosis and treatments and is co-author of a textbook to assist other physicians with these useful exams and techniques. Dr. Vercio has also spent time in developing countries from Nepal to Haiti and plans to continue helping those in need.Dr. Vercio is a South Sound native who grew up in Gig Harbor and is excited to be back in the PNW. When not mending bones in need, he enjoys chasing around his small family, spending time on the water, artisan bread baking and photography. Dr. Vercio is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Ganglion Cyst, Osteotomy, and Bone Graft.

Patrick Vaughan, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in the care and education of the amateur, professional and weekend athlete. He utilizes both non-operative as well as surgical care in order to restore his patients' function and return them to the activities they love.Dr. Vaughan has been practicing orthopedic surgery in the South Sound for over 15 years. He is the medical director and team orthopedic surgeon for the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA franchise of the Seattle Mariners), and provides sports medicine coverage for Gig Harbor High School. He is the current team orthopedic surgeon for the University of Puget Sound and has worked with all of the school's varsity sports teams for over a dozen years. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2005 at the Naval Hospital Pensacola as an orthopedic surgeon.He enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, and golf, spending time with his family, and playing sports with his two teenagers. Dr. Vaughan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Knock Knees, Osteoarthritis, Bowlegs, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Sean D. Ghidella, MD, is fellowship trained in hand surgery and specializes in the surgical management of the upper extremity. He has been practicing since 1996 and has received a CAQ subspecialty certificate in orthopedic surgery of the hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He brings experience rarely found outside military practice to Tacoma, Lakewood, and Gig Harbor. He is well versed in management of common sports, work-related, arthritic, and traumatic injuries and ailments. He has a wealth of experience managing severe injuries and conditions resulting from combat as well as birth defects in children.Once management short of surgery has failed, Dr. Ghidella tries to speed recovery and improve function surgically with a combination of traditional techniques that have proven reliable and the latest techniques that depend on current technology. His goal is to restore function to his patients and get them back to their daily activities as quickly as possible by solving their orthopedic problem, big or small.He is a graduate of the Unites States Military Academy, West Point and has served in the military as an orthopedic and hand surgeon with the last eight years of his career holding positions of Chief of Hand Surgery and Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center. He retired from the Army as a Colonel and a combat veteran after 21 years of service in 2010 to pursue civilian practice. He has previously taught as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M, USUHS, and Swedish Medical Center.He hails from New England, but he considers the South Sound home. He is an avid skier and enjoys water sports. His passion is assistant coaching for Gig Harbor High School Tides Varsity Football. Dr. Ghidella is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Trigger Thumb, and Dupuytren Contracture.

Nicholas Rajacich is an Orthopedics specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Olympia, Washington. Dr. Rajacich is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Clubfoot, Maffucci Syndrome, Ollier Disease, and Syndactyly Cenani Lenz Type. Dr. Rajacich is currently accepting new patients.

Gregory Duff is an Orthopedics specialist and a Sports Medicine provider in Silverdale, Washington. Dr. Duff is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Trochlear Dysplasia, Bursitis, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Duff is currently accepting new patients.

James D. Bruckner, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. His clinical interests include the reconstruction and preservation of the hip and knee, as well as orthopedic oncology, including adult and pediatric musculoskeletal tumor surgery. Dr. Bruckner completed both his undergraduate and graduate work at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Mathematics and earning magna cum laude honors from the medical school. He completed his residency and served as a clinical instructor in orthopedics with the U.S. Navy. His fellowship training was completed at Seattle at Children's Hospital and the University of Washington. While at U.W., he was an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, served as Director of the hip and knee replacement service and developed the total-joint fellowship program. Dr. Bruckner has received numerous honors, awards, and peer recognition. He was Chairman of the Overlake Hospital Department of Orthopaedics from 2006 through 2010. He has three grown sons, is an avid gardener and musician, and enjoys both skiing and wakesurfing. Dr. Bruckner is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Bone Tumor, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Knee Replacement, and Hip Replacement.

Anthony VanBergeyk, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose clinical interests include virtually all aspects of orthopedic foot and ankle surgery, traumatic injuries, knee arthroscopy as well as knee and hip replacement surgery. He feels blessed to be a part of the greater Puyallup medical community and he looks forward to providing individualized, patient-centered education and healthcare for many years to come.Dr. VanBergeyk was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. He moved with his family to the Pacific Northwest in 2005. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, golfing, camping, and hiking. He is also an avid sports fan. He is actively involved in his local church as well as serving at the South Hill food bank and volunteering at his children’s school and Girl Scout activities. Dr. Vanbergeyk is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Achilles Tendon Rupture, Tendinitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Wayne Weil, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in hand and elbow surgery. Dr. Weil is well known in the community for his expertise in treating complex conditions of the upper extremity. He sees patients with a wide variety of hand ailments, including carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, sports injuries, Dupuytren’s disease, thumb arthritis, wrist fractures, and more.Dr. Weil is the only physician in the Swedish Hospital system who performs endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery for median nerve compression at the carpal tunnel and endoscopic cubital tunnel release for treatment of ulnar nerve compression at the cubital tunnel. Endoscopic carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel release surgery, like the traditional approaches to carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel surgery, boasts excellent outcomes. The advantages are that the endoscopic approach is minimally invasive, less painful, and allows for a quicker recovery and return to work and sports.Dr. Weil completed his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania. He then worked at the world renowned National Institutes of Health performing research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He then completed his medical education and received a Doctorate of Medicine from New York University’s School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City, New York. While in residency, Dr. Weil completed specialized training in orthopedic trauma surgery at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, one of the busiest and most respected trauma centers in the country. He also participated in the orthopedic care of the New York Mets, New York Rangers, New York City Ballet, and Alvin Alley Dance Company.After residency, Dr. Weil went on to complete a Hand and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center. Dr. Weil has published several scientific papers and presented his research in the field of upper extremity trauma at national meetings.During his fellowship Dr. Weil and his family fell in love with the Pacific Northwest lifestyle and settled in Seattle after joining Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle. On weekends in the winter, you can find Dr. Weil, his wife, and five kids racing down Crystal Mountain. Dr. Weil enjoys alpine and backcountry skiing, hiking in the mountains, tennis and cycling. He has completed multiple marathons and triathlons including Ironman Canada in Whistler, BC. He has also spent time trekking in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, Torres del Paine in Chile, and the Inca Trail in Machu Pichu, Peru. Dr. Weil is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Dupuytren Contracture, Rhizarthrosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ganglion Cyst, and Hip Replacement.

Tyler J. Nathe, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon treating both sports medicine and general orthopedic patients. His practice has a special focus on arthroscopic surgery and sports injuries as well cartilage transplant procedures and the treatment of complex fractures. He finds great satisfaction in helping athletes of all types return to action.Dr. Nathe received his BS in chemistry and medical degree from the University of Washington. He completed his residency at UC Davis, one of the top orthopedic training programs in the country. He then completed a fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine and arthroscopy at UC Davis. He is a published author on the topic of sports medicine with articles appearing in The American Journal of Sports Medicine and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. He was honored with an award for his research on injuries in collegiate baseball players. Dr. Nathe has lectured on topics that include complex ligament reconstruction of the knee and shoulder problems in overhead athletes.Dr. Nathe was a collegiate student-athlete competing in soccer for one season with Bellevue College and a spring season with the University of Washington. That summer he sustained a knee injury wakeboarding and focused his efforts on cycling. He competed in road, mountain, and cyclocross racing and in the collegiate road cycling national championships with the University of Washington cycling team. He is still a sports enthusiast and enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, mountain biking, cycling, rock climbing, and crossfit workouts.Dr. Nathe serves as a team physician for the Bellevue High School Football team, Mt. Si High School Football team, and the US Ski and Snowboard Association. He finds great satisfaction in helping athletes of all types return to action.Dr. Nathe is a proud, born-and-raised Washingtonian, growing up in Yakima. He met his wife Sharon at UW School of Medicine and together they have three children. Tyler and his family are thrilled to be back in Washington State near family and friends. Dr. Nathe is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Small Patella Syndrome, Sandhaus Ben-Ami Syndrome, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Trac Duong, MD, practices all aspects of adult and pediatric otolaryngology. He is subspecialty-trained in otology and neurotology and specializes in treating patients with complex diseases of the ear and skull base.  He performs microsurgery, including endoscopic ear surgery, to treat hearing loss, tympanic membrane perforation, otosclerosis, chronic ear infections, cholesteatoma, vestibular schwannoma and tumors of the ear and skull base. He has over 10 years of experience performing cochlear implant surgery and working with implantable hearing technology. He also treats patients with peripheral vestibular disorders such as Meniere's disease.He believes that excellent and compassionate care starts with listening and taking the time to educate his patients so they can be more effective partners in their own care. He considers it a privilege to care for his patients. Dr. Duong is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Infant Hearing Loss, Cholesteatoma, DFNB1, and Jones Syndrome.

Ryan J. Nathe, MD, is a fellowship-trained joint replacement orthopedic surgeon. His practice focuses on arthritis of the hip and knee. In addition to initial joint replacements, Dr. Nathe's training includes complex revision of failed joint replacements.During his orthopedic surgery residency at UC Davis, Dr. Nathe was elected Administrative Chief Resident by his peers. He was sent by his residency program director and attendings to the Emerging Leaders Conference sponsored by the American Orthopaedic Association. Dr. Nathe has published on diverse topics in orthopedics including ankle injury repair techniques, Talus OCD lesions, multi-modal analgesia, and hand injuries in collegiate baseball players. He has also lectured on outpatient total joint arthroplasty as well as pre-operative templating techniques in total joint arthroplasty.Dr. Nathe enjoys being able to return his patients to a more active lifestyle. Dr. Nathe is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Bursitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Gregory A. Komenda, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose primary focus is on sports medicine and injuries of the shoulder and knee. He enjoys working with patients requiring complex shoulder reconstruction and knee ligament reconstruction as well as joint replacement surgery.He believes every patient is unique and important. He strives to customize care to each individual patient in order to maximize their functionality and enable them to return to activities and sports.Dr. Komenda grew up in Washington State. He received a Bachelor of Science from the UW and attended St. Louis University for his medical degree. After doing his residency in Maryland, he completed a sports medicine fellowship at the highly regarded Southern California Orthopedic Institute.Dr. Komenda and his wife have two boys who keep them busy with their sports teams and activities. He enjoys flying, photography, and coaching lacrosse. Dr. Komenda is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Frozen Shoulder, Tendinitis, Bursitis, Knee Replacement, and Hip Replacement.

Scott D. Ruhlman, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the care of hand, shoulder, and elbow disorders. He practices fracture care, sports medicine, and joint replacement surgery of the upper and lower extremities.Dr. Ruhlan grew up in Shoreline, WA, and is happy to be practicing in the Pacific Northwest. Outside of medicine, he enjoys many sports including skiing, golf, running and tennis. His greatest pride is his wonderful wife and lifetime best friend, Mary, who brought into this world the two most wonderful children, Sam and Nola. Dr. Ruhlman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Ganglion Cyst, Rhizarthrosis, Trigger Thumb, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Mark A. Reed, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in the care of foot and ankle disorders. He treats both adolescents and adults with a special focus on sports-related injuries, including ankle instability, cartilage lesions, and Achilles tendon injuries. He has advanced training in ankle joint replacement, including the Wright Medical Infinity and INBONE prostheses and the Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR) prosthesis, and in reconstructive procedures, including bunion, hammertoe, and flatfoot deformity correction. He also performs platelet-rich plasma therapy for foot and ankle conditions.Dr. Reed enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife and three sons. Before enrolling in medical school, he worked as a mechanical engineer designing missile guidance systems and was part of the team that developed the jet engine for the F-22 Advanced Tactical Fighter. Dr. Reed is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Synovial Osteochondromatosis, Morton Neuroma, Tendinitis, and Freiberg's Disease.

Grant Garcia, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with advanced accredited fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Dr. Garcia’s primary focus for his practice is sports medicine, having a great interest in returning athletes safely to their sport after shoulder, knee and elbow injuries and surgeries.During residency and fellowship, Dr. Garcia trained in numerous advanced sports procedures and techniques. These include cartilage regeneration, meniscus transplantation, multi-ligamentous knee reconstruction and complex limb realignment procedures. In addition, many minimally invasive shoulder procedures, including stemless arthroplasty, stabilization procedures, and rotator cuff revision surgery are part of his expertise. He has special elbow training in ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction and repair procedures. Dr. Garcia is also fellowship-trained in orthobiologic treatments, including stem cell transplantation and PRP, to assist in these surgical procedures, as well as non-operative treatments.Dr. Garcia has authored over 50 publications found in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has presented more than 60 academic sports papers worldwide, in addition to authoring book chapters on advanced techniques in sports medicine. He has also published over a dozen papers on sports medicine that have been featured in ESPN.com, Orthopedics Today and AAOS Now.Dr. Garcia was an assistant team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. During residency, he cared for players on the New York Giants, New York Mets, US Tennis Team, New York Rangers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, as well as many collegiate athletes.Dr. Garcia’s outside interests include spending time with his family, wake-boarding, high intensity interval training and travel. He is excited to return to the Seattle area with his wife and their two daughters. Dr. Garcia is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteochondritis Dissecans, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Tendinitis, Osteotomy, and Tenotomy.

Dayne Mickelson, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with expertise in sports medicine and complex arthroscopic surgery. He has a special interest in knee preservation procedures including cartilage repair and transplantation, multi-ligament reconstruction, as well as biologic treatments. He also focuses on general orthopedics including acute or chronic knee and shoulder problems, pediatric injuries and fracture care.Dr. Mickelson’s philosophy is based on education and individualized care plans. His practice focuses on accessibility, convenience and a friendly atmosphere where a patient is treated like family. Dr. Mickelson believes in a shared decision-making model, where the treatment plan is customized based on an individual’s aspirations and goals. He finds great satisfaction in helping patients return to the activities they enjoy and providing a truly outstanding experience from beginning to end.Dr. Mickelson has authored over a dozen papers on orthopedics, education and technology as well as written textbook chapters on advanced techniques in sports medicine. He has published in Orthopedics, the Journal of Surgical Education, the Journal of Hand Surgery and The American Journal of Sports Medicine.Dr. Mickelson has a passion for sports. He was a four-year letter winner on the Lehigh University men’s basketball team, winning the Patriot League championship and playing in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament (“March Madness”) his junior year. Dr. Mickelson previously served as team physician for Duke University’s football, basketball, and lacrosse teams, as well as for North Carolina Central University’s football team. He is currently the team doctor for Redmond High School.Dr. Mickelson was born the eldest of three boys outside of Milwaukee, WI. When he was young, he and his family moved to Woodinville, WA, where his family still resides. He and his family are excited to be back home in the Pacific Northwest. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kelly, and their two sons. He also enjoys basketball, skiing, cooking, reading and keeping up to date with the latest technology. Dr. Mickelson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Matthew J. Robon, MD, is board-certified in hand and orthopedic surgery. He treats patients with all types of orthopedic fractures in addition to his specialty focus in hand and upper extremity surgery.In his years as a competitive All-American swimmer, he endured years of medical treatment for multiple orthopedic injuries. These experiences shaped his practice philosophy today: good patient care involves making accurate and timely diagnoses, but equally important is treating patients with respect and compassion. By helping his patients understand their problem, he can treat the immediate problem and hopefully help them avoid future injuries and pain.Dr. Robon is married and has three sons. He and his wife enjoy exploring the great outdoors by hiking, golfing, and trail running in the Cascades. Dr. Robon is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Trigger Thumb, Dupuytren Contracture, Rhizarthrosis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Stacia Smith, MD, FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in joint replacement of the hip and knee. She enjoys working with people of all ages, whether it is helping a child with congenital problems or an elderly person with fractures, or arthritic problems. She enjoys helping patients decide on the options that will be most beneficial to that individual’s lifestyle. Her goal is to make her patients as functional as possible and help them return to the lifestyle they desire.As a surgeon, Dr. Smith believes it is important to not only diagnose the injury but also how it impacts the patient’s quality of life. She feels that no two patients are alike, and neither are their lifestyles. She strives to treat the person instead of just the injury, because that is when you can really make a difference.Before she began fighting orthopedic injuries, she was fighting fires as a volunteer firefighter. While orthopedic surgery isn’t always a life or death situation, it can certainly be exciting. There are few things she finds more rewarding than making a significant difference in improving a patient’s quality of life.Dr. Smith and her husband love to spend time outdoors. Whether they are snow skiing, horseback riding, or taking walks along the river with their son and dogs, they enjoy the beauty of the Northwest. She also enjoys ethnic foods, especially Thai. Dr. Smith is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. Her top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis, Tendinitis, and Hip Replacement.

Grant R. Lohse, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery. He cares for both adults and children. In addition to general orthopedics, he specializes in upper extremity nerve problems, tendon and ligament injuries, fractures, and arthritis.Dr. Lohse grew up in Indiana. He received his bachelor's of science in Mechanical Engineering, graduating with highest honors, from Purdue University. He went on to attend medical school at Northwestern University where he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha (highest honors). Dr. Lohse completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Washington before going onto subspecialty training in hand and upper extremity surgery at Vanderbilt University.His care philosophy is centered on education. He believes patients are best able to participate in their care when they thoroughly understand their problem and treatment options. He feels strongly that treatment must be individualized, as the same condition may affect two people very differently.Dr. Lohse enjoys spending time with this wife and three children. He also enjoys running, skiing (snow and water), hiking, and camping. Dr. Lohse is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Dupuytren Contracture, Trigger Thumb, Rhizarthrosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Hip Replacement.

Eric Puttler, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who performs anterior approach total hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy to include ACL reconstruction, shoulder arthroscopy to include rotator cuff repair, and provides fracture care to include distal radius fractures, collarbone fractures, and proximal humerus fractures. After completing his residency in orthopedic surgery he had several duty assignment in the US Army, including a year in Iraq in command of a Forward Surgical Team. Dr. Puttler has three beautiful daughters who keep him and his wife busy. He enjoys snow skiing, waterskiing, and all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Dr. Puttler is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteochondroma. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Bursitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.