Dr. Mark A. Freeborn

Christopher Howe, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained spine surgeon who specializes in a wide array of spine care ranging from degenerative conditions to spine trauma and metastatic disease. He practices at POA's Renton and Covington locations. He has a clinical focus on simple and complex surgical care of the spine and general orthopedic fracture management.Dr. Howe's goal is to educate patients and allow them to make an informed decision about their care and treatment options. He serves as a member on the Industrial Insurance Medical Advisory Committee for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.Away from orthopedics, he enjoys spending time with his family as well as backcountry skiing, cycling, running, and international travel. Dr. Howe is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herniated Disk. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis, Cervical Spondylosis, Herniated Disc Surgery, and Cervical Disc Surgery.

I chose a career in spine surgery because I enjoy the challenge of diagnosing and treating spinal conditions. It is very rewarding to see the quality of a patients life significantly improve with proper diagnosis and treatment. I spend considerable time listening to and examining my patients to accurately determine the cause of their symptoms. I encourage patients to be active in their medical care. I enjoy educating my patients about their spine in order for them to make more informed decisions. My approach to treating the spine is to start with the most conservative modalities. I specialize in treating a full range of conditions affecting the entire spine including degenerative changes, trauma, and scoliosis. I exhaust all non-operative treatments before considering more invasive options. When surgery is indicated, I spend considerable time explaining the procedure to my patients and making sure they feel comfortable throughout the process. I stay current with the latest advances in treatment options in order to provide my patients with the highest level of care. I consider myself to have strong moral and ethical character. I treat my patients as I would want myself, my family, or my friends treated. From a technical standpoint, I take great pride in my work and accept no less than perfection. I strive to provide my patients with exceptional care and I am honored to have the opportunity to improve their quality of life. Dr. Stone is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herniated Disk. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Disk, Microdiscectomy, and Cervical Disc Surgery.

Dr. Patel is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the spine. He treats all spine problems, including the neck and lower back, with special interest in deformity surgery for conditions such as scoliosis. After completing medical school and doing his orthopaedic residency at the University of Bombay in India, he obtained further training in Sydney, Australia before moving to the U.S. in 1995. He did another orthopaedic residency and got further training in spine surgery at University of Kentucky Medical Center before moving to Seattle in 2003. Dr. Patel is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Herniated Disk. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis, Invertebral Disc Disease, Microdiscectomy, and Cervical Disc Surgery.