Dr. Paul E. Schwaegler

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, Cervical Disc Surgery, and Herniated Disc Surgery.

Ashit C. Patel, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic 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 orthopedic 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 orthopedic 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.

Addison T. Stone, MD, specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, trauma, and fractures. He treats a full range of conditions affecting the entire spine, including degenerative changes, trauma, and scoliosis. He exhausts all non-operative treatments, including physical therapy and injections, before considering more invasive options. More than 95% of his spine surgeries use minimally invasive techniques. His sole goal is to achieve the best possible outcomes for his patients using the least invasive techniques possible.Dr. Stone finds it very rewarding to see the quality of a patient’s life significantly improve with proper diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions. His approach to treating the spine is to start with the most conservative modalities. He spends considerable time listening to and examining his patients to accurately determine the cause of their symptoms. When surgery is indicated, he explains the procedure to his patients and makes sure they feel comfortable throughout the process. He is devoted to educating his patients about their spine so they can make more informed decisions.Dr. Stone believes he has strong moral and ethical character. He takes great pride in his work and accepts no less than perfection. He stays current with the latest advances in treatment options in order to provide his patients with the highest level of care. He feels honored to have the opportunity to improve each patient’s 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.