Dr. Nicholas A. Smerlis

Dr. Jonathan Mason, a Norfolk native, returned to Hampton Roads and joined the team of subspecialists at Tidewater Orthopaedics in Hampton, VA in August of 2014. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and performs minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery and treats spine problems, including cervical herniated disc, cervical stenosis, lumbar herniated disc, lumbar stenosis, lumbar spondylolisthesis, and degenerative scoliosis.Dr. Mason received his doctor of medicine degree from the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk after securing his bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Following his graduate studies, he completed his residency training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and his fellowship training in spine surgery at the Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Back and neck doctor, Jonathan R. Mason, M.D., sees patients in Hampton, VA as well as Williamsburg, VA.Dr. Mason’s father was a doctor, which helped develop his passion for the profession. He was also drawn to orthopaedic surgery because it is both challenging and rewarding. The most rewarding part of his job is interacting with and helping his patients. In his spare time, Dr. Mason enjoys playing basketball, golf, and wakeboarding, but most of all he enjoys spending time with his family and running, as he has completed several marathons. Dr. Mason is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Muscle Spasms. His top areas of expertise are Klippel-Feil Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Cervical Spondylosis, Laminectomy, and Bone Graft.

Dr. Michael Higgins, born and raised in Buffalo, New York, joined Tidewater Orthopaedics in Hampton, VA, in 2006 and is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship-trained by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in hip and knee replacement specialist. He believes practicing orthopedic surgery and serving his patients is a privilege, a philosophy he learned from his mentors throughout his orthopedic training. Dr. Higgins began training at The State University of New York at Geneseo, where he earned his undergraduate degree before continuing to medical school at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Higgins completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Buffalo University, The State University of New York, and an additional year of specialty training focused on complex hip and knee replacement at the Roanoke Orthopaedic Center in Roanoke, Virginia. The most rewarding aspects of his practice are fixing or reconstructing orthopedic problems, whether simple or very complex and restoring mobility in his patients so they can continue to live active and fulfilling lifestyles. Dr. Higgins lives with his wife and two sons in North Suffolk, VA. Outside work, he loves spending time with his family, collecting and restoring classic muscle cars, following professional and fantasy football, and lots of outdoor activities with his family. Dr. Higgins is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Muscle Spasms. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Dr. Eric Vess is joining Tidewater Orthopaedics as a back, neck, and spine surgeon in September 2023. He comes to the Hampton Roads area after completing a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Dr. Vess earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2017. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Rochester Department of Orthopedics, where he received several awards, including the Soles-Tisdale-Lepel hip arthroplasty Resident Award. His research has focused on hindfoot biomechanics and minimally invasive approaches to metastatic spine disease. Dr. Vess has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on these topics. In addition to his clinical and research experience, Dr. Vess has received many academic honors. He graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University with a degree in chemistry. He received travel awards to present his research during medical school and was honored at graduation. Dr. Vess brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for spine surgery to Tidewater Orthopaedics. His specialized fellowship training in complex spine procedures and his dedication to research will allow him to provide excellent care for patients with back, neck, and spinal disorders. Excited to return to Virginia, Dr. Vess and his wife are eager to explore their new home area with their dog. Dr. Vess is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Muscle Spasms. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, Cervical Disc Surgery, and Herniated Disc Surgery.