Dr. Scott D. Ruhlman

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 a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rhizarthrosis. His top areas of expertise are Trigger Thumb, Dupuytren Contracture, Rhizarthrosis, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Jonathan B. Shafer, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in surgery to the upper extremity. His clinical interests include reconstructive surgery to the shoulder, forearm and hand, as well as arthroscopic surgery to the upper extremity, and total shoulder and elbow replacement, and upper extremity trauma. The greatest pleasure of his job is making his patients feel special and cared for. He believes that since so many people are scared and afraid to see a doctor, it is imperative to make every patient feel comfortable.He comes from a highly-educated and scientific family spanning two continents. His American father was a petroleum engineer for ExxonMobil, while his Ghana-born mother was an educator and counseling professional. In the Shafer household, education and achievement were highly-prized values. Science was always very prominent in his house, so he always knew that he was going to do something in science. After graduating with a degree in biochemistry from Rice University, he took a job developing a new drug to treat psoriasis for Allergan Pharmaceuticals. But he soon decided he wanted to go to medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Shafer is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rhizarthrosis. His top areas of expertise are Dupuytren Contracture, Ganglion Cyst, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Rhizarthrosis.

John Howlett, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in fracture care. He has completed additional fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery, including trauma, reconstruction, pediatric as well as microvascular surgery.He likes to remind himself that the origin of the Latin word “doctor” is “teacher,” and he considers it an important part of his role as a doctor to educate his patients about the conditions that are affecting them. He believes an informed and knowledgeable patient can participate more effectively in his or her own healing. As a former teacher who holds a master’s degree in education, Dr. Howlett deeply enjoys this aspect of working with patients.One of the experiences that shaped his career trajectory was his work as a counselor at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, founded by Paul Newman for children with cancer and other blood-related disorders. Witnessing the courage and energy of these children convinced him that healing involves more than medication and surgery. This experience led him to pursue his medical degree, where he saw an opportunity to combine his interest in caring for people with his passion for teaching.Having grown up in Washington enjoying hiking, backpacking, sailing, and canoeing, Dr. Howlett was eager to return to the Northwest for his residency and fellowship training. He now shares these same passions with his family. He and his wife both played soccer in college and can be found cheering on their two daughters at soccer games on the weekends. Dr. Howlett is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rhizarthrosis. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Trigger Thumb, Ganglion Cyst, Rhizarthrosis, and Hip Replacement.