John Smoots is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Smoots is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Scoliosis, Urinary Tract Infection in Children, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), and Osteoporosis. Dr. Smoots is currently accepting new patients.

Neil Shah, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty in hand surgery. Dr. Shah believes communication and education are key to caring for patients effectively. He listens to the concerns of his patients and, together, formulates a treatment plan. His practice is innovative, focusing on constantly improving and adapting new techniques to better patient care. He relies on patient-oriented problem-solving to elucidate medical mysteries and enhance perspective.Dr. Shah has a biomedical engineering background and has interest in the latest technological advances of the orthopedic field. He performs stitchless, minimally invasive endoscopic carpal tunnel release as well as complex hand and wrist surgeries. He also offers the latest shoulder and wrist arthroscopy techniques including rotator cuff repair, along with custom shoulder replacement with preoperative 3D CT planning.Away from work, he enjoys basketball, swimming, hiking and sightseeing. Dr. Shah is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ganglion Cyst, Rhizarthrosis, and Synovitis.

Richard Swedarsky, DO, is a board-certified physiatrist who cares for adults with musculoskeletal disorders. As an osteopathic physician, he approaches each patient as a combination of body and mind. He strives to partner with his patients and assist them to take a critical role in their own care and well-being. For the control of acute and chronic pain, he draws from multiple modalities ranging from physical therapy and injections, to complementary medicine and surgery. Each program is tailored to the patient, not to the diagnosis.Dr. Swedarsky has a strong formal education in electrodiagnostic testing and the use of ultrasound. He also has training in the neurophysiology of pain and practices osteopathic manipulation.Dr. Swedarsky is a veteran who served as a physician for wounded warriors, family members and veterans. After completing his residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was transferred to Joint-Base Lewis McChord, where he completed his military service obligation as Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. Dr. Swedarsky is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Congenital Mirror Movement Disorder, Marcus Gunn Phenomenon, Gomez Lopez Hernandez Syndrome, and Serotonin Syndrome.

Alan B. Thomas, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in upper extremity surgery. He has been practicing medicine since 2000, and he has a special interest in arthroscopy of the wrist, elbow and shoulder. He received a CAQ subspecialty certificate in orthopedic surgery of the hand from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.He enjoys the challenges of restoring people to health through his practice. His doctorate work in biochemistry opened up new approaches for treating complex problems and made him a more detailed clinician.Dr. Thomas is a former vice president of St. Clare Hospital and has served on the operating and surgical committees for St Clare Hospital and the medical executive committee for Franciscan Health at St. Josephs Medical Center. He is a chairman for an outreach committee at his church and a member of the board of directors for The Health Project – Cambodia, which delivers medical supplies and equipment to underserved people in Southeast Asia and he travels to Cambodia each year to provide surgical care to those in need.Outside of his medical practice and volunteer work, he tries to keep up with his three children who are avid skiers, wakeboarders, and surfers. Dr. Thomas is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ganglion Cyst, Trigger Thumb, and Rhizarthrosis.

Michael Franceschina is an Orthopedics specialist and a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine provider in Federal Way, Washington. Dr. Franceschina is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Bursitis, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Franceschina is currently accepting new patients.

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 Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Ganglion Cyst, Osteotomy, and Bone Graft.

John T. Heffernan, MD, is fellowship trained in all aspects of shoulder and elbow surgery and has extensive training in sports medicine surgery. His interests include arthroscopy of the shoulder and elbow, rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability, shoulder and elbow reconstruction, fracture care of the upper extremity, ligament reconstruction of the knee, and knee replacements. He is a Candidate Member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and serves as a reviewer for their Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.During his medical training, Dr. Heffernan volunteered his time providing medical care as a sideline team physician for high school football teams of New Orleans, worked as an assistant team physician for Columbia University Athletics and assisted with the medical care of the New York Yankees and New York City FC (MLS). As a former varsity collegiate athlete in swimming, Dr. Heffernan is passionate about getting athletes of all ages back to their best performance.Dr. Heffernan is passionate about his work as an orthopedic surgeon and getting his patients back to their highest quality of life and activity. He believes that providing outstanding orthopedic care starts first with listening carefully to his patients.Dr. Heffernan is a fifth-generation native of the Puget Sound region and is proud to return home and take care of the people of his community. He and his wife, who is also a physician, are avid downhill skiers and enjoy cycling, hiking, being on the water, and spending time with their family. Dr. Heffernan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Congenital Mirror Movement Disorder, Frozen Shoulder, Tendinitis, and Tennis Elbow.

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

Matthew Jenkins, MD, is fellowship trained in shoulder and elbow surgery. He treats conditions of the shoulder and elbow with the most advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and arthroscopic procedures, as well as shoulder replacements, rotator cuff repair and reconstruction, and fracture repair.He believes in taking time to educate his patients on their diagnosis and the cause of their shoulder and elbow problems to help them make informed decisions about their treatment. By keeping current with the newest techniques and advances, he offers leading edge treatments to get patients back in action as soon as possible.Dr. Jenkins enjoys a wide variety of outdoor sports and activities including rock climbing, alpine skiing, kayaking, fishing, mountaineering and backpacking. Dr. Jenkins is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Frozen Shoulder, Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome, Gorham's Disease, and Hip Replacement.

Jeff Gao, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician who offers primary care for patients of all ages.Dr. Gao strives to listen to his patients, present their options for care and help them make the best medical decision possible. He believes every patient has his or her own unique set of health challenges and deserves the personalized, multidisciplinary approach to care needed to overcome them. He treats his patients as individuals, not as conditions to be treated.Dr. Gao is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Gao is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, High Cholesterol, Obesity in Children, and Sciatica.

Christine Macatuno, MD, provides high quality, compassionate care to adults, with special medical interest in geriatrics and experience in treating patients with complex medical conditions.Dr. Macatuno emphasizes preventive care and encourages open communication, cooperation and respect. While she serves as a strong advocate for her patients, she also believes each patient plays a starring role in their own well-being. Dr. Macatuno is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. Her top areas of expertise are Sciatica, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, and Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism.

Lance L. Bear, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who provides expert surgical care for a variety of general orthopedic conditions, with particular interest in surgery of the hand. Whether he is treating a sports-related injury, a repetitive stress condition or an osteoporosis-related fracture, Dr. Bear partners with his patients to develop customized solutions that will get them back to actively living the life they love.A member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Bear is committed to making a difference in his patients' lives through expert, compassionate care. Dr. Bear is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Ganglion Cyst, and Hip Replacement.

Brendon Hutchinson, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician with special medical interests in cholesterol and hypertension management, diabetes management, routine and preventive medicine, and travel counseling.An ambassador of good health, Dr. Hutchinson is passionate about providing personalized, compassionate care for the whole family. Dr. Hutchinson is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Sitosterolemia, Drowsiness, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, and Meige Disease.

Joanna Branstetter, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in state-of-the-art hand, wrist, shoulder and knee preservation care. Dr. Branstetter had a 20-year career in the United States Army and has been a practicing orthopedic surgeon locally at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for the past 14 years. She recognizes that every patient and injury is unique, and designing a treatment specific to the individual is key to successful outcomes. She works with the patient and their care team to develop the best comprehensive, mutually agreeable plan. This may involve both surgical and non-surgical options like physical therapy, stretching, bracing, medications, injections, arthroscopy, surgical reconstruction and joint replacement.Dr. Branstetter is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Society of  Military Orthopaedic Surgeons, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and the Washington State Orthopaedic Association. Dr. Branstetter is passionate about diversity and inclusion in medicine.Outside of medicine, she enjoys activities with her husband, two children and their Labrador retriever.Conditions and procedures in adolescents and beyond:Arthroscopy of the shoulder and kneeCarpal tunnelChronic exertional compartment syndromeCubital tunnelElbow, wrist and finger tendonitisKnee arthritisKnee ligament reconstructionRotator cuff repairShoulder instability. Dr. Branstetter is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. Her top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Osteoarthritis, Bursitis, and Tenosynovitis.

Jason Grassbaugh, MD, has dedicated himself professionally to understanding musculoskeletal injury and disease. He understands that no two injuries are exactly alike, and that really listening to the person is the key to deciphering both the nature of the problem and the nuance of their goals. Only then can treatment be crafted that may involve both surgical and non-surgical options, such as physical therapy, stretching, medications, injections, arthroscopy, surgical reconstruction and sometimes joint replacement - all toward the goal of enabling the patient to achieve their unique goals.Dr. Grassbaugh is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, and member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America and Washington State Orthopaedic Association.Away from work, he enjoys woodworking, hiking, board and role playing games, and raising chickens. Dr. Grassbaugh is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, Osteotomy, and Endoscopy.

Amara Gill, MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician providing compassionate primary care for adults. Dr. Gill's passion for medicine can be traced back to her childhood, when she witnessed the excellent care and compassion doctors provided to her father after a sudden illness. A firm believer in the power of medicine, she is here to help her patients and their families through health challenges, as well as to provide the guidance necessary for them to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles. She believes that developing a long-term, trusting relationship with each patient and his or her family is key to effectively managing each patient's health over time.In addition to English, Dr. Gill is fluent in Punjabi and Hindi. Dr. Gill is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. Her top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Edema, Heart Failure, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Hypertension.

Geoffrey McNicoll, MD, provides personalized, compassionate care for the whole family - from well-child exams, to sports physicals for teens, to adult preventive care. He has a special interest in pediatric and adolescent medicine, childhood obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and preventive care.For Dr. McNicoll, open communication, thorough information, and patient involvement in the decision-making process are the hallmarks of quality care.Dr. McNicoll is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association. Dr. Mcnicoll is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are High Cholesterol, Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and Sciatica.

Anastasia Fyntrilakis, MD, is a board certified family practitioner specializing in general medicine, women's health and pediatrics. She believes in treating the whole person, and that a vital role of the physician is in educating patients so that they can make informed decisions about their own care.Dr. Fyntrilakis enjoys cooking, the outdoors and spending time with her family. Dr. Fyntrilakis is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. Her top areas of expertise are Familial Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis, Macroamylasemia, Vertigo, and Tracheitis.

Julian S. Arroyo, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder reconstruction, upper extremity orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine. He began practicing in 1996 and is the first fellowship-trained shoulder surgeon to practice in Pierce County. He is professionally interested in minimally invasive shoulder procedures and outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. He uses the most advanced surgical and non-surgical techniques available to help his patients return to a normal lifestyle more quickly and with fewer complications.Dr. Arroyo is a frequent contributor to leading orthopedic journals and lectures and instructs physicians in advanced shoulder reconstruction techniques. He also has worked with major manufacturers, assisting in development and design of orthopedic implants and techniques. Dr. Arroyo is one of a select few surgeons in the state with membership in the distinguished American Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Association and is also a reviewing editor for the association’s Journal of Shoulder & Elbow Surgery. As a Pacific Northwest native, Dr. Arroyo is very active in the community. He enjoys snow skiing, water sports, fishing, hunting, and golf. Dr. Arroyo is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Frozen Shoulder, Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, and Bursitis.

Spencer A. Coray, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopy procedures of multiple joints. He has been practicing since 2003 and is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in the state with a CAQ subspecialty certificate in orthopedic sports medicine from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.His philosophy of care is to take the lowest intervention necessary to return patients to full function, which may or may not include surgery. His goal is to help patients be as active as they want to be, whether that means walking around the block or running a marathon.Dr. Coray is involved with a number of high schools in the Auburn, Franklin Pierce, Tacoma, Clover Park, and University Place school districts by providing sports related medical services and is frequently called on to present on sports medicine in health classes. He frequently goes on medical missions to Argentina and attends conferences as a surgical presenter locally and abroad. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching his children grow, and cooking. Dr. Coray is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Synovitis, Tendinitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.