Philip Yearian, DPM, is a board-certified surgeon specializing in the lower extremity treatment of the foot and ankle. He believes that staying on the forefront of treatment involves educating his patients, which leads to better outcomes.While competing as a Division I Track and Field athlete in the 3000 meters Steeplechase and Cross Country at the University of Portland, his own injuries introduced him to some of the very treatments he uses today to get patients back on their way to a non-painful walk or ultra-marathon.His training involved specializing in both bone and plastic reconstructive surgery. After over twenty years in practice in Gig Harbor and Tacoma, Dr. Yearian has improved some of these very techniques, which now allow some patients to shorten their recovery and return to play or work sooner.Dr. Yearian coaches basketball at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School. He also enjoys running marathons, skiing, traveling and teaching for the Franciscan Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Residency program. Dr. Yearian is highly rated in 20 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Bunions, Flat Feet, Synovitis, and Tendinitis.

A graduate of Queens College and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Fisch trained in orthopedic surgery at the Montefiore/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He received spine training at the Spinecare/ St. Mary’s/ Stanford University Combined Spine Fellowship Program. His areas of special interest include surgery of the cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine. As a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Fisch is trained in all aspects of spine surgery instrumentation, using anterior and posterior approaches. In addition, he is a leader in state-of-the-art spine injections, which frequently enable patients to avoid surgery.SpecialtiesCervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar SpinePrivilegesDr. Fisch performs surgery at Surgical Specialty Center of Mid-Atlantic, Suburban Hospital and the Surgery Center of Rockville. Dr. Fisch is highly rated in 19 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Sciatica, Invertebral Disc Disease, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis, Microdiscectomy, and Cervical Disc Surgery.

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 highly rated in 15 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Ganglion Cyst, Trigger Thumb, and Rhizarthrosis.

Erik Ekstrom, M.D., is an interventional spine physician and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Summit Orthopedics. He provides nonsurgical neck, back, and spine care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. Special interests include minimally invasive spine therapies, the innovative Intracept Procedure, and sports injuries. Dr. Ekstrom is a frequent recipient of the Top Doctor designation in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. “I believe in listening to patients and making them feel comfortable,” Dr. Ekstrom explains. “For me, the most gratifying part of the work is finding the problem and fixing it so patients can return to their usual activities.” He is an avid cyclist and cross-country skier. Dr. Ekstrom is highly rated in 14 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Coccydynia, Facet Joint Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, and Sciatica.

Jason Thompson, MD, is board certified and is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who specializes in the care of patients with simple or complex problems of the neck or back. As an expert in the care of the spine, he may prescribe treatments including physical therapy, spinal injections, medications or massage, or he may perform surgical procedures including decompression, disc replacement, scoliosis correction or spinal fusion. He has special interests in treating young adults with scoliosis and in using cutting-edge technology to reduce the "footprint" of spinal surgery.He serves as Medical Director of The Spine Center, which allows him to improve his patients' experience as they move through the office, hospital, and rehabilitation phases of treatment. Coordinating and collaborating with other experts, such as therapists, radiologists, and physiatrists, he utilizes the strengths of a team approach to help his patients reach their goals.Recognizing that each patient is unique, he helps each person develop an individualized treatment plan. Whether a patient comes to him with leg cramps from stenosis or a numb arm from a blown-out disc in the neck, his goal is helping people regain their maximum potential. He believes in the power and success of an accurate diagnosis, rapid, individualized treatment, and multi-modality rehabilitative care. Patients frequently refer their families and friends to Dr. Thompson, and he believes there is no greater compliment than a satisfied patient saying, "Thanks! I’ll send my family to you."A Florida native, he has embraced the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, sailing and skiing. Dr. Thompson is highly rated in 13 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Kyphosis, Spondylolisthesis, Laminectomy, and Microdiscectomy.

Steve Sabers, M.D., is an interventional spine physician specializing in neck, back, and spine care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. He has a special interest in aggressive nonsurgical care for spine-related problems and also teaches fluoroscopic anatomy and spine procedures. “The strength of our Summit Orthopedics spine care is in the breadth of the care we are able to offer. I have an entire spectrum of treatment options at my fingertips,” he explains. “This comprehensive treatment model enables us to really give the patient the best available option for his or her problem without any lengthy waits or delays. When my patients come in and tell me that they’ve gotten their life back, that’s incredibly rewarding.”. Dr. Sabers is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, and Facet Joint Syndrome.

David Spight, D.O., is an interventional spine physician at Summit Orthopedics serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. He specializes in nonsurgical treatment of neck, back, and spine conditions and injuries. He has a particular interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation as well as lumbar spine disorders. He completed his fellowship in Interventional Pain Management, Spine Technology and Rehabilitation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. “My greatest satisfaction in medicine is having the opportunity to educate patients about the relationship between structure and function, which allows them to gain the necessary knowledge to become active participants in their care,” Dr. Spight says. Dr. Spight is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Coccydynia, Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, and Facet Joint Syndrome.

Nicholas Wills, M.D., is a spine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics, serving Minneapolis and St. Paul metro patients. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, total disc replacement, as well as cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions. Across the nation, Dr. Wills trains other surgeons on the best techniques for disc replacement surgery. He was a pioneer in this market, adopting new technology that allows for a two-level disc replacement that maintains the motion at both levels of repair. His surgical expertise has won him repeated recognition on the Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Rising Stars list. Dr. Wills is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Invertebral Disc Disease, Spondylolisthesis, Cervical Disc Surgery, and Herniated Disc Surgery.

David Strothman, M.D., is a spine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul metro patients. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery; cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions; and adult scoliosis. Dr. Strothman is a frequent recipient of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Top Doctor and Rising Star awards. He completed a fellowship in orthopedic spine at Twin Cities Spine Center. “Spinal disorders are complex and disabling,” explains Dr. Strothman. “As your surgeon, I will explain your diagnosis and treatment options, both operative and nonoperative, in a way that you can understand thereby allowing you to make informed decisions. I am rewarded daily by improving the quality of life of patients receiving my care.”. Dr. Strothman is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, Herniated Disk, Laminectomy, and Microdiscectomy.

Edward Santos, M.D., is a spine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul metro patients. He completed four fellowships: Adult Orthopaedic Reconstruction at the University of Minnesota, Spine Surgery at Twin Cities Spine Center, Revision Joint Surgery and Transplantation in Australia, and Spine Surgery in Australia. As an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, he educated medical residents for over a decade. He is a frequent Top Doctor recipient from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. He says, “I want to be the doctor with whom patients can share their fears and concerns and dreams. And when they tell me I’ve changed their life and given them back their life? Without a doubt, that’s the best part of my job.". Dr. Santos is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, Invertebral Disc Disease, Herniated Disc Surgery, and Cervical Disc Surgery.

Reed C. Williams, M.D., M.B.S., R.M.S.K., is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician specializing in nonoperative sports, musculoskeletal, and diagnostic and interventional ultrasound medicine at Summit Orthopedics. After his residency at Temple University in Philadelphia, he completed his fellowship at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle Washington. Dr. Williams strongly believes "that the art of medicine is just as important as the science behind it.". Dr. Williams is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Osteoarthritis, Bursitis, Synovial Osteochondromatosis, and Tenotomy.

Trevor Wahlquist, M.D., is a spine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. He completed a spine surgery fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. “I love the spectrum of patients I treat, the complexity of spine conditions, and the variety of surgical procedures,” he explains. “Spine diagnosis involves a unique approach to looking at every single problem. You have to rule out so many different possibilities. Whenever a patient reports radiating pain through the groin or leg, they’ve given me 25 different diagnoses to start to think about. Now I get to start asking questions. That sort of puzzle-solving is incredibly engaging.”. Dr. Wahlquist is highly rated in 10 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Facet Joint Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, Microdiscectomy, and Cervical Disc Surgery.

Peter Krumins, MD, is fellowship trained in sports medicine with a professional interest in joint reconstruction of the lower extremity, including foot, ankle, knee and hip. He enjoys solving complex surgical problems to help individuals regain function and return to the activities they love.Dr. Krumins is an avid sports enthusiast enjoying snow skiing, paddle boarding, and hiking with his three children, as well as competing in bike races as a member of the Old Town Bicycle "dirt" team. Dr. Krumins is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Achilles Tendon Rupture, Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Roman Guerrero, M.D., is spine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics specializing in back and neck surgical and nonsurgical care, serving patients in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. Dr. Guerrero completed his spine surgery fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center. “Sometimes, I’ll have patients who are bewildered by symptom causes,” he says. “They are in pain, they are suffering, and disease has limited their quality of life. When I am able to diagnose, treat, and resolve these conditions, their lives change completely. They heal and they become pain-free. That’s my nirvana. There’s nothing better than being able to change a patient’s life with sound medical recommendations and appropriate treatment.”. Dr. Guerrero is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolisthesis, Facet Joint Syndrome, Microdiscectomy, and Herniated Disc Surgery.

Tracy Rupke, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon at Summit Orthopedics specializing in foot and ankle care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area patients. She has a special interest in sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, and reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. She did a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and a foot and ankle surgery fellowship at the University of Washington, Seattle. “I am dedicated to providing the best care possible for my patients,” she says. “I love running and understand every patient’s desire to return to their own life and activities.” She provides medical coverage for the U.S. Waterski team and volunteered surgical skills to underserved communities through One World Surgery. Dr. Rupke is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Synovial Osteochondromatosis, Achilles Tendon Rupture, Osgood-Schlatter Disease, Osteochondritis Dissecans, and Hip Replacement.

Andrew Clary, D.O., is an interventional spine physician, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Summit Orthopedics. He provides nonsurgical neck, back, and spine care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. Special interests include regenerative medicine, headaches, and sports injuries. He completed an interventional pain medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “The largest segment of my practice is treating spine-related pain,” explains Dr. Clary. “Spinal stenosis treatment, in particular, is probably 60 percent of my practice. Spinal stenosis can cause back or leg pain, buttock pain, foot pain, neck, arm, and shoulder pain. I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to relieve a patient’s pain.”. Dr. Clary is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cervical Spondylosis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Sacroiliac Joint Disease, and Facet Joint Syndrome.

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 highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Trigger Thumb, and Dupuytren Contracture.

Jose Santos, M.D., is an interventional spine physician specializing in neck, back, and spine care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul patients. He has a special interest in regenerative medicine and sports-related injuries. He completed a fellowship in interventional pain at the University of Washington. “I believe in taking a multidisciplinary approach to pain treatment,” explains Dr. Santos. “That means utilizing multiple therapies. Injections are one option, but I also consider medications including nerve medications and muscle relaxants. In addition, I’m a big believer in physical therapy, mindfulness, and thinking out of the box. At times, serving my patients means stepping back and reviewing a case as a whole.”. Dr. Santos is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cervical Spondylosis, Coccydynia, Spinal Stenosis, and Foot Drop.

Steven Stulc, D.O., is an interventional spine physician at Summit Orthopedics specializing in nonsurgical treatment of neck, back, and spine conditions and injuries. He has a special interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation, vertebral compression fractures, and regenerative medicine (including platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections). He completed a fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at Penn State University. “My goal is to treat patients with a comprehensive approach to their spine-related disorders, understanding that improving pain and function can have a tremendous impact on quality of life,” says Dr. Stulc. Dr. Stulc is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Facet Joint Syndrome, Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, and Coccydynia.

Mark LaBelle, M.D., is an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon at Summit Orthopedics specializing in knee and shoulder care, serving patients in the Minneapolis St. Paul metro area. He completed his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Utah Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, focusing on shoulder arthroplasty and advanced arthroscopic techniques. “Although we do treat high-level athletes in sports medicine, many of our patients are regular, active people looking to meet their recreational goals without pain and disability,” Dr. LaBelle says. “My goal is not just to treat a condition that I see on an MRI or X-ray, but also to understand what patients want to be able to do without pain, so that I can help them achieve those goals.”. Dr. Labelle is highly rated in 8 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Tendinitis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis, Hip Replacement, and Endoscopy.

Catherine Choi, M.D., is an interventional spine physician, physical medicine & rehabilitation specialist at Summit Orthopedics. She provides nonsurgical neck, back, and spine care, serving Minneapolis/St. Paul metro patients. Dr. Choi completed an interventional pain management fellowship at the University of Chicago. “Part of my approach to care is providing patient education,” she notes. “I want my patients to see the imaging that explains what they are feeling and what’s happening to them. Then, I help them understand the available options, from conservative treatments to surgery. I guide them, but ultimately it’s up to patients to choose the path they want to take. If one treatment doesn’t work, we’ll keep looking for another option.”. Dr. Choi is highly rated in 7 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Cervical Spondylosis, Spinal Stenosis, Sacroiliac Joint Disease, and Spondylolisthesis.

Sarah Lehnert, M.D., C.A.Q., is an orthopedic sports medicine physician at Summit Orthopedics specializing in nonsurgical treatment of knee, shoulder, hip, foot, and ankle concerns. She has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound and guided injections, and serves patients in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She completed her fellowship in primary care sports medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, and earned a certificate of added qualification. She understands the unique needs of patients and has served on medical teams for events including the USA World Cup Youth Soccer tournament, Twin Cities Marathon, and Minnesota State High School League tournaments, in addition to being a team physician for college and high school teams. Dr. Lehnert is highly rated in 7 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Frozen Shoulder, Bursitis, Tendinitis, and Osteoarthritis.

Patrick Vaughan, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in the care and education of the amateur, professional and weekend athlete. He utilizes both non-operative as well as surgical care in order to restore his patients' function and return them to the activities they love.Dr. Vaughan has been practicing orthopedic surgery in the South Sound for over 15 years. He is the medical director and team orthopedic surgeon for the Tacoma Rainiers (AAA franchise of the Seattle Mariners), and provides sports medicine coverage for Gig Harbor High School. He is the current team orthopedic surgeon for the University of Puget Sound and has worked with all of the school's varsity sports teams for over a dozen years. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2001-2005 at the Naval Hospital Pensacola as an orthopedic surgeon.He enjoys outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, and golf, spending time with his family, and playing sports with his two teenagers. Dr. Vaughan is highly rated in 7 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Knock Knees, Osteoarthritis, Bowlegs, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.

Michael K. Gannon, MD, is a board-certified and very experienced orthopedic surgeon. His practice over the last thirty years has emphasized hip and knee replacement and care of sports injuries including meniscal, ACL and rotator cuff tears. As he has treated emergency cases for decades and has repaired countless extremity injuries great and small.Dr. Gannon began his life in medicine at age sixteen as a hospital orderly and ambulance attendant. He was the second youngest in his state to pass the national EMT-A certification exam. During college he worked summers as an operating room technician plus a second job detasseling corn. He went to medical school in his home state at the University of Iowa. He received his specialty training in the highly regarded orthopedic surgery residency program at the University of Washington. After completing his orthopedic training, he had the honor to serve five years as “co-team physician” for multiple military units from smaller Special Forces and Ranger groups to infantry divisions with 12,000+ athletic members (of note such “teams” never have an off-season and are active on rough terrain day and night). Duties included work in Europe, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Stateside, as a faculty member, he oversaw sports medicine and trauma training for orthopedic residents at Madigan Army Medical Center. He later served as civilian consultant for sports medicine for Madigan.Since 1993 he has been serving residents of Whatcom County as a member of a topflight orthopedic surgery group. Over the course of his career, he has had the privilege to treat patients and their families from amazingly diverse backgrounds, from remote Saharan herdsmen and villagers to national leaders and Rhodes scholars….  from angry enemy combatants and fierce criminals to Medal of Honor recipients and heroic first responders…. from the youngest backyard acrobats and trampolinists to past Olympians and hobbled NFL veterans. He has worked in world class medical centers to makeshift hospitals with no windows or beds but goats in the halls. Dr. Gannon has cared for patients of the innumerable combinations of races, countries of origin, life circumstances, faiths, orientations, and political beliefs. His lifelong approach has been to provide care for each person with the respect, compassion, and diligence he would wish for his own family members.Hobbies and adventures over the years have included climbing, backpacking, flying, scuba, skiing, and more recently snowshoeing and photography. His very favorite pastime is hanging out with his family. Dr. Gannon is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Contracture Deformity, Frozen Shoulder, Bursitis, and Hip Replacement.

Gavin H. Smith, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist and surgeon of the foot and ankle. He has been practicing medicine since 2004. He feels that his professional responsibility is the successful treatment of foot and ankle disorders. His professional interests include deformity correction, joint disorders, overuse injuries and trauma care. His philosophy of care is that the needs of the patient are the first priorities, and that any intervention, whether it be medical or surgical, should be evidence-based.Dr. Smith has volunteered for The Susan G. Komen 3-Day and is a surgical instrutor in the Franciscan Podiatry Residency Program. In his free time, he enjoys working in his shop and martial arts training with his sons. He and his wife have three energetic children who keep them busy. Dr. Smith is highly rated in 6 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Bunions, Tendinitis, Achilles Tendon Rupture, and Plantar Fasciitis.