Osteoarthritis of Hand near Gig Harbor, WA

Care Philosophy: Neil Shah, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty in hand surgery.

Biography: 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.

Care Philosophy: 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.

Biography: I enjoy the challenges of restoring people to health through my practice. The work I did in biochemistry opened up new approaches for treating complex problems and made me a more detailed clinician.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Vercio 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.

Biography: Dr. John Heffernan, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist who practices in Tacoma, WA. He is 42 years old. Dr. John Heffernan, MD is affiliated with St. Joseph Medical Center.

Care Philosophy: 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.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Jeffrey Harrison provides personal, comprehensive care for people of all ages, and is particularly interested in sports medicine and women's health care. Dr. Harrison believes in the importance of cooperation between the physician and patient in the prevention of disease and disability. He serves as a diligent patient advocate and works with other medical providers to assure the highest levels of quality and continuity when complicated or chronic medical conditions arise.

Biography: Dr. Guy Klein is an Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training and expertise in both adult reconstruction (hip and knee replacement) and orthopedic trauma (the care of adult and pediatric fractures). Dr. Klein utilizes a muscle sparing, minimally invasive anterior approach for hip replacement to help patient go through the surgery process with less pain and a more rapid recovery. During his fellowship training at Charleston Area Medical Center, Dr. Klein developed expertise in complex primary and revision (re-do) hip and knee replacement. He was also part of the orthopedic trauma team at this busy level 1 trauma center that took care of many severe adult and pediatric fractures. Prior to fellowship training, Dr. Klein performed his orthopedic residency training at University Hospitals of Cleveland and attended medical school at Ohio University. Dr. Klein performs hip and knee replacement with minimally invasive and cutting edge techniques. He utilizes an advanced, ``state of the art`` protocol to help control patient's pain after surgery. Dr. Klein specializes in hip and knee joint replacement as well as adult and pediatric fracture care. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction (ICJR), and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). He has presented orthopedic research at national and international meetings. His many research articles and book chapters have been published in national orthopedic journals including the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) and the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Care Philosophy: I am an old fashion physician. I like to spend time get a complete history, perform a physical examination and come up with a clinical diagnosis before ordering tests. I like my patients to be part of the decision making process as far as further diagnostic testing and treatment options.

Care Philosophy: Anastasia Fyntrilakis, M.D., 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.