I am an orthopaedic consultant and evaluate patients in my office at the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), a Level I trauma center. As a former surgeon at ECMC, I draw from my years of experience to offer insight and personalized attention to diagnosis, decision-making and treatment for our nonsurgical orthopaedic patients. My initial career focus was treating patients with multiple injuries and complex fractures as well as practicing general orthopaedics and sports medicine. I also performed total joint arthroplasties. Throughout my residency and early career, I had a keen interest in shoulder pathology. While continuing my work in trauma and general orthopaedics, my concentration and expertise advanced to total shoulder replacement, rotator cuff repair and shoulder reconstruction for the remaining years of my operative career.

My affiliation with the Department of Orthopaedics has spanned more than twenty-five years. Additionally, I have held the position of Chief of Orthopaedics at ECMC for well over a decade. As chief, I am committed to the continued growth of a world-class orthopaedic department specializing in trauma, total joint reconstruction, shoulder, foot and ankle, upper extremity, spine and sports medicine. I remain active in our growing orthopaedic residency program that produces some of the most competent orthopaedic surgeons in the country.

As a faculty member, I mentor and teach residents, lead orthopaedic clinics and collaborate on research projects primarily involving shoulder arthroplasty. I am actively involved in our weekly orthopaedic conference, which provides a forum for our surgeons-in-training to discuss thought-provoking and challenging cases. I expect our trainees to know not only how to perform an operation, but more important, WHO to operate on. I also expect our residents to graduate from our program appreciating the importance of the patient as a whole person, and not simply their orthopaedic problem. From me, trainees learn to be a patient-centered physician. I emphasize the importance of listening and the skill of asking the right questions of patients.

I have taught and mentored over 120 residents, countless medical students and many allied health professionals. I think of my mentors and use daily the skills and insights they taught me in educating and training the next generation of orthopaedic physicians. Teaching is one of the most gratifying aspects of my career.