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Physician Assistant Week
Posted on 12-06-2024 by Dr. Alex Coleman, Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Matthew Mai, Dr. Chris O'Grady, Dr. James Piorkowski
Posted on 12-06-2024 by Dr. Alex Coleman, Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Matthew Mai, Dr. Chris O'Grady, Dr. James Piorkowski
Each year, from October 6-12, we celebrate National Physician Assistant Week and recognize our incredible Physician Assistants (PA) at North Florida Bone & Joint. Without question, our PAs have dedicated themselves to delivering care on behalf of their patients, communities and the profession.
Did you know?
Meet the North Florida Bone & Joint PAs
Tony Alexander, PA, is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic Physician Assistant with nearly three decades of experience. He works with our renowned comprehensive hip orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Mai, to treat musculoskeletal conditions of the hip resulting from development, injury, overuse and arthritis.
Charles Barnes, PA, has been practicing as a Physician Assistant since 2003. He brings ten years of combined Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care experience and seven years of orthopaedic trauma and upper extremity experience to his role working with orthopaedic hand surgeons, Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Alex Coleman and Dr. James Piorkowski.
Kerrie Begley, PA, attended the University of West Florida for undergraduate studies in Biology while gaining experience as an employee at Andrews Institute. She received her master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2017. Keri works with orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Chris O’Grady, treating patients as part of his orthopaedics and sports medicine practice.
Chris Key, PA, received his bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy from the University of Alabama and his master’s degree as a Physician Assistant from the University of South Alabama. He has worked in orthopaedics since graduating in 2005. Chris is also part of Dr. O’Grady’s orthopaedics and sports medicine team.
Late last month, North Florida Bone and Joint Specialists orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Steven Kronlage and Dr. Chris O'Grady performed a life-changing procedure on two ½-year-old Nassir Andrew from Grenada through their newly formed non-profit, Hands of Hope Medical Mission (HoHMM). Drs. Kronlage and O'Grady, who also serve as Co-Presidents of HoHMM, performed the organization's first sponsored stateside patient operation at the Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center.
With National Family Health History Day approaching next week on Thanksgiving, it’s an ideal time to consider family health history’s role in your orthopaedic and sports medicine care. While many people think of family health history in relation to heart disease or cancer, a family history of orthopaedic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint and bone issues can also impact your own risk and health management. Understanding and documenting your family health history can empower you and your orthopaedic provider to proactively manage or prevent conditions that could affect your long-term mobility and quality of life.
October is recognized as Physical Therapy Month, a time to highlight the essential role physical therapists play in improving the lives of patients dealing with orthopaedic conditions and sports injuries. At North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists, we provide comprehensive physical therapy services designed to help our patients recover faster, avoid surgery, and regain their mobility.