- Blog
Physician Assistant Week 2024
Posted on 05-10-2025 by Dr. Alex Coleman, Dr. Steven Kronlage, Dr. Matthew Mai, Dr. Chris O'Grady, Dr. James Piorkowski, Dr. Brett Smith
According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, over 178,000 Physician Assistants (PAs) practice across various specialties and settings throughout the United States. Each year, from October 6-12, we take the opportunity to recognize these outstanding professionals by celebrating National Physician Assistants Week. Our North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists Physician Assistants (PA) have dedicated themselves to delivering exceptional care to our patients, communities and the entire profession.
To become a licensed PA, individuals must complete one of the 303 accredited master’s degree programs available in the U.S. These programs typically span three academic years and involve an extensive curriculum that includes 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. After completing their training, PA candidates must also pass a certification exam and meet additional requirements to earn their license.
Maintaining certification as a PA requires ongoing professional development, including completing 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and passing a recertification exam every ten years. This commitment to lifelong learning ensures that PAs remain current with the latest medical advancements.
In addition to their rigorous education and training, PAs are dedicated to improving access to care and enhancing health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. Their role is essential in transforming healthcare by providing high-quality, collaborative care that puts patients first.
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.
Sarah Baroni, PA, graduated from Gannon University in 2005 with a master’s degree as a Physician Assistant. She has worked in orthopedics her entire career. Sarah has been caring for patients suffering from hip and knee pain alongside Dr. Brett Smith since 2007.
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.
Jason G. Lunsford, PA, graduated with a master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2006 and completed the U.S. Army/Baylor University Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Residency Program, earning his Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2011. He served in the U.S. Army from 1991 to 2015. Jason is also part of Dr. Brett Smith’s team, specializing in treating degenerative hip and knee diseases.
Check out some of our related posts:
Diagnosing & Managing Arthritis
Arthritis represents a wide variety of joint inflammation diseases. Patients most often have chronic Arthritis in their wrists, hands, and fingers, experiencing flares of inflammation, soreness or stiffness affecting the joints. As we recently wrapped up Bone & Joint Action Week, this is an excellent opportunity to bring awareness to the most common categories of Arthritis, proactive methods for pain prevention and available treatment solutions.
Arthritis and Hyaluronic Acid
Arthritis literally translates to “inflammation of the joint” and describes the degenerative process through which a joint space loses its “cushioning,” whether are the result of injury, illness or the natural process of aging. It is the leading cause of musculoskeletal pain and can be found in almost every part of the body, from the shoulder all the way down to the smallest joint of the toe. Our joints are intricate structures shaped from cartilage, bone, muscle and connective tissue, all of which can gradually weaken over time or be damaged by acute injury. While there are more than one hundred known types of arthritis, the three most common forms are osteoarthritis, which is by far the most prevalent; rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused by the body’s own immune system generating a chronic inflammatory response in the joints; and post-traumatic arthritis, which is caused by the lingering structural damage of acute injuries.
What You Should Know About Wrist Arthritis
Research from the National Library of Medicine states that one in seven people in the United States suffers from some form of wrist arthritis. That estimate indicates that just over 13% of the American population experiences discomfort, inflammation or limited range in motion due to this condition. As we usher in the month of May and recognize National Arthritis Awareness Month, we want to emphasize wrist arthritis and provide an overview of the condition, symptoms to be aware of, treatment options, and tips for managing its symptoms.