I am pleased to hear that our patients have truly benefited from a visit to one of our medical consultation centers. Since 2005, we have offered several different ways for patients to discuss their diagnosis and symptoms whether over the phone or at a seminar. Our new medical offices offer a different dynamic to the Laser Spine Institute consultation for chronic back and neck pain sufferers. In July 2008, we entered our first consultation market in beautiful San Diego, which is truly one of my favorite places to visit. Please allow me to share the LSI San Diego story with you.

Dr. Richard C. Richley, our managing physician in California, has been practicing in San Diego as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and pioneer of minimally invasive spine surgery for over 34 years.  After his service in the U.S. Army Security Agency and four years of playing football for The Ohio State University, where he graduated from medical school, Dr. Richley came to San Diego for his residency at the University of California San Diego.

In 1976, Dr. Richley started his practice before opening his Point Loma office in 1991. Nestled in the historical seaside community of San Diego, Dr. Richley grew his orthopedic practice through community involvement, love for local sports teams and philanthropic work on the Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors. He also served as a doctor with the Chargers and team physician for the Padres and U.S. Olympics. In the early 90's, Dr. Richley focused on new laser technology used in orthopedic medicine. He invited surgeons to learn new laser procedures and traveled the world to help apply the techniques within their practice.

In 2008, we were fortunate to add Dr. Richley to our medical team and adapt his practice to our first medical center. He now heads the LSI San Diego and Beverly Hills medical offices as well as travels the western U.S. and Canada to educate back pain sufferers on the anatomy of the spine, treatment options and Laser Spine Institute advanced procedures.

When you meet Dr. Richley, he will conduct a thorough medical examination and orthopedic assessment to understand the pain you're experiencing. Then, he will review your MRI films or CT scans to pinpoint the causes of your suffering, and explain how our advanced approach will get you relief. As he often reminds me about San Diego, "there's a little bit of ocean breeze and a lot of sunshine, not to mention the caring staff that has been with me for years offering patients a comfortable and engaging environment." And I have to agree it is one of the best places on Earth.

•    Internationally acclaimed research on Arthroscopic
     Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine
•    Named America's Top Orthopedist - 2008
•    Licensed physician and surgeon in Florida, Arizona
     and California
•    American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons and
     American Medical Association

Dr. Timothy Luke joined LSI with over a decade of extensive medical research and surgical experience. He attended Colorado State University, where he continued to indulge his passion for sports, receiving top honors two consecutive years with the Downhill ski team. He then focused on playing college football and his academic studies. He was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for two consecutive years for Colorado State Football and Academic All Conference for three consecutive years.

After receiving the National Collegiate Medical Professions Award and completing his B.S. in Microbiology, he entered medical school in 1992 at the University of Colorado, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1996. During his medical training, he received the Merck Award for Scholastic Achievement and then headed to the east coast to train at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he completed his internship, residency, and two fellowships in Orthopedic/General Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Research respectively, and then secured the position of Attending Surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Upon successful mastery of orthopedic surgical techniques, Dr. Luke entered into private practice. During this time, he focused on his areas of specialty, offering orthopedic and Sports Medicine diagnosis and treatment. While Dr. Luke has made an indelible impact through his practice, his theoretical contributions have also won acclaim, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Luke has authored several journal publications and has given several research presentations. To name a few, Dr. Luke presented his research nationally at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America and the Western Orthopedic Association. Internationally, Dr. Luke has presented at the European Society Sports/Trauma Surgery & Arthroscopy in London. Additionally, Dr. Kevin Plancher, Dr. Luke's fellowship director, presented these papers with the International Society of Arthroscopy in New Zealand and Switzerland and the World Congress Orthopedic Sports Trauma Convention in Australia.

Dr. Luke's remarkable work has been acknowledged by several professional entities. In 2003, the paper that he co-authored was the recipient of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine Award for best paper. More recently, in 2008, Dr. Luke was honored as one of "America's Top Orthopedists" by the guide to America's Top Orthopedists Consumer Research Council of America. Despite his outstanding achievements, Dr. Luke maintains admirable humility. This firm sense of humility emerges from Dr. Luke's conviction of providing the highest quality patient care. Having suffered from a broken neck, as a result of a sports injury, and having faced the prospect of not being able to pursue his passion for sports, Dr. Luke has a thorough understanding of the pain and suffering, experienced by his patients. The tenacity and dedication of the medical staff played a vital role in Dr. Luke's recovery and enabled him to continue playing sports, along with indulging in life's other simple pleasures. This first-hand understanding is what has, and continues to fuel Dr. Luke's dedication to his profession.

In addition to being a dedicated professional, Dr. Luke is also a devoted husband and father. He currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife Sonya, daughter Devon, and son Brendon.

I am pleased to announce that our medical team completed the first surgery in our new Philadelphia facility last Wednesday, November 4th.  Under the guidance of 28-year veteran of orthopedic and minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Vernon Morris, I am confident that LSI Philadelphia will embody the same level of professionalism, service excellence, and dedication to patient satisfaction as our other facilities. You can learn more about Dr. Morris from his profile below.

•    Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
•    Board Certified in Pain Management
•    AMA Award for Physician Recognition
•    Member Florida Medical Association

Dr. Morris came to LSI with an impressive background. Born in suburban Philadelphia, Dr. Morris attended Pennsylvania State University for his pre-medical education, followed by Temple University School of Medicine where he received his Medical Degree in 1974. Dr. Morris completed his internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before dedicating 4 years of orthopedic residency to hospitals, such as Temple University Hospital, Abington Memorial Hospital and Shriners Hospital. Dr. Morris was among the first spine surgeons in the 1980s to perform minimally invasive spine surgery.

Licensed in five states, and Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery as well as Pain Management, Dr. Morris left his practice at Highlands Joint and Spine Orthopedics in Sebring, FL in July 2007 to join the highly acclaimed medical staff at Laser Spine Institute. With vast experience in orthopedic surgery, 14 hospital staff appointments, and an extensive record of post-graduate education, Dr. Morris adds his profound knowledge and expertise to the team. In addition, he holds a list of medical publications, honors and awards such as the AMA Award for Physician Recognition in 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1993. Dr. Morris is also involved in several community organizations and holds memberships in medical societies such as the Florida Medical Association. Dr. Morris, an avid Eagles fan, is returning to his home State to lead the Pennsylvania LSI surgical team.

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 * Fellow of American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
 * Fellow of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
 * Florida Medical Association
 * North American Spine Society

Dr. Stefan Prada joined Laser Spine Institute after 9 years of dedication to orthopedic surgery at a previous practice and in the U.S. Navy. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with his Bachelor's Degree in Biology in 1987, Dr. Prada went on to receive his Doctorate of Medicine from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York.

After completing his Surgical Internship at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, he began his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon completion, he served in the U.S. Navy as a physician. His many achievements include numerous research publications, Decoration of the Joint Meritorious Unit Award from the United States Naval Forces, among many other Military Decorations, and First Prize for the Outstanding Research Project from the 14th Annual Arkansas Orthopedic Forum.

Dr. Prada relocated to Florida in 2007 with his wife Donia, who is a nurse, along with their 3 children; Angelina, Isabella and Nicholas. He enjoys boating, jet skiing, and other water sports with his family.

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Today's post features Dr. Mark Flood, D.O, a valuable member of our medical expert team. Along with Drs. Michael Weiss and Kevin Luke, Dr. Flood currently operates in our Scottsdale, AZ facility, providing exceptional spine care to our patients on the West Coast. Please feel free to submit any additional questions about Dr. Flood by clicking on the Post Comment tab.

    * Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
    * Fellowship Trained in Spine Surgery
    * Fellowship Trained in Scoliosis & Pediatric Orthopedic
      Surgery
    * Member of the American Osteopathic Board of
      Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Mark Flood joined the LSI team of talented surgeons in 2008. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in1987 at National College of Chiropractic and later received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1989 at said institution. Dr. Flood then attended the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, where he received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1993. He then completed an accredited orthopedic surgery residency at Midwestern University, which included core rotations in pediatric orthopedics at the Wyler's Children's Hospital and joint reconstruction at Weiss Memorial Hospital, both at the University of Chicago, as well as hand surgery at the University of Hawaii's John Burns School of Medicine.

In addition to completing the traditional medical internship and orthopedic surgery residency, Dr. Flood also completed an accredited Spine Surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois University and an accredited Scoliosis & Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. During his fellowship at Southern Illinois University, Dr. Flood received comprehensive training in surgical and conservative treatment of spinal disorders, covering degenerative disorders, acute spinal injuries, pediatric and adult spinal deformity and tumors, whereas, he received training in all areas of pediatric spine & scoliosis at Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Shriner's Hospital.

Dr. Flood's extensive training laid a solid foundation for a successful practice as an orthopedic spine surgeon. In 1999 Dr. Flood embarked upon his first solo practice at the Spine and Orthopedic Specialists of Texas, where he provided comprehensive spine surgery treatment for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. By 2003, Dr. Flood expanded the scope of his practice, embarking upon his second solo practice at Arboretum Spine and Orthopedics in Austin, Texas. During this time, he practiced general orthopedic surgery, providing an exhaustive complement of services, ranging from minimally invasive spine surgery to revision/ reconstructive surgery of the spine.

In 2006, Dr. Flood merged two of his areas of expertise and became the Director and a founding member of the Center for Spinal Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics in Mesa, Arizona. In this capacity, Dr. Flood performed a wide range of spine surgery services involving deformity, degeneration, trauma and revision/reconstructive surgery of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines for patients of all ages, as well as pediatric orthopedic surgery with a focus on spinal deformity and trauma. During this time, Dr. Flood also served as the Director for the Pediatric Orthopedic Division of Banner Children's Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.

Complementary to his successful career, Dr. Flood continuously engages scientific research.
Over the span of his career, he has co-authored several scientific papers, including: - Analysis of in situ Fusion with and without Instrumentation for Congenital Scoliosis: Houston Shriners Hospital Experience & Progressive Kyphotic Deformity from Thoracic Fracture- Dislocation Associated with Sterno-Manubrial Fracture Dislocation: A Case Report and Literature Review. Dr.Flood presented one of his most recent papers, Risk  Factors for Continued Progression of Congenital Scoliosis after Surgical Intervention, at the 2007 Annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Other professional affiliations include: - North American Spine Society, American Osteopathic Association and the Arizona Orthopedic Society.

In my last post, I spoke about the new LSI outpatient surgical center in Scottsdale, Arizona. So, today I thought that it would be appropriate to familiarize you with the center's chief surgeon, Dr. Michael Weiss. Dr. Weiss is an outstanding surgeon and his contribution to the LSI team has been remarkable. Below, you will find information about his background and previous experience.


•    Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
•    Board of Trustees, Florida Osteopathic Medical   
     Association
•    Fellow American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics
•    Assistant Clinical Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Nova
     Southeastern University
•    President Broward Orthopedic Society

Dr. Michael Weiss, a senior surgeon at Laser Spine Institute and the Chief Spine Surgeon of the new LSI Outpatient Surgical Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, is Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery. After receiving his medical degree in 1986 from Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Weiss completed his rotating internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital in  Michigan, where he became Chief Resident in 1991.

His complementary education includes enhanced surgical training at Wayne State University, hand surgery at the Detroit Medical Center and total joint surgery at Port Huron Hospital. Dr. Weiss continued his training in pediatric orthopedics at Shriner's Hospital in Tampa, and endured extensive surgical training in adult reconstruction at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After 15 years of dedication to his previous practice in South Florida, Dr. Weiss chose to join the team of surgeons at Laser Spine Institute and continue his love of surgery and patient care.

In the December issue of the Spinal Column, Dr. Weiss probed several issues relating to minimally invasive spine surgery. Click here to read the full text of the interview.

 

 

In my last post, History of LSI, I briefly mentioned Dr. James St. Louis. His contribution to LSI, as well as to my life has been invaluable, so I would like to tell you a bit more. During October of 2004, I met a genius doctor who gave me my life back. But more importantly, I met a man, a fabulous father,devoted husband, and a friend for life- Dr. James St. Louis, Chief Surgeon at LSI.

We have all heard the horror stories about doctors, especially surgeons with arrogant attitudes and poor bedside manners. You know, the evil geniuses with God complexes; not Jim St. Louis. In fact, it is not unusual to see the 2005 and 2008 Physician of the Year perform six surgeries on one afternoon, jump on a plane to see his daughter perform in a swim meet, fly home the next morning to perform more surgeries and hop another plane to visit his son at camp in North Carolina. He once told me that there were times when he would awake and be confused about what city he was in, especially during his transition from Pensacola to Tampa. As I chuckled and nodded in amazement, Jim casually replied, "Bill, I would do it all over again."  

Those conversations with Jim laid an imprint, not only on my mind, but also on my heart.  To me, that was a clear demonstration of Jim's commitment to his family and to LSI.  Many people would be surprised to know that although Jim is an avid sports man, he would never go to an event unless he is accompanied by at least one of his kids! It is truly fascinating to watch a man, whose world revolves around his family, while he continues to commit to performing miracles every day, giving people their lives back.I must admit that at first, I found it quite amazing that Jim does such a great job of balancing his time between his family and his work. But, as I got to know him, I realized that Jim's work is more than professional; it's also personal.  He has a personal attachment to his work and his patients. That's what makes him such a great doctor and that is why striking that balance seems incredibly simple!

When it came to finding a doctor to perform surgery on my spine, having the Tiger Woods of spine surgery was important. I wanted the best of the best and someone in the prime of his career. I wanted someone with no lawsuits and no malpractice claims. Dr. St. Louis was the only minimally invasive spine surgeon that I could find that had such a clean record. Later, discovering that he was such a great family man revealed more about his character, but also that in a lot of ways, he was just like many of us!

Recently, Governor Charlie Crist appointed Dr. St. Louis to the Florida Board of Medicine. As you can imagine, these appointments are only given to doctors with impeccable records and sterling reputations. We are very proud of Jim and thankful for his contribution to LSI, but more personally, I am grateful that I am one of the many patients who got my life back because of Jim's hard work!

Dr. James St. Louis is one of the founding physicians of Laser Spine Institute. He is a board certified orthopedic surgeon, with over 10 years of experience in minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. St. Louis is a member of the American Medical Association and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also a two- time recipient of the American Association of Physician Specialists Physician of the Year Award. For more information on Dr. St. Louis, please visit http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/about/orthopedic_spine_surgeons.