Meet Our Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Spine Specialists
Our providers are uniquely cross-trained to recognize and treat multiple conditions, which means we can get you up and moving again more quickly than other providers.
In addition to some of the area’s leading neurological and orthopaedic surgeons, our staff includes well-regarded physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, chiropractic physicians, pain psychologists, spine-trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants as well as outstanding physical and occupational therapists.
Get to know the transdisciplinary team in the SpineCare Program.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Our physiatrists work with patients manage treatment plans, which may include medical management, determining if additional testing is necessary to identify and treat pain and to monitor progress throughout the program. This is a non-surgical approach to treating neck and back pain.
Diane W. Braza, MD
Professor
Chen Cui, MD
Assistant Professor
Heather M. Curtiss, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Carrie Miller, MD
Assistant Professor
P. Andrew Nelson, MD
Associate Professor
Carley N. Sauter, MD
Associate Professor
Neurosurgery
Our surgeons take a conservative approach to ensure that non-operative treatment, if indicated, has been exhausted prior to considering surgery. If surgery is considered, the use of imaging and/or other testing is used to confirm if a surgical procedure is the best solution for treating your pain.
Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD
Professor; Senior Associate Dean, Neuroscience; Founding Director, Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS)
Dan Heffez, MD, FRCS
Professor
Max C. Lee, MD
Assistant Professor
Saman Shabani, MD
Assistant Professor; Director, Spinal Oncology Surgery; Director, Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery; Director, Spine Fellowship Program
Karin Swartz, MD, FAAN
Professor
Aditya Vedantam, MD
Associate Professor; Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery; Director, Center for Cervical Myelopathy; Adjunct Faculty in Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, and Orthopedics
Marjorie Wang, MD, MPH
Professor; Vice Chair, Clinical Operations; Chief, Community Division of Neurosurgery
Christopher E. Wolfla, MD
Professor
Orthopaedic Surgery
Our surgeons take a conservative approach to ensure that non-operative treatment, if indicated, has been exhausted prior to considering surgery. If surgery is considered, the use of imaging and/or other testing is used to confirm if a surgical procedure is the best solution for treating your pain.
John P. Wanner, MD
Assistant Professor
Pain Psychology
Our pain psychologist can help patients understand individual emotional and behavioral responses to ongoing/chronic pain. Additional testing may be useful to help the psychologist to determine treatment options that would focus on coping/management with chronic symptoms.
N Timothy Lynch, PhD, ABPP
Adjunct Professor
Chiropractic Medicine
Our chiropractors provide spinal manipulation, if appropriate, to restore joint mobility to restricted movement of the spine. This alleviates pain and muscle tightness, allowing patients to participate more comfortably with the SpineCare program.
Jordan Gliedt, DC
Associate Professor
Jeffrey A. King, DC, MS
Associate Professor; Director of Chiropractic
Boyd M. Peterson, DC
Assistant Professor
Nicole Patricia Trochil, DC
Assistant Professor
Gregory L. Whitcomb, DC
Associate Professor
Allied Health Professionals
Physical & Occupational Therapy that specializes in the treatment of spine problems is the cornerstone in managing neck and back related symptoms. Once in the SpineCare program, our Allied Health Professionals use their vast knowledge and experience in teaching exercises, body mechanics and lifestyle changes essential for spine health. Their goal is to work with each patient to develop an individualized plan in managing their spine symptoms.
Therapy Professionals
- Pam Fleckenstein, MPT
- Cynthia Samonte, MPT
- Craig Schneider, DPT
- Chris Wichert, DPT
- Nicole Harms, PTA