Osteoarthritis of Foot near Queen Creek, AZ

Biography: Dr. Braiden Heaps, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist who practices in Gilbert, AZ. He is 38 years old and has been practicing for 10 years. Dr. Braiden Heaps, MD is affiliated with Mercy Gilbert Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Joseph Nelson is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon that is specialized in surgery of the hip and knee. He has advanced training in anterior hip replacement, robotic knee replacement, partial knee replacement, and outpatient joint replacement. Because his practice is focused on hip and knee replacement, he has a keen understanding of the intricacies and complexities involved in these surgeries. This allows him to serve as a referral source for both simple and complex joint replacements. A pioneer of the ROSA robotic surgery program at Dignity Health Medical Group, Dr. Nelson and his team are dedicated to developing and investigating operative techniques and protocols with the potential to enhance recovery and improve patient outcomes. Dr. Nelson is a 5th-generation Arizona native, having grown up in Mesa, Arizona. He completed his undergraduate studies in Public Health at Brigham Young University before enrolling at the University of Arizona for medical school. In medical school he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha for top academic performance and the Gold Humanism Honor Society for showing outstanding compassion and respect for patients and their families. He then went on to complete his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the University of Michigan Health System. While there, he served as an assistant team physician for the University of Michigan football and hockey teams. Dr. Nelson then sub-specialized by completing a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement at the world-renowned Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute in Alexandria, Virginia. Dr. Nelson is an active member in multiple societies including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. In his free time, Dr. Nelson enjoys spending time in the mountains, playing disc golf and pickle ball, but most of all, spending time with his family. Dr. Nelson and his wife are the parents of three beautiful girls.

Biography: Dr. Matthews is a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeon specialized in advanced operative and non-operative management of injuries related to the hip, knee, shoulder and elbow. He specializes in knee ligament reconstructions (ACL, PCL, and multi-ligamentous injuries), meniscus tears, shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, hip arthroscopy, and elbow injuries in the throwing athlete. He also has a special interest in cartilage restoration. Dr. Matthews grew up in Tucson, Arizona and obtained his medical degree at the University of Arizona. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Buffalo in New York where he also served as an assistant team doctor for collegiate athletes. Dr. Matthews then completed an orthopedic sports medicine fellowship at the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. During his fellowship, he served as an assistant team physician in the care of professional athletes including the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, as well as local colleges and high-schools. Dr. Matthews is an active member of several sports medicine societies and has authored numerous publications related to sports medicine. He continues to be actively involved in clinical research while utilizing advanced arthroscopic techniques to provide the highest quality of care. In his free time, Dr. Matthews enjoys hiking, snowboarding, home remodeling, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.