Osteoarthritis of Hand near Lakewood, WA

Care Philosophy: Neil Shah, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialty in hand surgery.

Biography: I enjoy the challenges of restoring people to health through my practice. The work I did in biochemistry opened up new approaches for treating complex problems and made me a more detailed clinician.

Biography: Once management short of surgery has failed, Dr. Ghidella tries to speed recovery and improve function surgically with a combination of traditional techniques that have proven reliable and the latest techniques that depend on current technology. His goal is to restore function to his patients and get them back to their daily activities as quickly as possible by solving their orthopedic problem, big or small.

Care Philosophy: Dr. Vercio is passionate about patient education and partnering with patients, working together to help them make the best treatment decisions. He is skilled in ultrasound of the upper extremity for diagnosis and treatments and is co-author of a textbook to assist other physicians with these useful exams and techniques. Dr. Vercio has also spent time in developing countries from Nepal to Haiti and plans to continue helping those in need.

Care Philosophy: Board certified in rheumatology and internal medicine, Dr. Wang is fellowship-trained and specializes in rheumatology. Dr. Wang is committed to providing comprehensive treatment and taking a holistic view of the health of each of his patients. Dr. Wang has a broad interest and experience in treating patients with health issues ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis to carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and vasculitis. He also provides care for patients suffering from other chronic conditions, such as lupus and gout. Dr. Wang is experienced in procedures to alleviate pain and speed recovery, including joint/soft tissue injections and ultrasound-guided diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. Dr. Wang is fluent in English and Chinese.

Biography: Dr. John Heffernan, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist who practices in Tacoma, WA. He is 42 years old. Dr. John Heffernan, MD is affiliated with St. Joseph Medical Center.

Care Philosophy: He strives to partner with his patients and assist them to take a critical role in their own care and well-being. For the control of acute and chronic pain, he draws from multiple modalities ranging from physical therapy and injections, to complementary medicine and surgery. Each program is tailored to the patient, not to the diagnosis. Dr. Swedarsky has a strong formal education in electrodiagnostic testing and the use of ultrasound. He also has training in the neurophysiology of pain and practices osteopathic manipulation. Dr. Swedarsky is a veteran who served as a physician for wounded warriors, family members and veterans. After completing his residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, he was transferred to Joint-Base Lewis McChord, where he completed his military service obligation as Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.

Care Philosophy: I am an old fashion physician. I like to spend time get a complete history, perform a physical examination and come up with a clinical diagnosis before ordering tests. I like my patients to be part of the decision making process as far as further diagnostic testing and treatment options.