Practice Emphasis: Hip & Knee Replacement, General Orthopaedics
“In a way, medicine and orthopaedics have always been ‘in the cards’ for me. My father was a physician, and he was active in sports medicine. He was the team doctor for my high school and played a prominent role in USA Hockey. In addition, I needed surgery for a dislocated elbow when I was 10 years old. Between these two formative experiences, I became interested in the musculoskeletal system… and in making a positive difference in the lives of others, just like my father had done.

“Today, after more than 25 years in orthopaedic practice, I am as committed and passionate as ever about improving people’s quality of life. This is a key reason that reconstructive joint surgery is an emphasis in my practice. My goal is to provide relief with predictably excellent results, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I strive to really understand each individual’s unique situation and condition, because it is the key to the most appropriate and effective care. As a family man who has had his own medical challenges, I bring a sense of compassion to everything that I do.”

Practice Emphasis: Sports Medicine, General Orthopaedics
“In medical school, I found that orthopaedics best filled my senses of wonder and compassion and blessed me with a chance to directly influence a patient’s life.
“After completing my residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, I spent more time at Children’s Hospital in Boston doing specialty training in sports medicine. I stayed at Children’s Hospital for five more years until my practice at Essex Orthopaedics fully matured. My Harvard training gave me the option of working in a big downtown hospital, but I decided to devote my time to the people of the Merrimack Valley. It has become our home and our success with our patients has been a great reward.

“Twenty-five years after completing medical school, I still feel the same sense of joy from helping repair torn, broken and worn-out parts to restore a better whole. Our patients greatly benefit from our caring and experienced staff, who get to know each patient’s individual goals and desires. We pride ourselves on treating the whole person, not just their ‘problem.’ My passion for helping patients extends beyond a superb operating-room experience to restoring how you function in life.”

Practice Emphasis: Sports Medicine
“My undergraduate degree is in biomedical engineering. So the intricacy of human motion and the function of the musculoskeletal system appealed to me. I am also tremendously interested in many sports... and have been since childhood. Orthopaedic surgery and, in particular, sports medicine were a natural fit. The most compelling facet of both for me was the opportunity to help people return to the level of function they had before their problem arose or their injury occurred. That effort to get patients back to what they most enjoy doing is the thing that drives me now. And when I’m successful in that effort, it’s my greatest reward.

Practice Emphasis: Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery
“Details matter to me, and they always have. I’m the type of person who enjoys detailed, delicate tasks and performing them as perfectly as possible. I also know from more than 15 years as an orthopaedic surgeon that the details of each person in my care are equally important. We are each unique, and the excellent care I’ve been able to provide thousands of people comes down to really knowing each individual, their symptoms, lifestyle, physiology and health. With this in mind, I focus not just on the details of the science and medicine but on listening carefully and communicating fully.

“I treat everyone in my care as if they are a member of my family. I want you to feel comfortable with me, of course. But I also believe that everyone deserves the very best that I can offer. While I enjoy the challenge of detailed tasks like those involved in orthopaedic surgery, my reason for becoming a physician — and my primary mission as a doctor — is to help people. This requires of me a sense of compassion as well as dedication to always doing what’s right, most appropriate and most effective for the unique individual in my care.”

Practice Emphasis: Hand, Elbow & Shoulder Surgery, General Orthopaedics
“Orthopaedics appealed to me for a number of reasons. It gives me the ability to resolve problems through very precise intervention. I also enjoy interacting with all age groups, from children with broken bones to senior citizens who need joint replacement. But what’s most rewarding is being able to give someone their life back. People with hand injuries often are unable to work and provide for their families. To help fix their injury is to enable them to get back to earning a living and supporting their family.

“Whether I’m treating complex injuries or relatively simple problems, the best care begins by involving my patients in their own care. Often there is more than one path we can take to repair an injury, restore function or relieve pain. By working closely with my patients to pinpoint their goals and expectations, together we can determine which option is best for each person. I treat my patients with the same attention to detail as I would treat a member of my own family.”

Practice Emphasis: Sports Medicine, Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder, Foot & Ankle
“As an athlete, I was naturally drawn to the field of orthopaedics, especially sports medicine. I became a physician because I wanted to help people, and I particularly enjoy helping active people get back to their active lifestyles. It’s also fulfilling to work with people who are motivated to recover from their injury or surgery and are proactive in working toward that goal. Few things are as rewarding as seeing a person’s satisfaction after achieving not just a successful recovery but a full return to the lifestyle they love, including competitive play.

“My objective is to help patients return to their active lifestyle, whether through surgery or nonsurgical means. This starts conservatively, by first considering means that don’t require surgery. I engage the patient, working to understand their injury or problem completely and — just as importantly — getting their full participation in their care, which is vital to optimal outcomes. I also spend time educating patients on the cause of their condition, how to correct mechanical issues and how to prevent future injury. I always put in the time it takes to do things right; that’s what the patient deserves and needs.”