Orthopedic Care

“I grew up as a farm kid, so caring for things has always been a passion of mine. It was easy to transition that into caring for individuals.”
Leighton Miller has an extensive history in medicine. He spent five years as the Director of Nursing Services for Meade District Hospital and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. He has provided care to patients from pediatrics to geriatrics and received his nursing degree from the University of Kansas School of Nursing. Leighton has served as a nurse in different family practice, ER, labor/delivery and acute care departments throughout his career. 
“I thought about becoming a physician at first but I got to know a lot of nurses and that drove my passion into that field,” he said. “I got to know some nurse practitioners. That was a logical stepping stone and I haven’t regretted a single day.”
What would Leighton like his patients to know about him?
“I’m not a serious guy but I’m serious about healthcare. When it’s time to have fun, I have fun. When it’s time to get down to business, we take care of business. Doing so and enjoying life along the way is what’s important.”

Dr. Adam Goodyear is a native of Kansas who grew up in Auburn, a small town southwest of Topeka. Although he has lived in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado, he considers Kansas home and came back to care for its wonderful people.
His areas of interest are hip and knee replacement and revision, as well as non-operative management of arthritic hip and knee conditions.
“For the most part, people that have arthritis that need a replacement will typically get great relief with one of these surgeries,” he said. “There have been a lot of knee and hip replacements put in throughout the years and a lot of them that will need to be revised. I like the opportunity to offer that service to patients as well.”
After earning his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Dr. Goodyear completed a residency at the University of Kansas Hospital in Orthopedic surgery and a fellowship in adult reconstruction at the University of Colorado Hospital and Denver Health.
Why should patients choose OrthoKansas?
“The patient experience is what we like to go back to. We have a good team here, not just the physicians but our physician assistants, physical therapists, medical assistants, nurses - everybody is on board with helping each patient individually,” he said. “We want to give you the broadest orthopedic experience you can have and be able to offer every service orthopedically that there is to offer. We want to be a regional orthopedic center and we do everything we do very well.”

It wasn’t until he was nearing the end of medical school that Dr. Luis Salazar realized that sports medicine was his calling.
“My brother was an athletic trainer for the Cleveland Indians and that exposed me to a lot in regard to the care provided to professional athletes,” he said. “I saw it as an opportunity to blend science, sports, disease prevention and medicine and take care of all aspects of the athlete and their care.”
Dr. Salazar is board-certified in family medicine and fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine. He enjoys the intricacies of foot and ankle injuries and his special interests include caring for athletes of all abilities; ultrasound medicine; and the use of biologic treatment options. He also participates in Exercise is Medicine, a global health initiative committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health and is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his sports medicine fellowship at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Dr. Salazar has experience treating NCAA and NAIA collegiate athletes, including his work with Division I athletes at the University of Kansas as part of Kansas Team Health. He enjoys engaging in teaching future physicians part of the faculty for the Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Kansas Health System.
“My practice is pretty vast,” he said. “I take care of anybody who moves, not only athletes at all competitive levels from elementary to collegiate and Olympic level and professional, I’ve had experience in all aspects across a lot of age groups.”
What advice does Dr. Salazar have for his patients?
“Patients need to be their own advocates and demand the care that they need. They need to push us as physicians to not be stagnant. It’s not the physician’s way, it’s what the best care for them as a patient is,” he said. “We need to listen to them, value their time and offer options, but we also need to be truthful and up front. Find the care that you need. If it’s not me, that’s fine but we need to demand the most that we can.”

“I love being able to have a positive impact on student-athletes. Helping them navigate through injuries and getting them back into competition is incredibly rewarding.” 
Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Kansas. She went on to earn a master’s degree in kinesiology, sports medicine and injury studies from the University of California – Long Beach, where she worked as the athletic trainer for the women’s soccer and women’s water polo teams. Prior to coming to LMH Health, Ashley worked at Occidental College in Los Angeles, West Torrance High School in California, The University of Kansas Health System and as the athletic trainer at Olathe West High School. 
“I’m proud to be working in this community. It’s wonderful to be in a place that shows such support for their schools and athletic teams.”

Ashley J. Lauer, APRN, graduated from the University of Texas with her undergraduate degree in nursing and master of science in nursing. She is a certified advanced practice nurse practitioner and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.
Growing up, Lauer had family in the medical field. Following in their footsteps, she began her career as a certified nursing assistant in high school. After receiving her nursing degree, she wanted to be more involved in her patients' care. This led her to becoming an APRN, focusing on palliative and cardiovascular care.
“I love working in cardiovascular because your heart is the engine of your body,” said Lauer.
Lauer enjoys learning who her patients are on a personal level, which allows her to provide individualized care.
“I enjoy sitting down with the families and patients and having a conversation about what their true meaning of life is, what their goals are and then helping them have better days,” she said.

Nathan Kasting, PA, earned his undergraduate degree and a Master of Physician Assistant degree from Wichita State University. He is board certified by the NCCPA, with an additional certificate of added qualification in orthopedic surgery (CAQ-OS). He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Physician Assistants in Orthopedic Surgery.
“I chose to become a PA because I was heavily involved in athletics, so I wanted to do something that allowed me to treat people of all ages and help them return to being active.”
Kasting began his career as an operating room assistant before becoming an orthopedic surgery physician assistant. He worked closely with general and trauma surgeons to provide holistic care to patients.
“I have an interest in total joint replacement, because you can help someone who has a problem that is affecting their day-to-day actives and provide them the opportunity to get back to living an active lifestyle.”

Dr. Douglass Stull knew from the time he was in sixth grade that being a physician was his calling.
“I had a science class and the teacher had to go on emergency leave. The substitute really only new anatomy & physiology, so we were taught some basics and I completely fell in love. I knew right then that I wanted to be a physician.”
Dr. Stull earned his medical degree from the University of Texas School of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with special interests in all aspects of shoulder and elbow care, including sports injuries, trauma, joint replacement and joint reconstruction.
Dr. Stull was also on the U.S. national team in Modern Pentathlon, competing at the Olympic level, and continues to be involved with the pentathlon by serving on their international medical committee. He also provides collegiate sports medicine coverage to Division I athletes as a team physician for the University of Kansas.
What advice does he have for his patients?
“Get out there and move. Think about what you can do, not what you can’t when you face an injury or disability.”

“My advice to patients is to think through the problem before you see your doctor so you have specific things to share,” he said. “The more clues you have for us, the easier it’s going to be for us to solve the puzzle.”
Dr. Neal Lintecum is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with special interests in hand surgery. He enjoys hand surgery because it has the widest variety of problems and being a hand surgeon allows him to care for patients of all ages.
After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Dr. Lintecum completed fellowship training in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of California San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco and Lindenhofspital/Inselspital in Bern Switzerland. He has a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Surgery of the Hand, the highest qualification available.
Why should patients choose OrthoKansas?
“People should come to OrthoKansas because we have an excellent team, top to bottom. It starts with the people that greet you at the front desk right through every person that you interact with here,” he said. “People come here because they have a problem and everyone is compassionate and understanding. I hope we continue to meet that standard.”

Dr. Emily Heronemus is board-certified in family medicine and fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine. She provides patients of all ages with comprehensive sports care, concussion care, uses ultrasound for evaluations and injections and treats a variety of conditions affecting muscles, bones and joints.
“I was an athlete growing up, playing a number of sports, and I played softball in college,” she said. “I’ve had injuries so I’m able to sympathize with patients and can understand what they’re going through in their process of healing.”
Dr. Heronemus received her bachelor’s degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg and earned her medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She completed a family medicine residency at Via Christi Family Medicine and her fellowship at Via Christi Sports Medicine. She sees patients at OrthoKansas and also works with athletes in the training room at Baker University in Baldwin City.
“Choosing OrthoKansas gives you a way to stay within your community and receive care,” she said. “We can provide medical care, imaging, and physical therapy - all in a one-stop shop. Our caring, compassionate, dedicated team - from the front desk, to physical therapists and physicians – work together to give you a personalized experience.”

Patrick “Cole” McGregor, MD, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and a clinical fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Campbell Clinic in Memphis. 
“Growing up with a surgeon father, I was able to see the positive impact he had on our community. I chose to pursue medicine in order to help people get back to doing what they love.”
McGregor specializes in foot and ankle orthopedics. He believes that motion is the key to enjoying life. His goal is to work with patients to find both non-surgical and surgical options that will help get them back to doing what they love.
Outside of work, McGregor enjoys chasing around his three children and spending time with his wife, Liz. On the weekends he can be found cheering on the Jayhawks and Chiefs

“When I first came to town, and I’ve been here for many years, I did pretty much anything and everything – sports medicine, ACL reconstructions, fractures and trauma. As we’ve added new doctors in our group – most of whom are fellowship-trained in these other areas – I’ve been able to drift toward my interest, which is joint replacement.”
Dr. Richard Wendt is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with special interests in arthritic hip and knee conditions, total joint reconstruction, arthroscopy and trauma. After earning his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, he completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in affiliation with the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.
“Patients should come to OrthoKansas, whether they’re local or regional, because the people we have here are high-quality and excellent physicians, every one of them,” he said. “We have a nursing staff and staff in the therapy department that’s as good as it can be and we hope people come here knowing that and we’ll do the best we can for them.”

Hemil Maniar, MD, completed his orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship from Northwestern University and an orthopaedic trauma surgery fellowship from the University of Louisville. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Lumbar Spine Research Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.
Dr. Maniar describes himself as easy-going and family-oriented. He enjoys spending time outdoors or watching movies.
“I really like to fix things around the house. Sometimes I do a really good job at it and other times I have to call in the experts.”
Dr. Maniar completed his orthopedic training in India before deciding to move to the United States to complete two-fellowships to specialize in orthopedic spine surgery and orthopedic trauma surgery.
“I realized that I wanted to learn more about how to help patients with complex fractures and spine issues,” Dr. Maniar explained. “The orthopedic trauma came naturally to me, as I really enjoy working with my hands and fixing things that are broken. However, what drew me to spine was the knowledge that a lot of people in the community do not know that they can return to routine daily lives with appropriate treatment.”
After working at a busy Level I hospital in Central Pennsylvania, he relocated to Lawrence with his wife and son.  His clinical interests include both non-operative and operative treatment of conditions such as cervical disc herniation, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, myelopathy, spinal cord compression, spinal deformity, spinal trauma, etc. with conventional and minimally invasive surgery as well as upper and lower extremity fractures and dislocations.
One of Dr. Maniar’s favorite parts of being a physician is the ability to meet people from diverse backgrounds, learning from them about their lives and working with them to provide personalized care. He believes that taking a cookie-cutter approach to treatment can lengthen and limit recovery.
“I value the trust my patients place in me by coming to me. I want them to know that I will do everything I can to solve their problems while being honest about the treatments available to them.”

As a physician assistant at OrthoKansas, it’s important for Ryan Fleming to be able to put himself in the patient’s shoes. Having an empathetic approach helps him better understand and communicate with patients and their families during a stressful time.
Ryan completed both his bachelor's and master’s degrees from Wichita State University. Before joining the team at OrthoKansas, he worked as a physician’s assistant in the emergency department at LMH Health.
“LMH Health and OrthoKansas provide incredible resources to patients for their healthcare needs,” he said. “We provide high-quality, patient-centered care and want patients to be actively involved in their recovery. You should feel comfortable and confident knowing that the care you’ll receive at OrthoKansas is some of the finest in the region.”

As a native of Lawrence, Dr. James Huston knows the pride that the community has in supporting local businesses and each other. Dr. Huston graduated from Lawrence High and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in human biology from the University of Kansas and his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Dr. Huston believes that orthopedics is a field where he can make an immediate and profound impact on a patient’s quality of life. He enjoys being able to see the improvement in people’s daily lives.
“At OrthoKansas, we take great pride in providing world-class care to our friends, neighbors, the community and region,” he said. “We’re passionate about providing cutting-edge, evidence-based, thoughtful care close to home.”

Ryan Xiao, MD, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his medical degree at Harvard Medical School. He completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
“Growing up, I played tennis and swam. I have had my fair share of orthopedic injuries and understand what it is like to be a patient. One of the reasons I chose to go into medicine was because I wanted to help people and to see it improve their lives.”
Xiao specializes in non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical treatment of the upper extremities, including treatment of arthritic disorders of the hand, wrist, and elbow; repair of fractures and ligaments; nerve reconstructions; and microvascular surgeries.
“What I enjoy most is watching my patients’ recovery and getting back to doing what they love.”

Sarah Simpson, PA-C, earned a Bachelor of Science in General Science and Athletic Training from Fort Hays State University and a Bachelor of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University.
 “I chose to become a Physician’s Assistant because of my family ties to healthcare and because I love to help people.”
Simpson began working in Orthopedics in 2005 and belongs to the American and Kansas Academy of Physician’s Assistants.
“I chose Orthopedics because I love helping people move without pain and get back to doing what they love.”

Joni Pro, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Kansas and her doctorate of nursing practice from the University of Kansas School of Nursing. She is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Willis joins the OrthoKansas clinic at Newman Regional Health, providing orthopedic care to Lyon County and the surrounding area. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and his medical degree at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Willis completed an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, followed by a fellowship in orthopedic sports surgery at Mississippi Sports Medicine in Jackson and Tulane University in New Orleans.
During residency, Dr. Willis worked as an Assistant Team Physician for Newman and Wichita State Universities and served as the Assistant Team Physician for the Wichita Force, a semi-professional indoor football team, and the Wichita Thunder, a minor league hockey team.  He served as a team physician for the University of Mississippi and Tulane University during fellowship. Dr. Willis is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association. 

Tara Cunningham, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Maine at Fort Kent and her master’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association. Tara served in the United States Coast Guard from 2000-2004.

Josh Lahr, PA, graduated from Wichita State University with a Master of Physician Assistant degree. He is a member of the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants and American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Lahr grew up in a small town outside of Lawrence with his primary care provider primarily being a physician assistant. He became interested in orthopedics through the injuries he sustained while being an athlete.
“My favorite part of being a PA is helping people find the solution and getting back to what they want to do.”
Lahr began his career in orthopedics before moving to orthopedic trauma. He primarily works with joint replacement patients.
“I want my patients to know that I have an open form of communication. If you have any questions, please ask. I want you to be involved in your care.”

Tiffany earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and her master’s degree from the Mercy University Physician Assistant Program in the Bronx, NY. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates and the New York State Society of Physician Associates.
“My interest in orthopedics started with my sports background. I studied sports medicine in high school and college and found orthopedics was one of my favorite things. I enjoy helping people get their function back, have less pain and see tangible improvements.”
Tiffany Larson earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and her master’s degree from the Mercy University Physician Assistant Program in the Bronx, NY.
“I was always interested in going into medicine, and becoming a physician assistant was a great opportunity. The PA profession emphasizes teamwork and cooperation, and that fits me so well.”

Karen Tsai received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from the University of Kansas and earned a Master of Medical Science degree through the Yale University Physician Associate Program. While a student at Yale, she was granted an Honors Thesis award and recognized as a first author on a publication.
She works as a physician assistant with Dr. Neal Lintecum at OrthoKansas, specializing in upper extremities, and has previous exposure to both scientific research and nursing.
“With my many years of academic and working experience, as well as a concentration in orthopedics, I’m confident in providing the care you need,” she said. “You’ll be in good hands when you come to OrthoKansas. We work as a team to provide not only efficient and high-quality care, but most importantly, care that’s personal.”

Barbara Turner earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from Baker University. She earned a master’s in nursing from the University of Kansas School of Nursing and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Barbara served in the United States Air Force from 2000 to 2004. She’s returning to LMH Health, having previously worked at LMH as a registered nurse in pediatrics and in labor and delivery.

“I get to fix patients and that's the whole thing. You see somebody when they're hurt. It's also great that you can see them walking downtown, and then when they see you they’ve got a smile on their face because they feel better. That's what it's all about.”
Ken Filsinger received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Athletic Training from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He later received his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Wayne State University. Ken works with Dr. Richard Wendt at OrthoKansas and brings more than 20 years of experience working in orthopedics, specializing in total joints, general orthopedics and sports medicine, as well as spine and rehab.
What advice does Ken have for his patients?
“Make sure you tell us what's really going on,” he said. “Even if it's embarrassing or it's something that you may not want to share, tell us because it's probably something we need to know. And if you're in pain, call. Don't be at home and be miserable. Don't let pain interfere with your life. Let's see if we can make it better.”