Spine Care

Kelli Crabtree-Wilson, MD, earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Lehigh University, a Masters of Health Science from The Johns Hopkins University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine. Crabtree-Wilson was the first female to graduate from the Kansas University Neurosurgery residency program. She is a member of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Congress of Neurological Surgery and the Midwest Neurosurgery Society.
“I chose to become a Neurosurgeon at a very young age after my grandmother suffered a stroke and ended up needing extensive rehabilitation. This sparked my interest in the neuro-system and its ability to heal itself in certain areas.”
Crabtree-Wilson began her career working in neurosurgical care. She specializes in minimally invasive treatment of degenerative disorders of the spine and traumatic and benign neoplastic disorders of the brain and spine.
“My favorite thing about being a physician is being able to help somebody at one of the most difficult times or a crisis point in their lives which is limiting their actives and being able to get them on the road to recovery.”

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.”

When Aya began her healthcare career as a radiology technologist, she spent a lot of time in the operating room. That experience sparked her interest in becoming a physician assistant.
“I got to see physician assistants working in surgery and was intrigued by the field of neurosurgery itself, as well as the scope and role of the PA overall,” she said.
Aya earned an associate’s degree in radiology technology from Metropolitan Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University. She earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
“I enjoy neurosurgery because it is a field where you can typically appreciate outcomes immediately.”
Aya wants her patients to know that she’s an open door and wants to help guide them through their care.
“I want patients to feel comfortable asking questions during their visit," she said. "I focus on both clinical and non-clinical aspects of their lives, as I think a holistic approach leads to better outcomes.”

Tiffany Kinnison, APRN, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Western Governors University and her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Rockhurst University.

Anna Marshall is an advanced practice registered nurse and board certified family nurse practitioner. Anna received her bachelor's degree in nursing and her master of science in nursing degree from the Washburn University School of Nursing in Topeka. She began her nursing career as a certified nursing aide at the hospital in Winchester, which is named for her grandfather, F.W. Huston. She previously worked as an RN in the emergency, IV therapy and medical units at LMH Health. 

Patti Ranjbar, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University and her master’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ranjbar is a Family Nurse Practitioner, Neuroscience registered nurse. She is also a member of American Nurses Association and the National Institute of First Assisting.
“I knew that I wanted to be a nurse at a very young age. It was a natural progression to become a nurse practitioner. I wanted to be able to have more in-depth relationships with patients and an active role in their care.”
Ranjbar began her career in the intensive care unit before working in oncology and neurosurgery.
“What I enjoy about being a nurse practitioner is the one-on-one relationship I get to build with my patients. It is rewarding to be able to listen to their needs and specialize their care, so that they can return to doing what they love.”
In her free time, Ranjbar enjoys traveling and doing home projects. Most importantly, she loves to spend time with her husband and children.