Hand & Wrist Care

“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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”