Hand & Wrist Care

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.”

“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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”