Shoulder Care

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.”

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.”

“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.”

“I’ve always been interested in the medical field and becoming a physician assistant was a really good opportunity to do a wide variety of things in medicine. I was really drawn to the ability to work as part of a team and that’s something I’ve enjoyed during my career.”
Lindsay Davison works at OrthoKansas with Dr. Stephan Prô, a fellowship-trained sports medicine physician, caring for patients with athletic injuries.
“We see general orthopedics as well but see a lot of injuries that athletes get such as ACL tears and rotator cuff tears,” she said. “We work on shoulders, hips and knees and will see just a little bit of everything.”
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Health Sciences with Highest Distinction, from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Lindsay’s experience includes working in outpatient orthopedics, specializing in acute and chronic orthopedic injuries and conditions with extensive experience in the evaluation of the foot and ankle.
One thing Lindsay wants her patients to know is that it’s okay to ask questions.
“People are sometimes hesitant to ask things because they don’t want to bother us. It’s never something that’s a bother. We want to know your questions and answer them,” she said. “I don’t want you to leave an appointment and wish that you would’ve asked something. If you think of something after you leave, give us a call. The most important thing is making sure you really understand everything to make sure you have the best quality of care.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Dr. Stephan Prô is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon caring for patients with injuries to the knee, hip and shoulder. He subspecializes in orthopedic sports medicine, where he cares not only for athletes, but those with athletic-related injuries.
“I like to educate the patient on what their condition is, make them engaged in the choices they have to help them get better, and ultimately set goals that are achievable either through surgery, medicine, rehab – whatever way they see fit.”
Dr. Prô earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine before completing a fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine at Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Kansas Health System, teaching orthopedic fellows. Dr. Prô has also worked with professional soccer teams and assisted the U.S. men's national team in preparing for the 2010 World Cup. 
“Patients should feel comfortable coming to LMH Health and OrthoKansas for their care because every one of us strives to provide the highest level care possible,” he said. “We want to be a convenient access point for patients, blending elite care with very patient-centered, easily accessible care that’s local.”