Meet Our Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Spine Specialists
Our providers are uniquely cross-trained to recognize and treat multiple conditions, which means we can get you up and moving again more quickly than other providers.
In addition to some of the area’s leading neurological and orthopaedic surgeons, our staff includes well-regarded physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, chiropractic physicians, pain psychologists, spine-trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants as well as outstanding physical and occupational therapists.
Get to know the transdisciplinary team in the SpineCare Program.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Our physiatrists work with patients manage treatment plans, which may include medical management, determining if additional testing is necessary to identify and treat pain and to monitor progress throughout the program. This is a non-surgical approach to treating neck and back pain.
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/Diane-Braza-2024-002.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Diane W. Braza, MD
Professor
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/Curtiss_Heather2018-1.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Heather M. Curtiss, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Physical-Medicine-and-Rehabilitation/People/carriemiller.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Carrie Miller, MD
Assistant Professor
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/PhilipNelson2018.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
P. Andrew Nelson, MD
Associate Professor
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/OPD-File-Library/Provider-Photos/Sauter_Carley.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Carley N. Sauter, MD
Associate Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Physical-Medicine-and-Rehabilitation/Residents/Bindiya-Shah_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Bindiya Shah, DO
Resident, PGYIV
Neurosurgery
Our surgeons take a conservative approach to ensure that non-operative treatment, if indicated, has been exhausted prior to considering surgery. If surgery is considered, the use of imaging and/or other testing is used to confirm if a surgical procedure is the best solution for treating your pain.
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Shekar-Kurpad_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD
Professor; Senior Associate Dean, Neuroscience; Founding Director, Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS)
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Dan-Heffez_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Dan Heffez, MD, FRCS
Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Max-Lee_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Max C. Lee, MD
Assistant Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Saman-Shabani_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Saman Shabani, MD
Assistant Professor; Director, Spinal Oncology Surgery; Director, Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery; Co-Director, Spine Fellowship Program
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Karin-Swartz_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Karin Swartz, MD, FAAN
Professor
Aditya Vedantam, MD
Associate Professor; Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery; Director, Center for Cervical Myelopathy; Adjunct Faculty in Biomedical Engineering, Radiology, and Orthopedics
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Marjorie-Wang_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Marjorie Wang, MD, MPH
Professor; Vice Chair, Clinical Operations; Chief, Community Division of Neurosurgery
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Christopher-Wolfla_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Christopher E. Wolfla, MD
Professor
Orthopaedic Surgery
Our surgeons take a conservative approach to ensure that non-operative treatment, if indicated, has been exhausted prior to considering surgery. If surgery is considered, the use of imaging and/or other testing is used to confirm if a surgical procedure is the best solution for treating your pain.
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/Rebholz_Brandon.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Brandon J. Rebholz, MD
Associate Professor, Division Director
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/John-P-Wanner2022.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
John P. Wanner, MD
Assistant Professor
Pain Psychology
Our pain psychologist can help patients understand individual emotional and behavioral responses to ongoing/chronic pain. Additional testing may be useful to help the psychologist to determine treatment options that would focus on coping/management with chronic symptoms.
![headshot](https://opd-resources.mcw.edu/FileLibrary/OPD/Providers/photos/Lynch_TimothyLab2.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
N Timothy Lynch, PhD, ABPP
Adjunct Professor
Chiropractic Medicine
Our chiropractors provide spinal manipulation, if appropriate, to restore joint mobility to restricted movement of the spine. This alleviates pain and muscle tightness, allowing patients to participate more comfortably with the SpineCare program.
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Jordan-Gliedt_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Jordan Gliedt, DC
Associate Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Jeffrey-King_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Jeffrey A. King, DC, MS
Associate Professor; Director of Chiropractic
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Boyd-Peterson_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Boyd M. Peterson, DC
Assistant Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Nicole-Trochil_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Nicole Patricia Trochil, DC
Assistant Professor
![headshot](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Neurosurgery/Faculty-and-Staff/Gregory-Whitcomb_Academic-Profile.jpg?w=200&h=275&mode=crop&anchor=middlecenter&scale=both 200w)
Gregory L. Whitcomb, DC
Associate Professor
Allied Health Professionals
Physical & Occupational Therapy that specializes in the treatment of spine problems is the cornerstone in managing neck and back related symptoms. Once in the SpineCare program, our Allied Health Professionals use their vast knowledge and experience in teaching exercises, body mechanics and lifestyle changes essential for spine health. Their goal is to work with each patient to develop an individualized plan in managing their spine symptoms.
Therapy Professionals
- Carol Fitzgerald, OTR, CEES
- Pam Fleckenstein, MPT
- Amanda Henke, DPT
- Cynthia Samonte, MPT