Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of the physician – PA team, PAs strive to increase the quality of care that is provided to the patient. PAs may work in a variety of medical and surgical specialties.
At Beacon Orthopedics, the PAs work very closely with the physicians to care for the orthopedic needs of the patients. The PAs at Beacon are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and the Ohio State Medical Board. They have completed their PA studies in addition to receiving extensive training in orthopedics and sports medicine. The most common duties performed by the Beacon PAs include: performing history and physical exam, ordering diagnostic testing, such as X-RAY, MRI, CT, DEXA, interpreting diagnostic tests and developing treatment plans, performing joint injections, applying casts, perform fracture reductions, coordinating care with other healthcare staff, such as physical therapists and athletic trainers, first assisting in surgery, providing post-operative care, either inpatient or outpatient, and providing coverage for high school/college athletic events.
Brittany Stout
Brittany has been a physician assistant with Dr. Foad since 2011. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2006 from Bowling Green State University and recieved her Master's Degree in Biomedical Science in 2009 from the University of Toledo. Her previous experience includes Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery. Brittany enjoys all activities associated with Cincinnati sports (WHO DEY) and spending the weekends hanging out with her family at their lakehouse.
Kristina Pavel
Kristina is a physician assistant with Dr. Foad. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2004 and recieved her Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2008, both from the University of Kentucky. Her previous experience includes Cardiothoracic Surgery and Emergency Medicine. Krissi enjoys playing soccer, running, cooking and gardening.
Erinn Kelley
Erinn Kelley, a Michigan native, started with Dr. McClung and Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in 2012. Prior to her time in Cincinnati, she worked at the University of Tennessee doing orthopedic trauma surgery and total joint replacements. She attended PA school in Knoxville where she obtained her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and graduated in 2010.
Before moving to Knoxville, Erinn worked as an athletic trainer at a local high school in Michigan and also in a physical therapy clinic while coaching high school cross country and track and field. She attended Michigan State University and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with specializations in Athletic Training, Coaching and Health Promotion.
Matt Milam
Matt earned his Physician Assistant degree from Kettering College of Medical Arts in 2005. Matt also has a Master's degree in Education from Xavier University, and a B.S. in Athletic Training from Wilmington College. Matt is certified by the National Comission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Prior to joining Dr. Rodway, Matt worked in general orthopedics in Bellingham, Washington for two years. From 2005-2010, Matt worked with Dr. Chunduri at Beacon Orthopaedics.
Matt's hobbies include golfing, skiing, and playing soccer. Matt lives with his wife and daughter.
Sara Crookshank
Sara Crookshank is a board-certified Physician Assistant. In 2006 she graduated with distinction and academic excellence from the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she received her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies degree. In 2004 she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Chadron State College in Nebraska. Prior to joining Dr. Chaudhary at Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Sara was a Physician Assistant for a Neurosurgery practice in Olympia, WA from 2007 to 2011.
Sara’s passion is to deliver high quality care while making patients feel comfortable and at ease.
She understands the importance of helping patients return to an active lifestyle. Sara enjoys running, cycling, swimming, and mountain biking. She lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Tim.
Sara is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistant and the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants.
Joseph Ehrhard
Joe received his Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Marietta College. He holds a B.S. degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph majoring in Athletic Training. While at the College of Mount St. Joseph, Joe worked with athletes ranging from high school to professional levels. He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants. He also holds Ohio State Medical Board certificates to practice as a Physician Assistant as well as an Athletic Trainer.
He has worked with Dr. Argo since 2005. He provides patient care for orthopedic injuries in the office as well as assisting with all surgical procedures. He has extensive training in the treatment of a variety of orthopedic injuries. He has special interests in therapeutic injections for many common orthopedic ailments. Some of these injections require x-ray or ultrasound guidance. This facilitates a more precise injection, which in certain cases allows for an increase in the therapeutic effect.
Kate Muenzer
Kate earned her Master’s and Certificate in PA studies from Midwestern University in 2010. Prior to graduate school, she attended Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame where she earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular Cellular Biology in 2007. During her four years Kate worked as a student athletic trainer for the University of Notre Dame Football program. She was awarded the Chris Clevenger scholarship and membership into the Monogram Club. Kate has participated in several medical missions in Latin American countries.
Kate comes to Beacon Orthopedics from Chicago where she worked with a combined Vascular/General surgery and Interventional Radiology group. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and holds her license from the State Medical Board of Ohio.
Sarah Snyder
Sarah Snyder, PA-C is a native of Cincinnati, where she graduated from Saint Ursula Academy. She was the manager of the 1992 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Champion women's soccer team. She attended the University of Dayton where she was vice president of Gamma Epsilon Lambda, a service and leadership fraternity.
She worked in patient care at Children's Hospital Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department before graduating from Kettering College of Medical Arts in 2003. Upon graduation, she began working for Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. She works closely with physicians who specialize in knee and shoulder injuries, as well as sports medicine injuries. She is also involved in the care of high school and collegiate athletes.
Shannon Urton
As a teenager, Shannon’s exposure to orthopaedics and sports medicine began as a patient rather than a provider. During her high-school sports career, she sustained a season ending knee injury which required her to have reconstructive knee surgery. What began as a nine month recovery from surgery over twenty years ago, has been transformed into what she describes as a “wonderful career path” which now allows her to help patients going through similar life experiences which she once did as an injured athlete.
Her early collegiate years were spent as a student leadership scholar at Wilmington College of Ohio where she was an athletic training/sports medicine major and a biology major. This formal sports medicine education allowed Shannon to be exposed to a wide variety of sports related injuries and their treatment.
After graduating cum laude from Wilmington College in 1991, Shannon’s education was continued in New York City where she obtained her graduate education in Physician Assistant studies from Cornell University Medical College. She chose to attend this physician assistant (PA) program because of the surgical focus which it emphasized. At Cornell, Shannon was able to study under physicians and surgeons from some of the most world-renowned hospitals such as The Hospital for Special Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and The New York – Presbyterian Hospital. During her PA education, she was active in PA affairs as the Cornell University class secretary, a representative for the New York state society of physician assistant association (NYSSPA) and was also a NYSSPA scholarship recipient.
Upon graduating from Cornell University with honors, Shannon knew all along that she would return home to the Cincinnati area to practice as a surgical physician assistant. Since her return to Cincinnati, she has had the opportunity to work in both an academic university sports medicine setting and in a private sports medicine practice. She has held professional memberships and involvement with the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, the Physician Assistants of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants and the American Association of Physician Assistants. Shannon returned to Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine working with Dr. Robert Burger in 2006.
Kirsten Babcock
Kirsten serves
as a physician assistant for Dr. Cha. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College
with a dual degree in Athletic Training and Pre-Physical Therapy. She then went
on to graduate from Gannon
University with a Masters
of Physician Assistant Stuides. She was inducted as a member of the Pi Alpha
National Honor Society for Physician Assistants. Originally from Perrysburg, OH, she now
lives in Lebanon
with her husband, Joshua, and her Jack Russel, Rex.
Megan Whitehouse
Megan Whitehouse was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky where she graduated from South Oldham High School in 2003. She then attended University of Kentucky where she earned her B.S. in Human Nutrition and Biology. Upon graduation, she moved to Iowa where she attended the University of Iowa, and received her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in June 2010. Upon graduation she worked with Dr. Jaideep Chunduri for 2 years in Spine Orthopedics and currently works with Dr. Peter Cha in Sports Medicine. She currently resides in Cincinnati with her husband and her goldendoodle Cooper.
Lee Reynolds
Lee Reynolds, PA-C is a native of Loudonville, OH near the Mohican State Park in North-central Ohio where he graduated from Loudonville High School. He then attended the University of Toledo where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Toxicology.
After working as a biologist for 1 year, Lee returned to school at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania to obtain his Master of Health Science: Physician Assistant degree. Lee joined the Beacon team after graduation and works closely with Dr. Rolf. He is certified by the NCCPA and holds a state license to practice both in Ohio and Indiana.
Lee lives in Cincinnati with his wife Sarah, a native Delhesian and graduate of Seton High School, and their Beagle, Stella. They enjoy outdoor activities together such as hiking and biking on local trails as well as attending other local entertainment such as sporting events and shows.