OUR SPINE DOCTORS

Larry Chou, M.D.
SPORTS AND SPINE REHABILITATION - Dr. Chou is the Medical Director of Sports and Spine Rehabilitation Division of Premier Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Associates, Ltd in Havertown, PA. Dr. Chou received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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He subsequently completed a Sports and Spine Rehabilitation sub-specialization fellowship at the prestigious Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, IL. He served as an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with a secondary appointment on the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Services in the Department of Orthopaedics.

He continues his affiliation with Penn as a Clinical Associate Professor and has both published and lectured extensively in his field. He is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, and Sports Medicine.

Jeff Citara, D.O.
CHESTER COUNTY ORTHOPAEDICS -
Dr. Citara is a board certified physiatrist who specializes in the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal disorders primarily involving the neck, back and pelvic regions. After graduating medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he completed an internship at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

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Dr. Citara treats both adolescents and adults in the West Chester and Kennett Square offices. He understands the physiological and psychosocial complexities involved in treating neck and back disorders and strives to find the cause of the pain in order to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan. Dr. Citara believes that the majority of these disorders can be successfully treated in a non-operative manner.

A treatment plan is developed after a detailed history and physical examination, as well as any necessary additional testing, has been performed. The plan may include any combination of medication, physical therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), as well as advanced fluoroscopically guided spinal injections. The treatment goal is to not only reduce pain, but also to help restore function and activity level.

Treatments:
- Selective epidural injections
- Facet joint injections
- Sacroiliac joint injections
- Trigger point injections
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
- Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG)
- Botox injections for torticollis

Private Practice
Affiliated with Chester County Orthopaedics 2008-present
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2005-2008

Internship
Saint Joseph's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2004-2005

Medical Degree
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 2000-2004

Graduate Degree
Columbia University, New York, NY
M.S. in Applied Physiology & Nutrition, 1995-1997

Undergraduate Degree
Ursinus College, Collegeville

Professional Memberships
• American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPMR)
• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)
• International Spinal Intervention Society (ISIS)

Zach Hauser, M.D.
SPORTS AND SPINE REHABILITATION - Dr. Hauser is a physiatrist and a partner in the non-operative Sports and Spine Rehabilitation Division of Premier Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Associates. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with highest honors. He went on to obtain his doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

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He completed his medical internship at Carolinas Medical Center and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlotte, NC. He then completed a Spine and Sports Rehabilitation sub-specialization fellowship at Premier Orthopaedics in Havertown, PA.

He also received additional training in medical acupuncture through the Stanford University School of Medicine and Helms Medical Institute. He is board certified in Sports Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is licensed in Medical Acupuncture.

Michael S. Lee, MD Interventional Spine & Physiatry
PA ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER - Dr. Michael Lee practices non-operative musculoskeletal medicine and specializes in non-operative spine care. Dr. Lee graduated with honors from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Cambridge, MA) with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with special emphasis on biomechanics.

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After graduating from MIT, Dr. Lee spent a year as a research assistant in biomechanical engineering at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA). He went on to earn his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, where he continued to pursue his interest in biomechanics. He completed his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (also known as Physiatry) residency at the world-renown Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Lee also received his medical acupuncture certification from the UCLA Helms Medical Institute during his residency. Dr. Lee then completed a fellowship in interventional spine and sports medicine at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Dr. Lee has participated in numerous research studies, authored journal articles and presented his findings both locally and nationally.

Dr. Lee is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with additional subspecialty board certification in Pain Medicine. He is a member of North American Spine Society and International Spine Intervention Society. Dr. Lee's professional interests include non-surgical spine care, interventional spine procedures, electrodiagnostic medicine (EMG/NCS), and medical acupuncture. His most current clinical interests include musculoskeletal ultrasound and its application in providing a more comprehensive orthopaedic care, and utilization of radiofrequency technology in treating intradiscal pathologies.

Dr. Lee is a Korean-American who grew up in Montgomery County (a graduate of North Penn High School), returning to Pennsylvania after more than 12 years away in Boston and New York City.

Richard Levenberg, M.D.
SURGICAL ORTHOPEDICS - Dr. Levenberg is an established board certified general orthopedic surgeon, specializing in all forms of back and neck surgery including: lumbar and cervical disc replacement or fusion surgery, revision spinal surgery, kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, laminectomy and minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Levenberg was named in Main Line Today Magazine, Top Doc edition in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

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He has also been named in Americas Top Orthopedic Surgeons in 2006 and 2008. Dr. Levenberg received Recognition of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery for the past six years (2003-2008). After receiving his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, Dr. Levenberg completed his orthopedic residency at Hahnemann university Hospital and a fellowship in spinal surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Levenberg is affiliated with Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Springfield Hospital, Riddle Memorial, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital and Roxborough Memorial Hospital. His professional memberships include the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Medical Association, Delaware County Medical Society, Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society.

Dr. Levenberg evaluates all patient concerns with the utmost level of expertise and professionalism. Dr. Levenberg was recognized in "Top Doctors" 2003, 2006 and 2008, Main Line Today Magazine.

Armando A. Mendez, M.D.
LIBERTY ORTHOPAEDICS - Dr. Mendez received his undergraduate degree from Marquette University in 1980. He was awarded his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1985. He completed his surgical internship at the Medical Center of Delaware in 1986, and completed a Research Fellowship at the A.I. DuPont Institute in 1987. His Orthopaedic Residency Program was completed at the University of Kansas in 1992, and Dr. Mendez completed a Spine Fellowship from the University of Rochester in 1993.

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His hospital affiliations include Taylor Hospital, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, and Riddle Memorial Hospital. He is board certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

During his career, Dr. Mendez has given various presentations at many Orthopaedic Associations and Societies, and has published multiple articles on Orthopaedic Topics. He has received several awards over his academic and professional career, including the Russell S. Hibbs Award from the Scoliosis Rearch Society. He was a student member on the Admissions Committee at Jefferson Medical College, from 1982-1985.

Dr. Mendez is married with four children, and practices General Orthopaedic Surgery, including Fracture Care, Open and Arthroscopic Knee and Shoulder Surgery, Spinal Surgery and Joint Replacements.

Adriana S. Prawak, D.O.
SPORTS AND SPINE REHABILITATION - Dr. Prawak is a physiatrist and a partner in the non-operative Sports and Spine Rehabilitation Division of Premier Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Associates, Ltd based in Havertown, PA.
She graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with honors and the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City.

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She completed an internship at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Sisters of Charity Hospital, and residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, P.A., where she also served as Chief Resident.

She then completed a Spine and Sports Rehabilitation sub-specialization fellowship at the Buffalo Spine and Sports Medicine Institute. She was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Medical Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services at Phoenixville Hospital and later at Penn Medicine at Radnor.

She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has co-written a chapter in an Interventional Spine textbook.

Robert A. Ruggiero, Jr., MD
PA ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER - Dr. Ruggiero, Jr. developed an early passion for orthopaedics while assisting his father rolling plaster casts in the emergency room. He would also spend time at the office assisting with cast applications, observing x-rays and discussing patient care.
He attended The Haverford School, where he wrestled for the famed Neil Buckley and earned academic and scholastic honors.

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Upon his graduation in 1984, he was voted and presented with the prestigious "Key Man Award".

Dr. Ruggiero, Jr. attended and graduated Cum Laude from Duke University in 1988, majoring in biology and economics. He then went on to receive his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College in 1992 and completed a five-year residency in orthopaedic surgery at Allegheny University/Hahnemann Hospital. Taking a special interest in spinal surgery, Dr. Ruggiero, Jr. obtained fellowship training at the Indiana Spine Institute.

In 1999 he joined practice with his father at Ruggiero Orthopaedic Associates, now the PA Orthopaedic Center, where spinal surgery and joint replacement surgery are his primary focus. Dr. Ruggiero, Jr. is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Ruggiero, Jr. was raised and currently lives in the area with his wife and their four children. He is an avid squash player who has coached his children and is closely involved in their development and activities. He is also active in both The Haverford School and Duke University Alumni Associations.

Matthew Schaeffer, M.D.
CHESTER COUNTY ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES- Dr. Schaeffer completed his specialty training at Stanford University in Stanford, California. While at Stanford, he worked at Stanford's prestigious Stanford Interventional Spine Center where he learned and performed the most advanced techniques of fluoroscopic guided injections used in the treatment of spine pain. After residency, he has worked in private practice treating patients with neck and back pain. Doctor Schaeffer practices non-operative spine care.

Kelly Scollon-Grieve, M.D.
SPORTS AND SPINE REHABILITATION - Dr. Kelly Scollon-Grieve is happy to return to her roots in the Philadelphia area. After growing up in Ambler, PA and dancing at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors in Exercise Physiology at Boston University. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

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Kelly then completed her medical internship at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City and her residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country. During her residency, Dr. Scollon-Grieve conducted research involving ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome. She also presented research at multiple national conferences and authored a chapter in soon-to-be published textbook in Rehabilitation Medicine. Upon completion of her residency training, Kelly joined Premier Orthopaedics for sub-specialty fellowship training in Sports and Spine Rehabilitation, where she has been an invited lecturer at Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems.

Her interests include, but are not limited to:
• Musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation and treatment of painful joint, tendon, ligament, muscle and peripheral nerve conditions.
• Fluoroscopically (x-ray) guided spinal interventions
• Electrodiagnostic studies (EMG/NCS)
• Athletic injuries
• Exercise prescription
• Dance medicine

Mark E. Tantorski, D.O.
CHESTER COUNTY ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATES - Dr. Mark Tantorski joined Premier's Chester County Orthopaedic Division in 2012. After receiving his medical degree from the University Of New England College Of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Tantorski completed his orthopaedic residency at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a fellowship in spinal surgery at New England Baptist Hospital.

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Dr. Tantorski is an orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty training in the surgical management of adult spinal disorders. He is a strong believer in educating patients on their conditions and assisting them in making the best decisions about their care.

He has been trained with the latest technologies and most current concepts in performing orthopaedic surgery including cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal surgery. In addition to the treatment of common orthopaedic injuries, Dr Tantorski's surgical focus is in cervical and lumbar degenerative disorders. This includes herniated discs, stenosis, spondylolisthesis and instability.

Whether its returning to a sport or maintaining your independence, Dr. Tantorski believes a comprehensive plan and active participation from the patient are essential in achieving these goals.