Advanced Practitioners

For over 19 years, the advanced practitioners of Ortho NorthEast have been providing orthopedic care services to patients and the community. The nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) of the advanced practitioner program are nationally certified and state-licensed medical professionals. The NPs and PAs work together with the physicians of ONE as part of an integrated medical team to deliver high quality orthopedic care to patients. As Ortho NorthEast has grown, so has the program.

ONE’s team of advanced practitioners are an integral part of providing care to patients in the emergency department, hospital, and office setting. From assisting in surgery to treating patients in the office and emergency department, the advanced practitioners at Ortho NorthEast provide quality care to patients in all aspects of their orthopedic treatments.

HandONE

Alex Nehls, PA-C

Undergraduate: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
PA Studies: Butler University/University of Nebraska
Physician: Dr. Chris LaSalle
Specialty: Hand & Upper Extremity

Ben Steele, PA

Undergraduate: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
PA Studies: University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT
Physician: Dr. Ward Hamlet
Specialty: Hand & Upper Extremity

Foot&AnkleONE

Cindy Fordyce, PA-C

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
PA Studies: University of Kentucky/University of Nebraska
Physician: Dr. Scott Karr
Specialty: Foot & Ankle

Bob Gibas, PA-C

Undergraduate: Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV
PA Studies: Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
Physician: Dr. Jason DeDoes
Specialty: Foot & Ankle

JointONE

Wes Akers, PA-C

Undergraduate: Huntington University, Huntington, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Jeffrey Harris
Specialty: Adult Joint Reconstruction

Andy Bollier, PA-C

Undergraduate: Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. William Berghoff
Specialty: Adult Joint Reconstruction

PainONE

Tasha Bowers, PA-C

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
PA Studies: University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
Physician: Dr. Shantanu Kulkarni
Specialty: Pain Management

Andrea Lanning, NP

Undergraduate: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
NP Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Rebecca Posner
Specialty: Pain Management

Leni Schwartz, FNP-C

Undergraduate: Indiana Wesleyan University, Muncie, IN
NP Studies: Walden University,Â Minneapolis, MN
Physician: Dr. Jon Karl
Specialty: Pain Management

Nicole Curl, PA-C

Undergraduate: Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN
NP Studies: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Physician: Dr. Jeffrey Barr
Specialty: Pain Management

SpineONE

Jason Gaisford, PA

Undergraduate: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Alan McGee
Specialty: Neck & Back

SportONE

Matt Bienz, PA-C

Undergraduate: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Jeffrey Hartzell
Specialty: Sports Medicine

Nathan Hyde, PA

Undergraduate: University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
PA Studies: University of Findlay, Findlay, OH
Physician: Dr. David Conner
Specialty: Sports Medicine

Adam Pratt, PA

Undergraduate: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
PA Studies: Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Myers FL
Physician: Dr. Stephen Wright
Specialty: Sports Medicine

Nathan Roach, PA-C

Undergraduate: Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Michael Lee
Specialty: Sports Medicine

Kristin Villa, PA-C

Undergraduate: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
PA Studies: George Washingtom University, Washington, DC
Physician: Dr. John Pritchard
Specialty: Sports Medicine

Brian Yochim, PA-C

Undergraduate: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Brett Gemlick
Specialty: Sports Medicine

TraumaONE

Kaitlyn King, PA-C

Undergraduate: Messiah College, Grantham, PA
PA Studies: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA
Physician: Dr. Jason Heisler
Specialty: Trauma

Holly McCarty, PA-C

Undergraduate: Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL
Physician: Dr. Jason Heisler
Specialty: Trauma

Ruth Poppele, NP-C

Undergraduate: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
NP Studies: Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN
Physician: Dr. David Goertzen
Specialty: Trauma

Brittney Sloan, PA-C

Undergraduate: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Physician: Dr. Christopher Vitale
Specialty: Trauma

Multi-Specialty

Lynnae Fiechter, MSN,FNP-BC

Undergraduate: Illinois State University, Normal, IL
NP Studies: Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Specialty: Multi-Specialty

Chad Higginbotham, PA-C

Undergraduate: University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
PA Studies: University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Specialty: Multi-Specialty

Laura K. Tirpak, PA-C

Undergraduate: Defiance College, Defiance, OH
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Specialty: Multi-Specialty

WarsawONE

Karen Drury, PA-C

Undergraduate: Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY
PA Studies: Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA
Physician: Dr. Leamon Williams
Specialty: General Orthopaedics

Walk-in Clinic

Jason Knisely, PA-C

Undergraduate: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Specialty: Multi-Specialty PA

Jodi Chambers, PA

Undergraduate: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Specialty: Multi-Specialty PA

Karl P. Cordes, PA-C

Undergraduate: Ivy Tech, Fort Wayne, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Specialty: Multi-Specialty, PA

Crystal Heminger, PA-C

Undergraduate: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
PA Studies: University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN
Specialty: Trauma