Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Graduation from an accredited program and passage of the national certification exam are required for state licensure. The common roles and responsibilities for a Physician Assistant at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush include performing admission histories and physicals, caring for simple fractures, assisting in the operating room, conducting post-surgical and inpatient rounds, suturing lacerations, performing cast changes, performing minor surgical procedures such as debridement and pin removals, and interpreting X-ray findings. All of these actions are performed with the supervision and consultation of the attending physician.

The role of a Physician Assistant is not of independent practice, but working as a team with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush physicians. The Physician-PA team can help to increase efficiency and optimize patient care. Frequent consultation and review of patient care, by both the physician and the PA assures that all patients are receiving the best possible care.

To learn more about our Physician Assistants, click on any of the bio links below.

• David Agbunag
• Janelle Reklau
• Jocelyn Handschiegel-Shook
• Lauren Simpson
• Barry Smeltzer
• Stacy Twigg
• Kyle Pilz
• Natalie Roberts
• Sheri Shindelar
• Kari Wise