True "Aces" Orthopaedics Offers a Woman’s Touch, Too
profile Trurtepa"Aces" Touch, Too O ho edics Offers a Woman's By Scott Krady, photo by Dan Epstein isa Leslie and Mia Hamm fill stadiums and promote Gatorade… so why do the professionals who treat the famed athletes' herniated disks have to struggle to play catch-up? By the year 2010, one-third of all practicing physicians will be women, according to the American Medical Association. Yet orthopedics remains a man's sport. Perhaps it's because of the daily grind associated with fixing torn ligaments and cracked bones. No other area in medicine is as physically demanding, with many procedures requiring heavy physical maneuvers that are challenging for small-framed women. Historically, women have instead opted for obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Yet, you wouldn't know it by visiting Premier Orthopaedics, the Athletic Center of Excellence and Sports Medicine (Aces). Since opening its first office 15 years ago, Premier Orthopaedics has treated everything from back and neck pain to osteoporosis— with a staff that includes two female orthopedic surgeons and a female physiatrist. "We're pretty unusual in that respect," says Dr. Danielle Groves, a Premier Orthopaedics physiatrist. Many women prefer a female perspective. In addition, treating a woman's injuries can be quite different from a man's, notes Dr. Christine Corradino, an orthopedic surgeon at the Center for 10 years. L Such is the case with ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries, which are different in a teenage girl than in an adolescent male, Dr. Corradino states. Women and men mature at different ages, with hormones playing a critical role. "I take a different approach with young females," she says. "You're not just dealing with an athlete, you're dealing with a teen who is becoming a young woman." Premier Orthopaedics also specializes in treating ailments such as back and neck pain and arthritis—a common problem for women, says Dr. Groves. The physiatrist believes that women seek out Premier Orthopaedics to manage pain brought on by menstrual cycles, because they're seen by a doctor who understands the female anatomy and psyche. Premier Orthopaedics is currently staffed by six physicians—Dr. Howard Baruch, Dr. Christine M. Corradino, Dr. Iris Drey, Dr. Danielle Groves, Dr. Barry Finkelstein, and Dr. Josh Rovner. The physicians cover six offices in Bloomfield, Cliffside Park, Paramus, Union City, Hoboken, and Manhattan. The Bloomfield office houses the surgical center, where surgeons can perform most types of operations, including knee scopes, spinal surgery or epidurals, providing a relaxed environment for patients. Physicians spend parts of any given day in two different offices. Dr. Groves says that many women she sees suffer from back pain or other ailments due to pregnancy-related causes. Being a woman, she says, allows her to establish a unique bond with her patients. Similarly, Dr. Drey, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in osteoporosis, also focuses largely on female patients. Among all the unique features of Premier Orthopaedics, Dr. Corradino is most proud of the fact that its doctors care deeply about their patients and the community. For example, the Center accepts virtually every type of insurance, an increasingly rare feature. Why do they do it? " There are so many different levels of coverage," Dr. Corradino says. "We try to always meet the needs of the community." And isn't that what good medicine is really all about? Premier Orthopaedics, the Athletic Center of Excellence and Sports Medicine (Aces) ESSEx COunty OffiCE: 1255 Broad Street, Bloomfield PHONE: 973-842-2100 • 201-833-9500 WEBSitE: Premortho.com 32 | | Third Quarter 2009
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