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| Welcome to our Physician Assistant Directory |
Physician Assistants (PAs) are medical/surgical practitioners
who provide treatment and care to patients under the supervision
of a licensed physician. Each PA is trained by a college
or university in a program approved by the Accreditation
Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
(ARC-PA), is certified by the National Commission on Certification
of Physician Assistants, and is licensed by the state in
which he or she works.
PAs have been integral members of The Neurosurgery
Group for more than 15 years. Working as a member of
The Neurosurgery Group's clinical care team, PAs provide
a wide variety of services for our patients. They are highly
skilled assistants during all neurosurgical surgery procedures,
including craniotomies and spinal fusions. They perform
pre-operative history and physical examinations, evaluate
laboratory data, and provide inpatient care for our patients.
They work closely with all hospital personnel and act as
liaisons between the hospital and the neurosurgeon.
Our
PAs see and evaluate new patients in the office with the
neurosurgeon, as well as provide non-surgical management
as determined by the Neurosurgeon and in conjunction with
other members of the clinical and administrative staff
of The Neurosurgery Group.
Physician Assistants are the
only medical practitioners who are required to take a recertification
examination every six years, in addition to obtaining continuing
education credits, as a condition of licensure. Presently,
there are approximately 35,000 Physician Assistants that
practice both nationally and internationally. Great Britain
and Canada are now instituting pilot PA programs to supplement
the health care system in both countries.
For more information
on Physician Assistants, please visit the American Academy
of Physician Assistants at .
 Hampton
M. ("Max")
Ballard,
PA-C
Max has 23 years of experience, the last 15 years with
The Neurosurgery Group/Oakland Neurosurgical Associates.
He received his B.S. from Alderson-Broaddus and completed
the Yale University PA Surgical Residency Program. He is
a nationally certified surgical Physician Assistant and
is also certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support, Advanced
Cardiac Life Support and Basic Trauma Life Support. He
has a particular interest in complex spinal disorders and
works primarily with Dr. Ferraro and Dr. Bonaroti.
 Rebecca L. Bowman,
PA-C
Rebecca Bowman has worked with Dr. Baghai since 1995 as
his Physician Assistant. Prior to joining The Neurosurgery
Group/Allegheny Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, she
worked as a Neurological Physician Assistant. Rebecca is
a graduate of St. Francis College (Loretto, Pa.)
 Roger
A. Ponchek,
PA-C
Roger Ponchek joined The Neurosurgery
Group/Oakland Neurosurgical Associates in 1999. Before coming
to our practice, he was employed as an Orthopedic Physician
Assistant. Roger earned both his bachelor's and master's
degrees from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Edward D. Powell, PA-C
 Alison C. Slinchak,
PA-C
Alison Slinchak is a Pittsburgh native who joined
The Neurosurgery Group in 2001 as Dr. Oliver-Smith's Physician
Assistant. She worked in neurosurgical research while pursuing
her education. Alison completed a bachelor's degree in
biology from the University of Pittsburgh and her master's
degree is from Chatham College.
 Jonathan
S. Wasko,
PA-C
Jonathan Wasko has been employed as a Physician
Assistant by The Neurosurgery Group/Oakland Neurosurgical
Associates since 1989. He primarly works in the Aspinwall
and Pittsburgh offices and assists Drs. Ferraro and Bonaroti
with surgery. Jonathan is a graduate of The Defiance College
(Defiance, Ohio).
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