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Come see us this  Saturday at the  ONS Westchester Kid’s Race at the Westchester Triathlon starting and ending at Rye Town Park.  We will be there on Sunday for the Olympic Triathlon, too, cheering on seasoned triathlete and  ONS Physician Assistant, Jason Salomon, MMS,  PA-C.

The ONS Westchester Kids Race is a fun and safe event. The swim takes place in the protected and shallow waters of Playland Beach, the bike route is through Playland Park on closed roads, and the run is along the boardwalk. The kids finish their race with a sprint down the finish chute, just like the pros!  The ONS Westchester Kids Race is great for the first timer and for the seasoned younger triathlete.  The event is sold out with 400 young runners.

ONS is proud to sponsor this 501 (c) 3 organization that promotes a love of sport for people of all ages and supports worthwhile local non-profits. Click here to see the list of charities.

Here’s the schedule:

ONS WESTCHESTER KID’S TRIATHLON

Date:    Saturday, September 22

Start Time:   8:00 AM

SUPER SPRINT TRIATHLON

Date:    Saturday, September 22

Start Time:   10: 15 AM

OLYMPIC TRIATHLON

Date:    Sunday, September 23

Start Time:   7:00 AM

Hope to see you there!

Dr. Alex Levchenko is featured in the September 2018 issue of the Westchester WAG magazine article called Compassionate to the Bone.   In the piece, writer Phil Hall covers a lot of territory, from Dr. Levchenko’s specialty in physiatry, the difference between an MD, medical doctor, and DO,, doctor of osteopathic medicine – Dr. Levchenko is the latter,and the dangers in youth sports specialization to the ONS practice-wide commitment to compassionate care.

“Our practice prides itself on being compassionate,” Dr. Levchenko says. “We run on time, so patients don’t come and wait for hours. We think compassionate care is the key. We look at you as a human being and not just a part of the body.”

Hill also describes the genesis in Dr. Levchenko’s interest in medicine, writing:

Levchenko’s interest in all things medical took root during his childhood in Soviet Russia. “My parents were teachers,” he recalls. “My mom was teaching high school biology and my dad was teaching music. We had a huge library at home. From the time I was a kid I was always interested in that. By the age of 12, I covered the whole high school curriculum. We were given an assignment at school to write about who we want to be. I decided medicine would be the best route for me. The older I got, I knew that is what I wanted to be.”

In 1994, the 19-year-old Levchenko had the opportunity to pursue medical studies in the U.S. He was grateful to pursue studies away from the political upheaval that followed the collapse of the Soviet system and Boris Yeltsin’s raucous presidency.

“It was an interesting time — a turbulent time in Russia,” he says. “I was lucky to be presented with an opportunity to come here.”

Levchenko attended college at New York University and medical school at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury. His residency took place in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at New York University Langone Medical Center and his fellowship in the Orthopaedic Sports and Spine Rehabilitation Department of Mount Sinai Hospital.

Read the entire article.

ONS is proud to announce the addition of orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon, Mark Yakavonis, MD, to the accomplished team of  ONS orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists and physical therapists. Dr. Yakavonis will see patients at ONS’s Greenwich office and at its Westchester location at 500 Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison, NY.

Dr. Yakavonis is a fellowship-trained specialist whose expertise includes foot and ankle sports injuries, fractures, cartilage injuries, neuromuscular disease and arthritis.  He performs minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgical techniques and ankle joint replacement.

Dr. Yakavonis earned his medical degree from the New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Boston University Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston MA.

While a resident, Dr. Yakavonis received the Resident Research Award for his research into a novel operative technique for reducing ankle syndesmosis (high ankle sprain). He was later awarded a national research grant to continue his research from the Arthroscopy Association of North America.  A published author and frequent lecturer, Dr. Yakavonis was named an Emerging Leader by the American Orthopaedic Association.

“ONS has been dedicated to helping patients maintain active lifestyles for 20 years. By adding Dr. Yakavonis to our prestigious team of orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons, ONS will be able to accommodate the increasing patient demand for an elite level of expertise in lower extremity conditions,” said Seth Miller, MD, president of ONS.

In case you missed it, Dr. Katherine Vadasdi was profiled as the “Mom of the Week” by the local Greenwich website, www.greenwichmoms.com.  We all know Dr. Vadasdi for her amazing talents as a doctor, but, as the article notes, she is also a committed mom to Jack, 8, and Sophie, 6.  As any working mother can attest, managing a demanding career and a family is no easy task. Dr. Vadasdi credits her husband, other family members and friends for being an incredible support system.  Dr. Vadasdi also discusses her family’s love of the outdoors and her own personal athletic accomplishments.  Read more

Jeffrey B. Mendell has been active his entire life and he plans to remain that way for as long as he can.

At 64, the athletic Bedford resident and real estate developer still plows down mountain moguls in Colorado several times a year, bikes more than 50 miles per week along the backcountry roads of Greenwich and Bedford, and plays 50+ rounds of golf each season.

“I just love being active outdoors,” he said.

Over the years, however, Jeff’s intense athletic pursuits have taken a toll on his body.  In each instance, he turned to the specialists at Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) to repair his injuries. “I’ve had two rotator cuff surgeries, meniscus surgeries on both knees and on the first ski day of 2016 I caught an edge and broke my wrist,” he explains.  “I know I’m going to have to slow down at some point…. but I’m just not ready to yet.”

Jeff said he thoroughly researched the best orthopedic surgeons in the NY area when he suffered his first injury several years ago. He consulted with orthopedic surgeons in New York City and, on a friend’s recommendation, he checked out Dr. Paul Sethi’s qualifications on the ONS website, www.onsmd.com.  Jeff was immediately impressed.  “I watched videos of Dr. Sethi speaking at medical conferences about complex knee and shoulder surgeries and was attracted to both his intelligence and surgical experience. We met at ONS and after a thorough discussion, I was convinced that he was an especially talented surgeon and the right doctor for me.”

Dr. Sethi performed a very sophisticated procedure to repair Jeff’s severely damaged right rotator cuff and torn bicep tendon injured in a high speed fall while skiing. The procedure included the use of a synthetic patch to reattach the rotator cuff to the bone and the outcome was flawless.  From that point on, Jeff has turned to ONS physicians and physical therapists to help him recover from his sports injuries.

“I’ve had outstanding outcomes from the surgeries I’ve had with the ONS team,” he said. “I send my family to ONS when they get hurt and I tell all my friends to go there when they suffer an orthopedic injury.  Personally, I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else.”

If you’ve ever experienced a long wait in an emergency department when you’ve suffered a sudden sprain or broken bone, you will appreciate the new orthopedic urgent care service that ONS launched on Monday, June 18.

ONS Urgent Ortho Care offers after-hours emergency orthopedic care at the ONS Greenwich office at 6 Greenwich Office Park, between the hours of 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday and Saturday from 12 – 4:00 pm.  No appointment is necessary.

“Orthopedic injuries can happen to anyone at any time,” said Seth Miller, MD, president of ONS. “ONS Urgent Ortho Care gives patients a fast, convenient and less costly alternative to a visit to an emergency room.  Patients can walk in and be seen right away by a professional orthopedic team who are trained to deliver state-of-the-art-care for musculoskeletal injuries.”   Studies show that sprains and fractures rank among the top ten reasons for a visit to an emergency department.

“ONS Urgent Ortho Care is a continuation of our mission to provide our surrounding communities with the highest standard of specialized orthopedic and spine care,” Dr. Miller said.  ONS is in network with all major insurances.

ONS currently offers same day appointments during business hours for patients who experience a sudden, acute musculoskeletal injury between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  Patients can request same day appointments by calling 203-869-1145.

With 25 sub-specialty trained physicians in orthopedics, neurosurgery, sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation, ONS has been the one of the most comprehensive and advanced practice of its kind in the region for more than 20 years. ONS has offices in Greenwich and Stamford, CT and Harrison, NY which offer a state-of the-art medical facility, onsite physical therapy centers, digital x-ray and MRI.  Note: ONS Urgent Ortho Care is currently available at the Greenwich office only.

When Greenwich High School senior, Alex Mozian, accepts his diploma in June, he will be celebrating the culmination of a remarkable year as Greenwich High School’s hockey star.  After leading the Cardinals to the finals of the state championship, the 18-year senior was awarded team MVP as well as the Division 1 MVP and 1^st Team All State by the CT State Hockey Coaches Association, among many other honors.  What’s even more impressive about the young athlete’s accomplishments during his final year on the ice as a Cardinal is the fact that he was sidelined during his junior year for the entire season after sustaining consecutive injuries, any one of which could have ended his career.

“Before the injuries, Alex was getting noticed by college scouts.  He was also selected for the USA hockey regional showcase camp, where college recruiters check out the talent,” explained Joe Mozian, Alex’s father. “Junior year should have been his year.”

Instead, Alex faced the daunting task of recovering and rebuilding his strength to get back on the ice as quickly as he could, working with a team of ONS specialists and physical therapists to help get him there.

Alex’s troubles began in December, 2016, when the skate of an opposing player lacerated Alex’s lower right leg.  Alex collapsed on the ice and was taken to the nearest hospital emergency department where the injury was stitched up. Once at home, the pain and swelling increased hourly. It became apparent to parents and player that something more serious had occurred.  Alex was able to see ONS foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon, Sean Peden, MD, the next morning.

Based on the nature of the cut and Alex’s inability to lift up his leg, Dr. Peden determined that a critical tendon had ruptured – the anterior tibial tendon. This tendon is responsible for lifting the foot during activities. A prompt MRI was obtained which confirmed the diagnosis.

“The tendon was completely severed and had retracted, meaning the cut edges had separated from each other significantly,” said Dr. Peden. Knowing how important return to play was to Alex, Dr. Peden performed a procedure that would allow him to maintain strength as much as possible to support a quicker recovery. He was in a cast for just 2 weeks.

Alex showed the same determination off the ice as he so regularly did on the ice.  When he wasn’t working on post-surgical rehabilitation with his ONS physical therapist, Courtney Kirellis, to regain strength and mobility in his lower leg, Alex focused on building his upper body and core strength.

Remarkably, Alex was back on the ice by mid-March, and scored a hat trick and an assist at his first game in April, which was a national championship game.  The family’s excitement was short lived, however. During his third game back, Alex suffered a knee-on-knee collision with an opponent that resulted in a lateral meniscus tear to his left knee.  Once again, the Mozian family turned to ONS.

“After the fantastic experience we had with Alex’s first surgery, Alex insisted that he wanted to go back to ONS,” said Joe. “We had every confidence he would get the best care there.”

“Everyone at ONS made me feel like I was their most important patient.  I felt like they were working with me so I could achieve my goals,” Alex explained.

Sports medicine physician and knee specialist, Dr. Katherine Vadasdi, surgically repaired the injury.  The procedure went without a hitch, but Alex was in for the long haul with physical therapy rehabilitation. Not only did he miss the rest of the Nationals tournament, he had to sit out the US hockey showcase, and all the spring and summer showcase tournaments for colleges.

Understandably, the second injury took an emotional toll on the young athlete, as he watched his peers get accepted to college teams. But with Courtney’s help, Alex regained his strength and determination to stay active and ready to play. On his own, Alex lifted weights in his basement and practiced shooting 100 pucks a day while standing on one leg – the leg Dr. Peden had repaired.

“Alex was an ideal patient,” said Dr. Vadasdi, “He did everything in his power to stay strong and positive throughout a tough healing process.

Alex was cleared to skate in August, and when the school year began that fall, he was ready to reach out to recruiters.  Then, the unthinkable happened.  A freak collision with an opponent brought Alex crashing to the ice with the hockey stick still in his hand.  The injury?  A broken scaphoid bone in his right wrist, a particularly difficult bone to repair.  While most upper extremity fractures take about 6 weeks to heal, scaphoid fractures typically take at least 12 weeks and sometimes as long as 6 months to heal.

This time Alex trusted the skilled hands of ONS’s Dr. Mark Vitale, an award-winning hand and wrist surgeon. Dr. Vitale understood how desperately Alex wanted to get back on the ice, and surgically inserted a tiny compression screw to stimulate healing.

“The surgery was personalized to Alex to allow for early range of motion and durable protection to the bone in the earlier healing periods, which is much more important to a high level athlete looking for rapid return to play,” explained Dr. Vitale.

Alex returned to the ice in October stronger and better than ever, scoring a season high 60 goals and assists to lead the Greenwich Cardinals to the state finals for the first time since 2014. And while Alex is sad to leave behind his Cardinals teammates when he graduates in June, his career will continue. Alex’s story and his post-surgical successes of the past season caught the attention of a number of coaches from elite prep schools. As a result he will pursue a post-graduate year at The Hotchkiss School, starting in the fall and his dream of playing NCAA hockey still alive.

Annual survey of best Fairfield physicians published by Moffly Media.

Fifteen orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists from Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) were named among Fairfield County’s Top Doctors for 2018, according Moffly Media, which this month published the annual survey compiled by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a respected national medical data research group.  ONS has the most physicians ranked in their categories than any other practice.

The Castle Connolly Top Doctors are nominated by their peers for talent and expertise in their medical specialties. Credentials of each nominee are reviewed by the Castle Connolly physician-directed research team, with special scrutiny given to medical education, training, board certification, hospital appointments, administrative posts, and professional achievements, according to the organization’s website.

In the field of Orthopedic Surgery, the following physicians were singled out as the best specialists in our region: Michael Clain, MD, foot and ankle specialist; James Cunningham, MD, a sports medicine physician specializing in knee and shoulder; Frank Ennis, MD, hip and knee replacement specialist, Steven Hindman, MD, general orthopedics and trauma; Brian Kavanagh, MD, hip and knee replacement specialist; Seth Miller, MD, shoulder specialist; David Nocek, MD, general orthopedics and trauma; Paul Sethi, MD, a sports medicine physician specializing in shoulder, elbow, knee and shoulder replacement; and Katherine B. Vadasdi, MD, director of the ONS Women’s Sports Medicine Center specializing in shoulder, elbow, knee and shoulder replacement. Dr. Mark Vitale was recognized as a top Hand Surgeon.

The entire ONS Spine Center team was recognized as the best in their area of specialty. Neurosurgeons Paul Apostolides, MD; Mark Camel, MD; Amory Fiore, MD, and Scott Simon, MD, were honored for their outstanding skill and high quality patient care, as was physiatrist Jeffrey Heftler, MD, a specialist in interventional pain management at the ONS Interventional Sports and Spine Center.

The entire Fairfield County Top Doctors 2018 list for all medical specialists can be found in Moffly Media publications including Greenwich Magazine, New Canaan/Darien Magazine, Stamford Magazine and Westport Magazine.

ONS physicians are board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, the American Board of Neurological Surgery or the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The physicians are trained at the most respected medical institutions in the country and most have undergone additional fellowship training in their sub-specialties. All surgeries are performed by ONS surgeons, not by hospital residents or fellows. Their focus is on exceeding patients’ expectations by providing the highest quality of care and customer service in a comfortable, stress-free environment. Although it is a surgical practice, ONS surgeons take a conservative approach to patient care. Only ten percent of ONS patients require surgery.

The holidays are great times for friends and family to get together, but nothing ruins the fun faster than a mishap or injury that lands a loved one in the emergency room. The hazards of choking on food, house fires from unattended candles and faulty strings of decorative lights are well-known, but other less publicized dangers can threaten the joy of the season as well.

Dr. Steven Hindman has been the orthopedic specialist on call at Greenwich Hospital for numerous holiday seasons. He recently shared with the Greenwich Sentinel his list of simple precautions to have holidays full of good cheer and avoid emergency trips to the hospital.

Take Care When Climbing:

When preparing for the holidays, take particular care about what you are climbing on to decorate or to retrieve a special serving bowl from a high shelf. I have seen horrible injuries from people climbing on unsafe things at this time of the year. Tall ladders with handles and step ladders are a safer bet when objects are beyond your reach than a kitchen counter, a swivel chair, or a wobbly old ladder you pull out of the garage once a year.

Keep Your Home Clear and Bright:

House guests may be unaccustomed to having pets, children and their toys underfoot. They can easily trip over the dog and break a wrist, or twist an ankle stepping on a toy. Older family members are particularly vulnerable to falls if they try to find their way for a drink of water in unlit, unfamiliar hallways. One wrong step could send them tumbling down the stairs, or crashing into a table or door jamb. Change of routine and medication schedules could further disorient elderly guests, who might experience dizziness and fluctuations in their blood pressure.

Steady as You Go:

Distractions and alcoholic beverages can also pose physical perils. In the kitchen, divided attention can lead to hand injuries, burns and severe lacerations. We typically see an increase in the number of cut tendons and nerves in the hand from accidents involving knives and slicers.

Reckless Youth:

Young people home from college can become impetuous with the excitement of reuniting with old hometown friends. Playing contact sports without the proper equipment, late night partying, and careless driving are common reasons young people end up in the ER.

The holidays are a time to be thankful for friends and family. Taking the proper precautions to make sure everyone stays safe during this time of year can be the greatest gift of all.