VERO ORTHOPAEDICS - Key Persons
Dr. Aaron Howell is a specialty-trained, board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor who joined Vero Orthopaedics in 2018. Dr. Howell has extensive training in the nonsurgical treatment of pain related to bone, joint, and muscle injuries as well as conditions of the back, neck, and spine. He specializes in advanced diagnostics, such as electromyography and nerve conduction testing, and offers the latest treatments, including facet and sacroiliac joint injections, radiofrequency nerve ablation, medial branch blocks, and epidural steroid injections.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, Dr. Howell earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He went on to complete a rotating osteopathic internship at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Howell then completed his training through a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.
Outside of his nonsurgical spine and physical medicine and rehabilitation practice, Dr. Howell's interests include outdoor activities, such as golf, fishing, and hunting, and he enjoys following sports.
Dr. Craig Popp is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spine specialist. Dr. Popp joined Vero Orthopaedics in 2017, bringing with him extensive specialized training and 19 years of comprehensive experience. He uses the most advanced techniques and specializes in minimally invasive spinal procedures, including kyphoplasty for spinal fractures, disc replacement, and motion-sparing techniques for spinal surgery. Dr. Popp uses a team approach to care, partnering with his patients to develop tailored treatment plans and achieve the best possible results.
After receiving his undergraduate degree in biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California, Dr. Popp earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following medical school, he completed his internship and residency training in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Popp then went on to complete further specialty training in spine surgery through the University of Southern California Spine Center Fellowship at Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, California.
In his spare time, Dr. Popp enjoys sailing, skiing, swimming, and water polo.
Dr. Daniel Plessl is a Harvard-trained sports medicine doctor specializing in musculoskeletal care for a broad range of individuals, from weekend warriors to young athletes, he offers the highest level of surgical and nonsurgical treatment for bone, joint, muscle, and sports-related injuries and conditions. Dr. Plessl's expertise includes minimally invasive repair procedures for the shoulder, knee, and hip in addition to shoulder replacement and fracture care.
From serving as an emergency medical technician to completing a prestigious fellowship in advanced sports medicine, Dr. Plessl has an exceptional background in comprehensive medical care. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He then earned a graduate degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg before graduating from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke. Choosing to specialize in orthopaedics, Dr. Plessl completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He went on to complete further training through a subspeciality fellowship in sports medicine through Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
In his practice, Dr. Plessl partners with each patient to learn about their specific goals and develop an individualized treatment plan to help them return to the activities they enjoy. Dr. Plessl also enjoys staying active and frequently spends his free time fishing, hiking, and playing sports.
For those suffering from sports injuries or conditions of the shoulder, knee, or hip, Dr. Plessl is available for consultation and care in Vero Beach.
For patients who suffer from shoulder disease or degeneration, Dr. Plessl provides total shoulder replacement to resolve chronic shoulder pain by removing damaged joint structures and creating a new joint. Dr. Plessl also offers the innovative Virtual Implant Positioning™ (VIP) Preoperative Planning System as a shoulder replacement option. As an advanced and leading-edge technology, the VIP system allows our specialists to create individualized plans that meet the needs and goals of each patient. To learn more about these treatments, please use the links below.
Dr. Joao (Joe) Panattoni is a board-certified, fellowship-trained hand surgeon, and he joined Vero Orthopaedics in 2018. With years of extensive training in the surgical and microsurgical care of the hand and wrist, Dr. Panattoni treats patients experiencing loss of function in the hand and wrist using the latest techniques. He is dedicated to providing the highest level of comprehensive hand and wrist care to help his patients get back to doing what they love. His expertise includes nerve, tendon, ligament, and joint repairs and reconstructions of the hand and upper extremity using state-of-the-art procedures, including microsurgery and wide-awake hand surgery.
Dr. Michele Ofner specializes in a wide variety of neurological disorders. Her interest is in general neurology with a focus on epilepsy and peripheral neuropathy. She provides comprehensive care in common neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, headaches, and many other neurological disorders. Dr. Ofner completed her undergraduate work at the University of California Irvine. She went on to complete medical school at Albany Medical College. Dr. Ofner then completed her internship and residency in adult neurology at the University of South Florida.
Dr. Ofner enjoys many activities including swimming, beachcombing, painting, and family activities. She looks forward to the opportunity to continue to provide compassionate and comprehensive neurological care.
Dr. Seth Coren received his medical degree from the State University of New York in 1973. He completed his general surgical internship and orthopaedic residency at the University of Miami in 1978. He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Coren has completed basic and advanced courses in articular cartilage injuries. Dr. Coren is also a member of the Genzyme National Speakers Bureau. He has a long-standing and continued interest in arthroscopic surgery in the upper and lower extremity joints as well as hand surgery. While at the University of Miami, he trained under Dr. William Burkhalter, one of the expert orthopaedic hand surgeons in the country. Dr. Coren has been practicing orthopaedics and serving the people of Indian River County since 1979.
Dr. Coren has been a resident of Vero Beach since 1979 and has raised two children in Indian River County. He has been an active member of Temple Beth Shalom, where he has been a past president and board member. His son received his master's degree at Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. His daughter is a graduate of Pace Law School. Dr. Coren has been actively involved in sports and athletics since participating in varsity soccer at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is an avid bicycle rider, having recently completed the Muscular Dystrophy Tampa to Orlando ride.
Hand, Shoulder, Shoulder Replacement, Wrist
Dr. Paul Paterson is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon with advanced training and expertise in hand and upper extremity care. Dr. Paterson specializes in comprehensive care for injuries and conditions that affect the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. He offers shoulder, elbow, and thumb joint replacement, upper extremity fracture care, and minimally invasive options like elbow arthroscopy. He also provides same-day, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release using UltraGuideCTR™ and trigger finger release using UltraGuideTFR™.
A New York state native, Dr. Paterson graduated from the University at Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in biology. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in anatomy and physiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He then gained his medical degree from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where he also completed his orthopaedic surgery residency. Dr. Paterson went on to complete advanced specialty training in hand and upper extremity care through a fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He is also board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Job Titles:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Jason Stack is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in adult orthopaedic reconstruction and total joint replacement surgery. His goal is to provide exceptional care and the best possible outcome for his patients. Dr. Stack specializes in primary, complex, and revision total hip and total knee replacement, robotic- and computer-assisted hip and knee replacement, and partial knee replacement. He also has extensive training in orthopaedic fracture care, joint infections, and failed hip and knee replacements.
Dr. Stack focuses on short-stay and outpatient joint replacement surgery with techniques geared toward rapid recovery. Dr. Stack performs the direct anterior approach for total hip replacement, where no muscles are cut during the procedure and patients have improved early post-op recovery. Patients can generally go home the same day or the day after their procedure.
If joint replacement is not necessary, Dr. Stack can perform joint preservation procedures and arthroscopy. He utilizes injections and conservative treatments to help ease pain and keep your joints functioning.
Dr. Stack grew up in central New York and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He then completed a master's degree at Boston University School of Medicine and went on to complete his medical training at New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center. Dr. Stack then returned to Florida for orthopaedic surgery residency at one of the busiest Level 1 Trauma Centers in the country, Orlando Regional Medical Center. He completed an additional year of subspecialty fellowship training in adult reconstruction and arthritis surgery of the hip and knee at Florida Orthopaedic Institute, with world-renowned surgeon mentors.
During his residency training, Dr. Stack triaged mass-casualty victims from the Pulse nightclub incident in downtown Orlando, Florida. He was also involved in the operative care of their injuries during their hospitalization. Dr. Stack was awarded the Governor's Medal of Unity for his service.
Having been an athlete on multiple competitive levels, a personal-trainer, team physician, and an avid weight-lifter, Dr. Stack has a unique perspective on the postoperative rehabilitation process. Outside of orthopaedics, Dr. Stack enjoys spending time with family, weight-training, football, baseball, basketball, boating, fishing, and automotive tuning/autocross.
Dr. Stack is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), Florida Orthopaedic Society (FOS), and the Florida Medical Association (FMA).
In addition to offering traditional joint replacements, Dr. Stack performs Mako® robotically assisted joint replacement surgery. Dr. Stack has completed extensive training and certification in the use of this specialized surgical system, and using Mako, he is able to offer innovative, less invasive procedures that minimize both pain and recovery time for patients.
When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Peden is an avid blues musician and enjoys sailing at various Caribbean and the Mediterranean destinations. Prior to medical school, Dr. Peden taught English in Japan for over two years. Returning to the United States, he remained devoted to his interest in international endeavors by coordinating an international health programs office for the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he was involved in several medical missions to Haiti and Central America.
Dr. Matthew Morris is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic and neurological spine specialist offering advanced care for back, neck, and spine pain and dysfunction. He specializes in the latest minimally invasive and motion-sparing techniques to repair damage, heal injuries, and ensure the best possible treatment outcomes. Dr. Morris is dedicated to helping his patients reclaim activities that bring them joy in life, whether it's returning to competitive sports or simply strolling to the beach without pain.
A graduate of Duke University, Dr. Morris earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. He then underwent his orthopaedic surgery residency training at Northwell Health at Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Hofstra University in New Hyde Park, New York. After his residency, Dr. Morris returned to Duke to complete advanced training through a combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine fellowship at Duke University Health System in Durham.
In his practice, Dr. Morris believes that most spine issues can be managed with conservative treatments, and surgery should always be a last resort. However, if it does come to discussing surgery, he prefers to use minimally invasive surgical approaches to allow patients to recover faster with less postoperative pain. He also prefers to use motion-preserving surgical techniques whenever possible in order to maintain patients' natural spine biomechanics.
When he isn't seeing patients, Dr. Morris stays active and likes to hike, ski, and surf. He also enjoys cooking and baking.
Dr. Kane is a board-certified doctor and a fellow of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Kane treats a multitude of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, both inpatient and outpatient, but is particularly interested in the treatment of spinal disorders.