ADVANCED ORTHOPEDIC CENTER - Key Persons


Alex Rizzuto

Job Titles:
  • Director of Revenue Cycle Management
Alex has been with Advanced Orthopedic Center since 2011 and oversees all aspects of the billing department.

Alexxis Reid

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
Alexxis is a certified physician assistant that moved to Florida and joined our team in June 2024. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022, where she completed a Dual Degree program earning a master's degree in Physician Assistant studies and Public Health. She has been a member of the NCCPA since January of 2023. We are excited to have her on our team.

Amanda Pumilia

Job Titles:
  • Certified Nurse Practitioner
Amanda is a certified nurse practitioner who joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in September of 2019. She completed her master of science degree as a nurse practitioner at the University of Illinois at Chicago and obtained her undergraduate degree in nursing through the University of Phoenix. She worked as both an RN specializing in pediatric orthopedics and as a nurse practitioner specializing in orthopedics, particularly in the area of adult hip and knee reconstructive surgery.

Dale A. Greenberg

Dr. Dale Greenberg is board certified in orthopedic surgery with an additional board certification in sports medicine. He has been practicing orthopedic surgery and sports medicine in Charlotte County since 1991. Dr. Greenberg attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate education, earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 1986, and completed his orthopedic residency training at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Dr. Greenberg has over 20 years of experience taking care of professional athletes. He was a team physician with the Texas Rangers organization for 12 years prior to becoming involved with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He serves as a team orthopedic consultant for the Tampa Bay Rays and was team orthopedic surgeon for the Charlotte Stone Crabs when they were located in Charlotte County. Dr. Greenberg enjoys taking care of professional and amateur athletes of all ages and capabilities. He is a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

David Anthony

Job Titles:
  • Director, Physical Therapy Department
Dave is our lead therapist in our Port Charlotte physical therapy department and oversees both our offices in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda.

Dr. Gregory Gebauer

Dr. Gregory Gebauer is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who has been with Advanced Orthopedic Center since 2010. He specializes in the treatment of spinal disorders. He has a special interest in minimally invasive procedures, and surgical treatment of cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy, degenerative scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar stenosis. After completing a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, Dr. Gebauer earned a master of science in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Gebauer received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Society. He also received the Roy V. Lorenco Dean's Award. Dr. Gebauer continued his orthopedic surgical training at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. While in Baltimore, Dr. Gebauer served on the orthopedic team caring for the Baltimore Orioles and completed a trauma rotation at the Adam Crowley Shock-Trauma Center. Dr. Gebauer completed his training with a combined orthopedic and neurosurgical spine fellowship at the prestigious Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since joining Advanced Orthopedic Center, Dr Gebauer has been extremely active in the community, serving as Chief of Surgery and President of the Medical Staff at Fawcett Hospital. He is a member of various professional organizations including the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Gebauer has authored multiple book chapters and research papers on topics such as osteoporotic compression fractures, minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal tumors, and spine trauma. He maintains an active interest in teaching and furthering the knowledge base in the field of spine-related surgical treatment. When he is not at work, Dr. Gebauer enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He enjoys swimming, baseball, and golf.

Dr. Lee James

A Florida native, Dr. James received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa and earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. He and his family are thrilled to be part of Advanced Orthopedic Center and the community in Southwest Florida.

Dr. Robert Zusman

A Charlotte County native, Dr. Zusman returns to the community to join us at Advanced Orthopedic Center. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville and earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Dr. Steven Anthony

Job Titles:
  • Surgeon
Dr. Steven Anthony is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of foot and ankle disorders. He is also proficient in the treatment of fractures, as well as orthopedic-related treatment of hand, wrist, hip, and knee problems. Dr. Anthony completed his undergraduate degree at Florida State University in Tallahassee and earned his medical degree at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio, and a fellowship in orthopedic foot and ankle surgery at New England Foot and Ankle Specialists in Portland, Maine. Dr. Anthony grew up, and still has family, in the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area. He and his wife and children enjoy the water and the many activities and attractions our area has to offer.

Dr. Tracy Ng

Dr. Tracy Ng recently joined our practice and brings more than 8 years of orthopedic surgery experience providing services to the Venice community and surrounding area. Dr. Ng was born and raised in Queens, New York, where she was valedictorian at Bayside High School. She attended Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, where she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Psychobiology. Dr. Ng completed medical school at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. She then went on to complete her Orthopedic Surgery residency at Plainview Hospital, a part of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. While there, she also served as the Department of Orthopedic Surgery's Chief Resident. After residency, Dr. Ng completed an additional year of training in sports medicine and arthroscopy/minimally invasive surgery at the Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center (MSMOC) in Jackson, Mississippi, and Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a highly engaged physician in the community, Dr. Ng often lectures on the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery and frequently speaks at local and national conferences. Dr. Ng also has a passion for covering sporting events and empowering athletes to achieve their highest potential both on and off the field. She continues to work with high school, college, and professional athletic teams throughout Southwest Florida. She is currently the team physician for the Atlanta Braves during Spring Training and for North Port High School. In her free time, Dr. Ng enjoys Flowriding, surfing, and playing basketball. Dr. Ng has privileges at Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota, Health Park Surgery Center, Englewood Hospital, and Sarasota Memorial-Venice Campus. She will be seeing patients in our new Venice location at 836 Sunset Lake Blvd, Suite 102. To make an appointment, please call (941) 497-1771.

Elizabeth Ball

Job Titles:
  • Director of Operations & Marketing
Elizabeth joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2014 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations. Elizabeth also serves as a patient advocate for any concerns.

Grace Tice

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
Grace is a certified physician assistant who joined our team in October 2022. Grace attended Penn State University where she received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Psychology. During her time at Penn State, Grace was the head coach of the local YMCA gymnastics program, where she attended as a child. She continued her education at Nova Southeastern University where she received her Master of Health Science in physician assistant studies. She is certified through the NCCPA and is affiliated with AAPA and FAPA.

Jason E. Reiss

Dr. Jason Reiss graduated from the University of Florida and attended medical school at Nova Southeastern University, where he graduated in the top ten percent of his class. He spent a year of general surgery training at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was named chief resident in his last year. Dr. Reiss completed a fellowship specializing in total joint reconstruction at Pennsylvania Hospital, part of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Reiss was once selected as one of three orthopedic surgeons to present his research at the annual Joint Arthroplasty Young Investigators Conference, sponsored by Duke University Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, and American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Reiss devotes his practice to joint reconstruction and complex revisions. He is especially skilled in hip and knee reconstruction and arthroscopy. He does the most joint replacement volume in the entire county and is often among the top 10 within the state of Florida. Named Best Orthopedist of Charlotte County numerous times and the inaugural winner of the Fawcett Hospital Physician of the Year award, Dr. Reiss was the first and only surgeon in the area to do minimally invasive anterior hip replacement. Additionally, he was the first to perform outpatient total knee replacement, and the first and only to do outpatient total hip replacement, performing the most outpatient joint replacements in the area. Both natives of this state, Dr. Reiss and his wife, Kristin, enjoy living in Southwest Florida where Kristin grew up. In his spare time, Dr. Reiss enjoys boating and fishing, and he is active in nearly all types of team and individual sports. Avid University of Florida football fans, both Dr. Reiss and Kristin enjoy cheering for the orange and blue of their alma mater. (The family dog is named Gator!)

Jason M. Mlnarik

Job Titles:
  • Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

John Williams - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer

Kaitlin Georgiafandis

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
Kaitlin Georgiafandis joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in late August 2022. She hails from Illinois, where she was working in Orthopedics for several years. She graduated from Carroll University with a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies under their Capstone Master's Thesis & Cultural Competency Curriculum. She has been a member of the NCCPA since 2013. We are happy to have her extensive orthopedic experience on our team.

Lydmila Melnik

Job Titles:
  • Certified Nurse Practitioner
Lydmila (Luda) is a certified nurse practitioner who joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2016. Luda completed her master of science in nursing at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, and her bachelor of science in nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. While completing her master's degree, Luda was an RN working as a circulating nurse in the OR at Fawcett Memorial Hospital for over 10 years. She has excellent communication skills in Russian and Ukrainian languages. She is dedicated to providing excellent quality care to her patients.

MaryAnna Piekarski

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
A certified physician assistant (PA-C), MaryAnna Piekarski joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2013. MaryAnna completed her undergraduate degree in biotechnology at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers before earning her master of clinical medical sciences as a physician assistant at Nova Southeastern University. MaryAnna is a member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants and speaks fluent Polish.

Meredith McCann

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
A certified physician assistant (PA-C), Meredith McCann joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2013. Meredith was a student athlete at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, as well as at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's of arts in biology. She then studied abroad in Belize while playing professional indoor volleyball as well as coaching the men's and women's volleyball teams at the University of Belize. Meredith graduated from the physician assistant program at Nova Southeastern University of Southwest Florida in 2012. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.

Mitchell Snell

Job Titles:
  • Certified Physician Assistant
Mitchell is a certified physician assistant that joined AOC in September 2024. Mitchell has experience in orthopedics from his time at Orthopedic Physician Associates in New Hampshire. He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2022 and brings his knowledge to southwest Florida. His has been a member of the NCCPA since 2022 and we are happy for him to be part of the AOC team. Mitchell sees patients mostly in our Venice location, with Dr. Ng

Nicholas J. Connors

Dr. Nicholas Connors has served the community of Charlotte County since 1996. He joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 1999. Dr. Connors is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, fellowship trained in adult reconstructive joint surgery. His practice focuses on all hip and knee replacement surgeries including the difficult revision/redo surgeries. Currently he performs many of his joint replacements using the MAKOplasty® robotic technology. Dr. Connors earned his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed his residency program at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. He received additional orthopedic training by completing a fellowship in adult reconstructive joint surgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Dr. Connors is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and is conversational in Spanish. Dr. Connors was the first surgeon in Charlotte County to introduce and perform and minimally invasive total hip replacement surgery. He was the first surgeon in Charlotte County offering a reduced pain and accelerated recovery technique, making it possible for patients to leave the hospital in 1 to 2 days after surgery. Also, Dr. Connors is the most experienced surgeon in all of southwest Florida performing Mako robotic partial and total knee replacements, as well as robotic total hip replacements. He has been performing Mako robotic joint replacements since 2010.

Robert P. Stchur

Dr. Robert Stchur is known as "the Shoulder Guy." He regularly performs more than 600 shoulder surgeries a year. He joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2004. Originally from Michigan, he earned his medical degree, with honors, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and completed his residency at the University of Michigan. Dr. Stchur also pursued a sports medicine fellowship at the Lake Tahoe Sports Medicine Program. He specializes in arthroscopic shoulder surgery and shoulder replacement. He is in the top 5 busiest reverse shoulder replacement surgeons in the nation. Dr. Stchur serves as a team orthopedic consultant for the Tampa Bay Rays. He is a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America. In his free time, Dr. Stchur is an avid fisherman, and he particularly enjoys freediving spearfishing.