SPORTS MEDICINE NORTH - Key Persons
Benjamin J. Schwartz, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of arthritis of the hip and knee, including total joint replacement and revision. Dr. Schwartz attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where he was one of a select group of incoming freshman designated as a James Monroe Scholar. After graduating with high honors from William & Mary, Dr. Schwartz attended the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, graduating in the top 10% of his class.
Following his medical school training, Dr. Schwartz performed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Boston Medical Center where his research involving the treatment of hip fractures in the elderly and athletic activity after total joint replacement earned him the Lahey Clinic Resident Research Award during his chief resident year. After completing his residency, Dr. Schwartz performed a fellowship at the prestigious Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic in Alexandria, VA, during which he spent a year focusing solely on the treatment of hip and knee arthritis. Dr. Schwartz trained under pioneers of modern hip and knee replacement including Dr. Charles Engh, M.D., a world-renowned surgeon who pioneered the use of cementless implants in total hip arthroplasty, and Gerard Engh, M.D., one of the world's foremost experts in partial knee replacement.
Dr. Schwartz obtained his certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) in 2010 and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as both the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) and International Congress of Joint Replacement (ICJR), two specialty societies focused on the treatment of hip and knee problems. In 2014, Dr. Schwartz became the first doctor to be named Physician of the Year (Clinical Excellence) for Columbus Regional Health. He was once again recognized for exceptional patient care in 2015 upon receiving the Partners Healthcare Award for Clinical Excellence and Professionalism. Dr. Schwartz remains engaged with national leaders in hip and knee replacement by serving as a publication reviewer for The Journal of Arthroplasty and member of the AAHKS Public Relations Committee. In 2018, Dr. Schwartz was named the first Medical Director of Orthopedic Services for Anna Jaques Hospital.
As one of two fellowship-trained total joint surgeons at Sports Medicine North, Dr. Schwartz's focus is on cutting-edge advancements in hip and knee replacement surgery, including rapid recovery protocols for faster return to activity, multimodal pain management to reduce the need for postoperative pain medication, and robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement (MAKOplasty). Starting in 2018, Dr. Schwartz will be performing outpatient hip and knee replacements on select healthy patients. He is the only surgeon on the North Shore (and one of only a handful of surgeons nationally) trained in the muscle-sparing Direct Superior Approach (DSA) to total hip replacement, which affords the rapid recovery of the anterior approach without the added risks of femur fracture, increased blood loss, nerve injury, and early implant failure.
Dr. Schwartz is excited to return to the Boston area and join the excellent team of providers at Sports Medicine North. While Dr. Schwartz is specially trained to treat complex surgical problems of the hip and knee, the main goal of his practice is to develop a close relationship with his patients and provide clear and concise understanding of the patient's problem and spectrum of treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical. His practice philosophy leans heavily on the idea that successful treatment is dependent on a strong doctor-patient relationship and the ability of the patient to be an active participant in their care.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Trainer
- Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Zoric has been very active in the orthopedic sports medicine world. While in Vail, he served as team physician for the U.S. National Snowboard Team and the U.S. National Ski Team, traveling with both teams during the 2007 - 2008 World Cup season. He also worked as an assistant physician for the Denver Broncos during the 2007 - 2008 season. He has been a team physician for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team since 2008 and was the team physician as they made their way to gold in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Women's World Cup.
Dr. Zoric keeps U.S. Soccer Women's National Team safe
Dr. Zoric Shares Tips to Prevent Ski Injuries on the Slopes & is Featured in Boston Magazine
Dr. Kevin Bernard is a fellowship-trained interventional pain management doctor specializing in nonsurgical spine and sports medicine care. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Bernard enjoys helping patients get back to the things that are important to them, whether that means watching their grandkids, playing sports, or getting back to work after an injury. Dr. Bernard offers patient-centered pain management options, and he uses the most advanced nonsurgical methods in treating joint and spine-related pain. He works with his patients in developing an evidence-based treatment plan that includes patient preferences and core values. Treatment goals are centered on improving a patient's quality of life and overall function.
Dr. Bernard grew up in Atlanta and attended Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he graduated with a degree in biomedical science. He completed medical school at The University of Alabama Birmingham School of Medicine. During his time there, Dr. Bernard pursued his interests in sports medicine and became involved with the Alabama Crimson Tide championship football team by assisting team physicians. During his physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health, he continued to develop an interest in musculoskeletal care through a myriad of activities, which included medical coverage for the Special Olympics, the New York City and Brooklyn marathons, and local high school football games in New York. Dr. Bernard later completed a spine fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and stayed on as a staff physician in The Spine Center, conducting research through the Libert Family Spine Institute. In this role, he evaluated and treated cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions of the spine in addition to other disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including hip, knee, and shoulder conditions.
Dr. Bernard is an expert in providing care for patients of all activity levels, including weekend warriors as well as high school, college, and professional athletes. Dr. Bernard proudly cares for our military, local police officers, firefighters, and all first responders. Dr. Bernard has presented and lectured nationally on topics related to the spine and published multiple book chapters on spine and musculoskeletal pain conditions.
Dr. Bernard currently offers patient appointments in Peabody, Beverly, and Newburyport. When he isn't caring for patients, Dr. Bernard stays active and enjoys winter sports, such as snowboarding.
Job Titles:
- Certified and Fellowship - Trained Orthopedic Surgeon
- Team Physician
Dr. Steve Mattheos is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at Sports Medicine North. He specializes in minimally-invasive surgical techniques involving the knee and shoulder. Dr. Mattheos' clinical interests include arthroscopic and robotic surgery of the knee and shoulder.
A graduate of Amherst College and University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Mattheos completed his orthopedic surgery training at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, which included Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He then completed a fellowship in sports medicine at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, where he was involved in caring for the Boston Celtics.
He was raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, and graduated valedictorian of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He speaks Greek fluently. He has been a speaker at multiple conferences, predominantly on topics involving meniscal repair, ACL reconstruction, calcific tendonitis of the shoulder, and robot-assisted partial and total knee replacement. He has been instrumental in bringing the robotic technology as it relates to orthopedic surgery to the North Shore of Massachusetts. Through the use of these technologies, Dr. Mattheos is able to create virtual preoperative treatment plans to better predict surgical outcomes and then execute those plans in the operating room. This form of precision medicine leads to more personalized care and more predictable outcomes for patients. He utilizes such techniques for treating orthopedic problems related to sports, as well as work-related injuries, traumas, and degenerative conditions, like arthritis.
In addition to his responsibilities at Sports Medicine North, Dr. Mattheos is the team physician for several local high schools, including Newburyport High School and Central Catholic High School.
Job Titles:
- Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Dr. Wojciech Bulczynski is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries that occur from traumatic events. From fractures to dislocations and other acute bone, joint, and muscle injuries, Dr. Bulczynski makes every effort to get his patients back to their active lifestyles as quickly and safely as possible.
At the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science in Canada, Dr. Bulczynski earned his undergraduate degree. He remained in Toronto to complete his Doctor of Medicine degree at University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine and underwent an orthopedic surgery residency at McGill University in Montreal. He then finished two spine surgery fellowships, spending his first year at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, and his second at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Dr. Bulczynski is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Massachusetts Spine Study Group, and the North American Spine Society. He is on call 40 weekends a year and sees patients' initial trauma injuries in the hospital and then follows up with them in the Peabody office two half-days during the week.
Job Titles:
- Receives NSMC Physician of Excellence Award!
Dr. Evans specializes in the management of knee and sports injuries. Dr. Evans focuses his practice on complex knee problems. He is trained in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques of the knee including ligament reconstruction, cartilage restoration, and joint replacement surgery. He, along with Drs. Fehnel, O'Holleran, and Polansky, cover many of the school teams on the North Shore.
Dr. Evans is board-certified in orthopedic surgery.
Dr. O'Holleran is part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and the New England Shoulder and Elbow Society (NESES). In 2007, he was one of three physicians nationally chosen by AOSSM for a sports medicine traveling fellowship. His program was in Southeast Asia, where he lectured, performed surgery and participated in talks and panel discussions. Following the fellowship's completion, Dr. O'Holleran was inducted into the parent international organization, Magellan Orthopaedic Society.
As the founder of Sports Medicine North, Dr. Polansky has spent over 20 years caring for the residents of the North Shore. Board-certified and fellowship-trained in orthopedic surgery, he focuses on the shoulder and knee. This includes injuries (athletic and workplace) and arthritic conditions. Dr. Polansky has vast experience in both arthroscopic surgical procedures and joint replacement of the knee and shoulder.
Board-certified and fellowship-trained in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Shore specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of back and neck disorders. He is a clinical instructor in the department of orthopedics at the Tufts Medical Center, and he has advanced training in minimally invasive spinal procedures as well as complex spinal reconstruction. Dr. Shore has been intricately involved in the development of some of the most successful minimally invasive implants currently being used by spine surgeons around the world.
Dr. Karbassi is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle reconstruction. He grew up in Malden, Massachusetts, where he played organized baseball as a catcher for 10 years. After graduating with honors from Malden Catholic High School, he was accepted to Boston University as a Medeiros scholar, which is an academic merit scholarship. He graduated from the dual degree program at BU with bachelor's degrees in both human physiology and biochemistry/molecular biology. He then underwent additional training at the Boston University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, where he completed dual master's degrees in public health and medical sciences.
Dr. Evans specializes in both minimally invasive and nonoperative treatment of chronic and acute pain management. Dr. Evans is a member of the spine team at Sports Medicine North. He is fellowship-trained in interventional pain management, is an anesthesiologist, and has training in osteopathic manipulation.
Dr. Evans is board-eligible in anesthesiology and pain management.
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Kyle Lacy, M.D., M.S., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in treating arthritis of the hip and knee. Dr. Lacy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Master of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. He went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Following his medical school training, Dr. Lacy continued with his orthopedic surgery residency training at the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University. After completing his residency, Dr. Lacy then underwent fellowship training in adult hip and knee reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. During his fellowship year at Massachusetts General Hospital, he focused on performing primary and revision hip and knee replacement surgeries. There, he trained under Andrew Freiberg, M.D., a world leader in the innovation and design of hip and knee replacement implants, known for his contributions to implant design and the development of highly-crosslinked polyethylene, a wear-resistant plastic used in hip and knee replacements that has become the gold standard world-wide.
Dr. Lacy has conducted research on cartilage biomechanics of the knee at the Detroit Medical Center Orthopaedic Laboratory. He has also led clinical studies related to hip replacement as a fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. He has authored and co-authored numerous orthopedic publications and book chapters, focusing on surgery of the hip and knee.
Dr. Lacy is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). He also serves as the quality director for the Orthopaedic Joint Replacement Service Line at Beverly Hospital. He works closely with the Preoperative Optimization Clinic at Beverly Hospital to identify patient risk factors prior to surgery, to modify those risk factors, and thereby decrease the risk associated with surgery for his patients. Dr. Lacy also implements multimodal pain management protocols to decrease post-operative pain and reduce the need for narcotic pain medications for his patients following hip or knee replacement surgery. This approach allows for rapid recovery following surgery. For select patients who are properly optimized, Dr. Lacy performs outpatient total joint replacement surgery, whereby patients are able to be safely discharged to home the same day of surgery.
Dr. Lacy specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hip and knee arthritis and avascular necrosis, as well as infections and fractures of the hip and knee. He performs total hip and total knee replacement (arthroplasty) surgeries, as well as partial knee replacement surgeries. His fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital has given him the experience necessary to tackle complex revision hip and knee replacement surgeries as well. He also performs arthroscopic knee joint preservation procedures. He provides nonoperative treatments, such as hip and knee injections, and reserves surgery as an option only after nonoperative treatments have been attempted.
Dr. Prokopis is an orthopedic surgeon who concentrates his practice entirely on problems in the hand and upper extremity. Originally from Boston, he received his bachelor of arts degree at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He then completed his master of arts degree at the Boston University School of Medicine where he did basic science research in immunology for his master's thesis. Before medical school, he was a high school science teacher in Marblehead, MA.
Dr. Ozuna is a graduate of Harvard Medical School, the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, and the UCLA Medical Center spine surgery fellowship. He is an expert on the treatment of back and neck disorders. Dr. Ozuna uses ad vanced techniques such as minimally invasive microsurgery and complex spinal reconstruction. He is actively involved in research and some of the most successful worldwide spinal implant developments. He also has been elected as one of the Best Doctors in America from 2006 to present.
Dr. Ozuna is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Job Titles:
- Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Robert Spang is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in both advanced shoulder reconstruction and sports medicine. He treats any and all conditions related to the shoulder, knee, and sports medicine. Special interests in the shoulder include arthroscopic reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, instability, biceps injuries, and total shoulder replacement. Special interests in the knee include arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, meniscal injury, cartilage repair, patellofemoral disorders, joint preservation, and partial and total knee replacements.
Dr. Spang grew up nearby in Wakefield as the oldest of four siblings. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover on a Phelps athletic and academic scholarship and played football, hockey, and baseball. His education continued at Harvard University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. He studied Russian and Spanish, published cancer-related research, and played rugby.
Dr. Spang then attended Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha for graduating among the top of his class. He conducted research on ACL reconstruction and shoulder instability under the mentorship of the renowned William N. Levine, M.D., and Christopher S. Ahmad, M.D., head team physician for the New York Yankees.
After Columbia, Dr. Spang was accepted to the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, where he studied orthopedics for five years at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He worked at the Boston VA hospital as well. He was selected chief resident of Beth Israel Hospital, and was chosen for the Best Basic Science Research Award on graduation.
Dr. Spang was then accepted to the sports and shoulder fellowship at the world-famous Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, which was nationally ranked number one in orthopedics in 2019 for the tenth consecutive year. He was trained by a staff of over 30 knee and shoulder specialists, including world-famous Drs. Russell Warren, David Altchek, Thomas Wickiewicz, Scott Rodeo, Bryan Kelly, and others.
While in New York, Dr. Spang was the assistant team physician for the New York Giants. He traveled with the team and cared for players on the sidelines and at training camp as well as participated in the NFL Combine. He was also an assistant team physician for the New York Red Bulls professional soccer team and cared for the Rugby United New York professional rugby team. His fellowship mentors are the team physicians for the New York Giants, New York Mets, New York Rangers, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, New York Red Bulls, the US Open tennis tournament, the US Olympic swimming team, and several Division I colleges.
Dr. Spang has published numerous scientific articles and is active in several studies. He has presented research at national and regional meetings.
Dr. Spang's interests include snowboarding, playing golf, and spending time with family down the Cape, boating locally or "up north." Despite his time with the Yankees and New York Giants team doctors, he remains an avid Boston sports fan.