MOTOR CITY ORTHOPEDICS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- Orthopedic Surgery Specialist
Cassandra Gil is a board-certified Physician Assistant and a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, working primarily alongside Dr. Silas.
Cassandra has been working in the medical field since she was 14 years old. She grew up in Shelby Township and graduated from Utica High School in 2008. She began working as a volunteer at Henry Ford Hospital and earned a Co-Op position at Troy Beaumont while she was attending high school. She then graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Detroit Mercy with a major in Biology in 2012. She spent the following year working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Rochester Hills and went on her first medical mission trip with her church to Costa Rica. After completing many hours of patient care, she was accepted to one of the top ranked PA schools in the United States: Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. She spent the next two years furthering her clinical skills during rotations at Stony Brook University Hospital, Queens Hospital Center and NYP/Columbia University Medical Center. She also attended her second medical mission trip in Ecuador.
After earning her Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies in 2015, she went on to work as an emergency room PA in Port Huron to further develop her knowledge in all specialties. During those two years, she learned she had a passion for orthopedics and began working with Dr. Silas in 2017 at DMC Orthopedics. She saw patients in the office and assisted with surgical procedures including hip, knee and shoulder arthroscopies, open and arthroscopic ligament reconstructions, fracture repairs and shoulder replacements. She was asked to join Motor City Orthopedics to continue working alongside Dr. Silas in 2020. She can diagnose and treat patients with various sports injuries and general orthopedic conditions. She is also skilled in fracture management (including casting and splinting) and joint injections.
Cassandra's ambition is to make sure patients feel valued and heard. She wants to make sure that any questions or concerns they have are addressed in a way they can fully understand. She enjoys building a relationship with each of her patients and encourages close communication as they go through their rehabilitation process.
Job Titles:
- Certified Physician Assistant
- Orthopedic Surgery Specialist
Colin Zaporski is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in Orthopedic Surgery working primarily alongside Dr. Knesek.
Colin earned a Neuroscience degree in 2012 from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Royal Oak High School,. He spent the following 2 years working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, where he obtained thousands of hours of bedside patient care. Colin graduated with Honors from the rigorous and competitive Wayne State University Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program. He worked at DMC Orthopedics after graduation where he gained knowledge and experience directly from the Orthopedic Surgery teaching program honed his skills caring for patients in the Metro Detroit community.
Given his skill in orthopedics, Colin was asked to join Motor City Orthopedics in 2019 where he sees patients with hip and knee problems as well as acute musculoskeletal injuries. He also assists in surgery, primarily with Dr. David Knesek, but he has operated alongside all of the doctors at MCO. Colin frequently performs in-office procedures including laceration suturing, fracture reduction, casting, and joint injections.
Clear and effective patient communication is central to Colin's practice. He finds it crucial to build a relationship with the patient - which requires learning their complete background and social situation. This helps to guide his decision-making to formulate more effective treatment plans.
Areas of Expertise Include:
David Knesek graduated from Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory as Co-Valedictorian in 1999. He then graduated from University of Notre Dame, Cum Laude, in 2003 with a major of Science Business. He completed medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) graduating in 2008. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency through the St. John Providence Hospital System - Macomb/Oakland campus in 2013 and then went on to a complete a fellowship in Adult Joint Reconstruction at the University of Chicago in 2014 with Dr. Henry Finn with a heavy focus on complex primary and revision total knee and hip arthroplasty.
He is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who has practiced in southeast Michigan since 2014, working closely with Ascension St. John orthopedic residency program along-with the DMC orthopedic residency and DMC Adult Reconstruction Fellowship program. He is also an associate clinical faculty instructor for MSUCOM. He is active within the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics lecture series speaking/presenting on topics ranging from painful total knees to management of total hip and knee infections. Dr. Knesek was recognized by his peers as a Top Doc in Hour Detroit Magazine 2018-Present.
Dr. Knesek's practice is focused on hip and knee osteoarthritis and he also treats a variety of general orthopedic conditions including fracture care and sports injuries. In addition to his skill in minimally invasive hip and knee replacement, he has quickly established a reputation for expertise in complex joint reconstruction and is frequently asked by other surgeons around the state to evaluate patients who have had problematic hip and knee replacements. As a result, a significant portion of his practice focuses on revision hip and knee replacements treating conditions including stiffness, instability, chronic pain, infections, or periprosthetic fractures. Dr. Knesek was recruited to Ascension Providence, in part, to assist the launch of their Mako Robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement program as he had years of experience with robotic replacement at DMC. He is the highest-volume joint replacement surgeon at Ascension Providence hospitals.
He is married to Michelle Legacy, DO, a dermatologist in West Bloomfield. He has two children, Madison and Jameson. He is passionate about exercise including running, peloton, yoga and advocates for self wellness.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Job Titles:
- Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
- Orthopedic Surgeon
Diana Silas is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in Sports Medicine. She graduated from Grosse Ile High School in 1999. She then graduated from Albion College, Cum Laude, in 2003 with a major in Chemistry. She completed a masters at Wayne State University. Shen then completed medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2010. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency through Mclaren Oakland in 2015 and then went on to complete a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Rochester in 2016 with a focus on joint preservation and shoulder arthroplasty.
Dr. Silas has practiced in southeast Michigan since 2016, and, prior to joining Motor City Orthopedics, was with the Detroit Medical Center where she spearheaded their hip arthroscopy program. She currently enjoys volunteering as the team physician for Walled Lake Western. She is active within the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and has lectured nationally and internationally on topics ranging from hip, knee and shoulder preservation to shoulder replacement. She was recently nominated to serve as the physician representative to the Governor's Board of the Michigan Athletic Trainers. She served as the Chair of the Physician Leadership Council while at the DMC.
Dr. Silas' practice is focused on joint preservation and sports injuries however she also treats a variety of general orthopedic conditions including fracture care. She does a high volume of hip preservation and is often utilized as an expert in hip preservation for many orthopedic surgeons. She was recruited to MCO due to her reputation as an outstanding shoulder, elbow and knee surgeon as well as for her reputation as one of Michigan's leading hip arthroscopy surgeons. She is one of few surgeons in the Midwest performing advanced hip arthroscopy and labral reconstruction.
Her practice is built around active communication and engagement with her patients. It is important for her patients to understand all treatment options, surgical and non-surgical. She believes strongly in developing a relationship with the patient to better help them navigate their journey to a more active and pain free lifestyle.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Orthopedic Surgeon, Foot and Ankle Specialist
Dr. Philip Shaheen is a Fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Reconstructive Foot and Ankle Surgery. He grew up in Troy as part of a large family and remains close with his family and many of his childhood friends to this day. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Michigan and majored in Biophysics. While at Michigan, Dr. Shaheen was a member of the Wolverine's Varsity Wrestling team where he went on to become an Academic All-Big Ten wrestler as well as an perennial recipient of the University of Michigan Academic Athletic Achievement Award. He then completed both a Master of Science degree and Medical Doctor degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine where he was a member of the Aesculapians Honor Society for outstanding service to the community. Following this, he received extensive orthopedic trauma training at Saint Louis University where he completed both a Junior Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship and Orthopedic Surgery residency. During residency he was an American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Resident Scholar and published multiple research articles.
Following his residency, Dr. Shaheen was accepted into fellowship at the renowned University of California-Davis / Reno Orthopedic Center Foot and Ankle Fellowship where he received high-volume, complex foot and ankle training from several of North America's leading Orthopedic Foot and Ankle surgeons. During his fellowship, he also completed a mini-international traveling fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at La Clinica Universidad De Los Andes in Santiago de Chile. At the completion of his fellowship, he was named the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Fellow of the Month. He has published multiple book chapters and research publications and remains involved in orthopedic surgery research.
Dr. Shaheen is excited to return home to Southeast Michigan with his growing family. He lives in Novi with his wife and children. He enjoys running (often with a stroller), biking, and spending as much time as possible boating on Elk Lake with his family. He also loves to visit with his in-laws in Florida and North Carolina.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Job Titles:
- Certified Physician Assistant
Emily Henderson is a board-certified physician assistant
Emily was born just outside of Philadelphia, PA and graduated from B. Reed Henderson High School. She then accepted a soccer scholarship to attend West Chester University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. In her junior year Emily suffered an ACL injury which unfortunately brought her soccer career to an end. It was while working through this adversity that she was first introduced to an orthopedic physician assistant which sparked her interest in pursuing a career as a PA. Today, this experience also serves to help her better relate to patients as they overcome their own adversity and injuries.
Upon completion of her undergraduate degree she accepted a graduate assistantship at the University of Delaware where she earned a Master's degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in sports medicine. During this time she completed a thesis research project which focused on chronic ankle instability in collegiate athletes. She also worked as an Athletic Trainer for the men's soccer and women's volleyball teams.
For the next three years she chose to take her athletic training skill set from the playing field and into orthopedic offices where she gained valuable experience working alongside orthopedic surgeons. It was during this time that she also made the decision to go back to school to become a PA. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in May of 2020.
Emily joined Motor City with several years of experience working in orthopedic surgery and she looks forward to continuing to provide excellent care to each and every patient that she works with. Whether it's a return to competitive sports or simply helping patients walk down the driveway pain free, Emily's primary goal is to keep patients moving.
Job Titles:
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist
Nicholas Moore is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a major in Nutritional Sciences, followed by medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is board certified in both Family Medicine and Sports Medicine, completing Family Medicine Residency at Phoenix Baptist Hospital and a Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Connecticut. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and has been selected an Hour Detroit Magazine Top Doc for 3 years running.
He sees all athletic-related injuries and has extensive experience with concussion management, diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided procedures. His clinical interests include chronic tendinopathy, Tenex percutaneous tenotomy, Sonex ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, regenerative medicine including platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy. He has produced multiple research projects and has been a speaker at a host of national sports medicine conferences, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, and American College of Sports Medicine. He is faculty for the Providence Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship and Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Since beginning practice, Dr. Moore has been active in sports medicine coverage and has honed his diagnostic skills through the evaluation of thousands of athletic injuries spanning high school, as well as Division I collegiate, professional and Olympic athletics. Most recently, Dr. Moore served as a team physician for the Detroit Red Wings. In addition, he recently spent time volunteering at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and is part of the medical team caring for Team USA's 2022 Winter Olympians. He is a medical member for USA Weightlifting and USA Wrestling. He currently covers multiple community sports, including the Milford high schools, Lakeland High School, Hartland High School, Walled Lake Northern High School, the Detroit Rugby Club, and the Detroit Roller Derby Girls. He also is active in event coverage, including marathons, obstacle course races, Cirque du Soleil, Crossfit competitions, combat sports, and the Michigan Pro Soccer Combine.
Dr. Moore enjoys getting to know his patients and is passionate about establishing strong doctor-patient relationships. He believes that by focusing on treatment of the individual rather than their diagnosis, we can significantly impact outcomes. He is married with 3 children and enjoys Crossfit, mountain-biking, basketball, and playing the drums.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Paul Knapp is a Metro Detroit native who is a fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Adult Hip and Knee reconstructive surgery. After growing up in the Rochester area, he was accepted into the esteemed Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University. While an undergraduate, he played for the MSU Rugby Team for all four years and helped lead the Spartans to the national Sweet Sixteen. After graduating he went on to complete medical school at Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and graduated with his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.
Dr. Knapp completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Ascension Macomb Oakland and Ascension Providence Hospitals. He trained in all 3 counties with some of the highest volume surgeons in Michigan. While in residency he had publications in numerous prominent journals including Journal of Arthroplasty, Bone and Joint Journal, and Arthroplasty Today. He also presented on the podium at international conferences such as International Society of Technology in Arthroplasty (ISTA). During his final year as Chief Resident, he was accepted into the prestigious Adult Reconstruction Fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. While in NYC, he sharpened his surgical skills under distinguished leaders in Orthopedic Surgery and performed cutting edge joint replacement research.
In addition to general orthopedics and fractures, Dr. Knapp has a special interest in minimally invasive anterior hip replacement. He spent a large percentage of his training operating with the use of advanced technologies, including computer navigation and is highly trained in robotic surgery of the hip and knee. He continues to stay active with research and enjoys contributing to the orthopedic literature.
Returning home to Metro Detroit has always been his goal and he is excited to serve his community as well as teach residents in his former residency program. He lives in Brighton with his wife Rachel and their two Golden Retrievers. He is passionate about personal fitness, golf, fishing, and vinyl records. Every year he and his father go to the Northern Minnesota wilderness (Boundary Waters) on an off-the-grid canoe voyage to fish for walleye and lake trout.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Sean Bak, MD has practiced in Metro Detroit since 2005. Having spent his childhood in the City of Detroit, he was recruited to Wayne State University as a baseball player. While injuries interrupted his baseball career, he went on to graduate from Wayne State University School of Medicine with High Distinction and Alpha Omega Alpha academic honors. He returned to his home state after getting extensive orthopedic experience at one of the highest-volume orthopedic residencies in the country and then completed the Charles Neer Fellowship at New York City's Columbia University, regarded as the preeminent Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine fellowship in the world.
Dr. Bak was elected Medical Staff President at Ascension Providence Hospitals in Novi and Southfield in 2021. He is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery and subspecialty certified in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. In addition to extensive experience with athletic injuries in all joints, his fellowship focused on acute and chronic injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. Dr. Bak is one of the Midwest's most experienced surgeons in complex shoulder/elbow reconstruction and sees patients from throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region with unusual shoulder dysfunction.
He is the Team Physician for Novi High School and the United Shore Professional Baseball League as well as an independent consultant for athletes from MLB and NFL. He recognizes the stakes involved in returning these athletes to an elite level of performance as quickly as possible and uses both nonsurgical and surgical techniques where appropriate to help them achieve a full recovery.
He has authored several book chapters on shoulder and elbow surgery and published multiple research articles on sports medicine in highly respected journals. He also serves as a reviewer for the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery and Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. In 2014, he completed a rigorous 9-month program in Healthcare Management at Harvard Business School. He previously held positions as President of the Detroit Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chair of Orthopedics for St. John Providence Health System and on the Board of Novi Bone and Joint Surgery Center. Additionally Dr. Bak travels several times a year teaching pioneering surgical techniques in Shoulder/Elbow to other orthopedic surgeons.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Tim Hansen is a skilled Physician Assistant who specializes in Orthopedics, with a particular focus on the knee. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, graduating with magna cum laude honors from Aquinas College. He then received a Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Central Michigan University.
Prior to joining Motor City Orthopedics, Tim worked as a Physician Assistant in the Emergency Room where he quickly discovered his passion for orthopedics. He then transitioned to working with the orthopedic team at Ascension Providence hospital, where he was later recruited by MCO and now works alongside Dr. Frush.
As a former collegiate athlete, Tim received both All-American and Academic All-American honors, demonstrating his commitment to excellence in all aspects of life. Additionally, his background in athletics provides him with a unique perspective on orthopedic injuries and rehab. He understands the importance of a comprehensive treatment plan that not only addresses the immediate injury but also focuses on long-term recovery and prevention.
Tim is committed to providing the best possible care to his patients. He is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest advances in orthopedics and works closely with Dr. Frush and his patients to ensure optimal outcomes.
Dr. Frush is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who cares for athletes of all levels and ages. He treats sports injuries in patients ranging from the professional level in all four major sports to the collegiate, high school, middle school levels as well as recreational athletes. He implements a team-oriented and coordinated approach to patient care, prioritizing the involvement of other physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers. Dr. Frush encourages his patients to take an active and informed role in their care to facilitate an open and thorough discussion of their condition.
Dr. Frush is the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Ascension Providence Hospitals in Novi and Southfield. He is also currently the director of one of Michigan's leading Orthopedic Sports Medicine fellowships. He has covered a host of athletic teams and events through the course of his practice and currently serves as team physician for several area high schools. He previously was Team Orthopedic Surgeon for the NBA's Detroit Pistons for 7 years and was Chief of Sports Medicine at Huron Valley Sinai Hospital.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and medical degree from the Chicago Medical School. He received his fellowship training at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine Research and Education Foundation, training under renowned knee and sports surgeon Dr. Frank Noyes. Dr. Frush has become nationally recognized in knee arthroscopy as well as complex knee ligament reconstruction, osteotomies and meniscal repair/transplantation. He is Michigan's highest-volume ACL surgeon and is actively involved in development of new techniques in knee cartilage preservation surgery.
Dr. Frush continues to be actively involved in research and education, having authored over two dozen papers in peer-reviewed journals, surgical technique instructional videos, and orthopedic chapters. He also has presented over forty lectures at the local, regional, and national level.
Areas of Expertise Include:
Dr. Frush's clinical and research interests involve treatment of knee/lower extremity alignment and instability disorders involving the following techniques:
Tibial and/or Femoral Osteotomy for Lower Extremity Malalignment
Rotational Malalignment affecting the Hip or Patellofemoral (kneecap) Joints
Knee Malalignment such as Valgus (knock-knee) or Varus (bow-legged) Deformity
Patellofemoral Stabilization
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction (MPFL)
Trochleoplasty
Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy
Meniscus Injuries
Primary and Revision Repair of the Meniscus, including Complex Tears
Meniscus transplantation
Cruciate, Collateral and Multi-ligament Knee Injuries
ACL, PCL, LCL, and MCL Repair and Reconstruction
Revision Ligament Reconstruction
Articular Cartilage Procedures
Matrix-assisted Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI)
Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation (OATS)
Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation
Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans
Degenerative Knee Arthritis
Knee Joint Preservation Surgery
Robotic-assisted MAKO Partial Knee Replacement
Robotic-assisted MAKO Total Knee Replacement