Media Contact: Carrie Burkett 603-356-5461 ext. 2264
Carrie.Burkett@MaineHealth.org
or Tim Kershner 603-356-5461 ext. 2198
Timothy.Kershner@MaineHealth.org
NORTH CONWAY, New Hampshire—With two new surgeons joining the Memorial Hospital orthopedics and sports medicine practice, patients from the Mt Washington Valley have additional opportunities for advanced orthopedic care without having to travel long distances.
Dr. Joshua Knowles and Dr. Gregory Galvin join Dr. Douglas Taylor, Dr. David Hoeft, and Dr. Danielle Phinney along with physician assistants Abigail Lang and Doug Young in a growing practice diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, including bones, ligaments, tendons, joints and nerves.
Dr. Galvin is a graduate of the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and recently served as an orthopedic surgeon with Lakeland Health System, a south Florida hospital and health care group. He also served a residency in pediatric orthopedics.
Dr. Knowles comes to Memorial from a career in the United States Air Force, most recently serving as a staff orthopedic surgeon at David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, Calif. A graduate of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Blacksburg, Virginia) and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Dr. Knowles served at several clinical locations in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. He has also earned a number of service commendations including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation.
Knowles will also serve as Medical Director for the expanding orthopedics and sports medicine practice. “Our desire is to create a premier orthopedic center of excellence,” Knowles says, acknowledging that “A lot of mountain towns in America are the best places to have orthopedic services.”
“As a unit we’re strong in general orthopedics. General trauma, general sports medicine and joint replacements are the core of what a lot of orthopedics practices have,” Knowles explains. “But now we’ve added a surgeon with pediatric experience [Dr. Galvin], a unique skill set that is very hard to find in rural areas.” Another recent hire, Dr. Danielle Phinney, specializes in hand and upper extremities which, he says, is also unique to a rural community.
“With our newest providers – myself and Dr. Galvin – joining the existing team of Dr. Taylor, Dr. Hoeft and Dr. Phinney, our physician assistants and the rest of our clinical and administrative team, we have the ability to do a lot of joint arthroplasty and joint replacement, foot and ankle surgery, sports medicine, and pediatric orthopedics.”
One area driving Memorial’s orthopedic growth is an increase in sports medicine visits. “Sports medicine is significant because that is an orthopedics specialty which tends to focus on the unique aspects of people who are heavy into sport.” Knowles explains that athletes of all ages and skills seek treatment for sports-related injuries, and they participate in many sports. “That doesn’t have to be a young person, that can be an older person. That can be a skier, or a snowboarder, or a runner, or just somebody who likes to move and do a high intensity exercise regime.”
Sports medicine, he adds, focusses more on advanced arthroscopic procedures such as an advanced knee reconstruction, a shoulder reconstruction or repair, and ankle arthroscopy, which can all be done at Memorial. “Sports medicine is the portion of orthopedics that tends to be arthroscopic heavy but we also talk about concussion management, injury prevention, and physical therapy related to return to sport.”
Memorial’s orthopedic providers also partner with other disciplines within the hospital for a holistic approach to sports medicine. “A lot of sports medicine is prevention and education and how to optimize performance at all ages,” Knowles says. “We have a whole team at Memorial assisting athletes. We have physical therapy, occupational therapy, hand and upper extremity therapists, and we have family practitioners who play a large role by making sure the overall health of the athlete is taken into consideration.
“We help athletes get back to participation, pretty rapidly in some instances. Or, if there is a need for surgery which takes them out for a little while, we can bring them back and rehabilitate them so they can be as good as they can be in their field.”
Growing the orthopedics clinical team has also increased access for patients and reduces the need for patients to travel out of the area for treatment, including surgeries. “We are creating a system where we can care for people without them having to leave the community and travel,” Knowles explains. “There are a lot of considerations when a patient must travel for care. We are creating an orthopedic department [at Memorial] that maximizes the hospital’s ability to care for people without them having to go to other places.”
Knowles adds that while the goal is to minimize the need to travel for care, sometimes it is unavoidable. “We are fortunate to have a large group of orthopedic specialists available to us through the MaineHealth system,” Knowles said. Specialists are available throughout the MaineHealth system to consult with Memorial clinicians or, if necessary, provide treatment. “Our connections to this amazing wealth of orthopedic knowledge are a great benefit for patients.”
The Memorial Hospital orthopedics and sports medicine practice moved last summer to a renovated building on the north edge of campus. The updated facility includes advanced treatment and exam rooms and on-site x-ray for faster diagnoses.
For more information on Memorial Hospital Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, visit memorialHospitalnh.org/orthopedics or call 603-356-7061.
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About Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in North Conway, NH, and is a member of the MaineHealth family. Its hospital services include a 24-hour emergency department, surgery center, clinical laboratory, heart health & wellness programs, imaging services, cardiopulmonary care, family birthing center, oncology, chemotherapy and infusion services. Practices include primary care and family medicine, diabetes care, behavioral health, women's health, podiatry, orthopedics and physical therapy. Memorial Hospital is also home to The Merriman House nursing home, which provides senior care services in a comfortable, home-like setting. For more information, www.memorialhospitalnh.org or call 603-356-7061.