Why Do Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Work With Our Surgeons?

At Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics + Sports Medicine, our surgeons work alongside both Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). Both PAs and APRNs require a master’s degree, clinical training, and board certifications. As key members of our team and highly skilled professionals, they collaborate closely with our surgeons to ensure you receive the highest level of care and compassion. They frequently visit hospitals to monitor patients and update physicians on each patient’s status. They are essential in extending the reach and enhancing the services provided by our surgeons, improving access to care, and streamlining the process for you to receive the treatment you need.

Jake is a board-certified physician assistant. He received his master’s degree in medical science and has a second master’s degree in molecular medicine. He joined Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics in 2015 and primarily assists our doctors in surgery. He decided to become a PA because this dynamic field offered a wide variety of opportunities to participate in the patient care process, the ability to help patients and to be part of a dedicated health care team. He believes the entire team at Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart shares his focus and values.

Jake moved to Sarasota from Milwaukee at age 9. He was a former high school and college baseball player. He is married to Alexis, who also is a physician assistant. They have two little boys. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and boating. Jake has a strong commitment to community outreach and has volunteered at Hope Lodge, the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa, and coaching youth baseball.

Russ is a board-certified physician assistant for Dr. Philip Meinhardt. In addition to his physician assistant degree, he received an advanced degree from New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases in 2002.

Russ has been working in multi-subspecialty orthopedic groups since 2002 and has developed extensive knowledge and training in both the orthopedic clinical and surgical settings.

He and Dr. Meinhardt have worked as a team for many years and in 2017, Russ joined Dr. Meinhardt on a medical mission with Conscience International to Erbil, Iraq to help refugees fleeing ISIS.

Given Sarasota’s outdoor-friendly atmosphere, Russ enjoys boating and fishing, while also maintaining an active role in volunteering with various local organizations.

Bill is a board-certified physician assistant to Dr. Charles Stewart.

From 1985 to 1995 Bill served as an air force medic, which motivated him to become a physician assistant.

After graduating in 2004 with his master’s degree as a physician assistant, he worked at Sarasota Memorial hospital in emergency medicine. His career continued in cardiothoracic surgery before joining the United States Army in 2007 as a PA with the 82nd airborne. From 2007 to 2011 Bill served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and Haiti.

In 2011 to 2014 he served in the Surgeon General’s office as the executive assistant to the US Army Deputy Surgeon and was head of the Complex Battle Injury task force. His military service continued at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Fort Bragg until 2017. Back in Sarasota from 2017 until May of 2022 he worked as an Emergency Medicine PA at Sarasota Memorial Emergency Department and trauma center before joining our practice.

Manny is a board-certified physician assistant to Dr. Christopher Sforzo and Dr. Christopher Dillingham. In addition to his master’s degree as a physician assistant from University of North Dakota, he has a master’s degree in athletic training from Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

After practicing as an orthopedic PA in Texas for five years, he and his wife Jessica, a nurse practitioner, and their two children moved to Sarasota in December of 2022 and joined Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart Orthopedics.

Manny enjoys sports and spending time with his family. Together he and his wife also find doing medical missionary work rewarding and have participated in providing care in underserved communities.

Cameron is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner to Dr. Charles Stewart. He holds a master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Alabama.

Cameron joined Little League Baseball at 4 and continued playing through his college years at Furman where he suffered a career-ending back injury. Both his experience during recovery, and as a clinical nurse working with spine specialists and sports medicine, gave him valuable insights into musculoskeletal health and conditions. Pursuing a career in orthopedics seemed like a natural progression.

He and his family moved to Sarasota in the Spring of 2024 to join Sforzo | Dillingham | Stewart. With a new baby girl and three toddlers, Cam and his wife, Ashton, enjoy spending time as a family exploring their new home of Sarasota.