New surgery center opens High tech orthopedic surgery, pain management comes East

Donna Wright

Apr. 17, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Officials gathered Thursday afternoon to witness the grand opening of the East Surgery Center of Coastal Orthopedic and Pain Management at 1917 Worth Court.

The 10,000-square-foot facility sports the state-of-the-art operating suites, roomy yet private pre-op and post-op wards and the latest pain management procedures, all available on an outpatient basis.

The opening marked a milestone for Dr. Gary L. Dunlap, one of the doctors who started the practice, then known as Bradenton Orthopedic Associates, more than 30 years ago. Today, Coastal is said to be one of the fastest growing orthopedic practices in Florida.

Dr. John R. Ayres, who specializes in knee and hip replacements, joined the practice in 1990.

"I love to see the growth of any business and health care is very healthy in Manatee County," Ayers said. "We've been here a long time and we will be here for a long time to come. I was the fifth to join the practice. Now we have 17 specialists."

The East Surgery Center is Coastal's newest facility, joining the 40,000 square-foot Clinic at Point West Medical Plaza at 6015 Pointe West Blvd., Bradenton. The practice also has medical offices in the Lakewood Ranch Medical Building 1, 8340 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Suite 340, and at Access Diagnostics, 5101 4th Ave. Circle E., Suite 500, Bradenton, plus satellite offices in Sarasota and Sun City Center.

Trained in the newest minimally invasive and state-of-the-art procedures, Coastal physicians provide care for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Pirates, the U.S. Soccer Team and IMG Academies.

For example, Dr. David V. Cashen, an orthopedic surgeon, and Dr. Gennady Gekht, pain management specialist, recently performed the first spinal cord stimulator implant procedure in Southwest Florida.

The procedure involves implanting electrical stimulation wires into the knee and on top of the spinal cord along with a rechargeable battery implanted into the low back to relieve severe knee pain.

The new East Surgery Center is a big plus for Lakewood Ranch, said Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore. "Coastal is a high quality practice and now they offer outpatient surgery right where East county residents live," Whitmore said.

Other members of Coastal's orthopedic team include: Dr. Steven J. Schafer, Dr. Alan L. Valadie, Dr. Arthur L. Valadie Dr. Gregory E. Farino, Dr. Brian Rell, Dr. Avi Kumar, Dr. Daniel S. Lamar and Dr. Daniel Murawski.

Other members of the Pain Management and Rehabilitation team include Dr. Lora L. Brown, Dr. Richard H. Bundschu, Dr. Nilesh Patel, Dr. Laura Ottaviani and Dr. Andrew Gross.

The new surgery center is also helping to boost the local job market, creating 30 new staffing positions. All but eight have been filled, said Sara Gaines, Coastal's spokeswoman. The center expects to serve its first pain management patients in early May and its first orthopedic patients in July, Gaines said.

For more information, call 792-1404, ext. 1249 or visit www.coastalorthopedics.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0027-34203366