7 columbushosp.org She says she enjoys working as a part of a team to provide a high level of orthopedic care. For her, it’s all about making a difference in her patients’ quality of life. “We’re just trying to get them feeling better,” she said. Paths to medicine Munson joined CCH after graduating from the College of St. Mary physician assistant school in Omaha, Nebraska. Originally from Papillion, Nebraska, she was inspired to become a physician assistant after shadowing one at University of Nebraska Medical Center during high school. “We got to shadow a bunch of different health care providers, and one of the first people I shadowed was an orthopedic physician assistant,” she said. “I just fell in love with what she did. She got to have a lot of patient interactions while also getting to do a lot of the ‘cool’ things that doctors do.” White grew up with a love of science and practical experience fixing things that inspired an interest in orthopedic medicine. “I had that realization in high school, and since that time, this is all I wanted to do,” he said. Anterior hip replacement is another cuttingedge option. With this approach, the surgeon makes an incision in the front of the hip rather than the back or side. This allows them to reach the joint without cutting muscles. As a result, patients may enjoy a quicker recovery. “With the anterior approach, people are getting back to their normal daily activities and even higher-level activities much faster,” White said. If you have arthritis in only one part of your knee, partial knee replacement may be an alternative to total knee replacement. In this procedure, the surgeon replaces only the damaged part of the joint, which offers a much quicker recovery with less post-surgery pain. “It’s an outpatient surgery,” White noted. “Every patient goes home the same day.” Helping patients get better is the reward Munson loves it when her patients are able to return to their normal activities. “Honestly, it’s so rewarding,” she said. Munson treats a wide variety of orthopedic conditions for her patients, including arthritis, sports injuries and fractures. She provides initial evaluations, follow-up care and non-surgical treatment options, such as joint injections and physical therapy referrals. If these types of treatments aren’t helping enough, Munson collaborates with White and other surgeons in the clinic to discuss whether patients may be candidates for surgical care. When surgery is the right choice, Munson often assists in the operating room. Orthopedic care from shoulders to toes Columbus Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic has an entire team of providers who each have their own specialty. To learn more, visit columbusorthopedics.com.
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