(Photos by Charmaine George)
Florida Advanced Spine and Orthopedics (FASTMD) is a leading orthopedic practice with five locations throughout Tampa Bay. The Wesley Chapel office, located in the Cypress Ridge Professional Park on the north side of S.R. 56, is led by orthopedists Jonas Santos, D.O., and Andrew Corbett, D.O.
FASTMD’s comprehensive spine and general orthopedic services include minimally invasive spine surgery, injections, sports medicine and general orthopedics of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, neck, knee and ankle. The doctors can help patients suffering from back pain, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated discs and dislocations/subluxations, among many other concerns. This breadth of offerings positions the practice as a one-stop solution for all of your musculoskeletal issues.
Dr. Santos is a Board-certified and fellowship-trained Interventional Pain Physician specializing in minimally invasive procedures and interventional injections. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. He continued his medical training at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, where he completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, including rotations at Tampa General Hospital and the Moffitt Cancer Center. He served as Chief Resident during his residency. Following his residency, Dr. Santos pursued a Fellowship in Interventional Pain Medicine at USF, where he gained expertise in interventional procedures for pain relief.
These days, Dr. Santos also teaches residents and fellows at the USF Health Residency and Fellowship Programs, where he stays up-to-date with current research and effective treatments for the spine and orthopedics.
“I wanted to specialize in the field of spine and orthopedics because I feel that when it comes to surgical options, patients are understandably apprehensive about having to undergo surgery.”
He adds that he aims to emphasize that many conservative treatments and minimally invasive options are available before just going straight to surgery.
“This misconception is something that I really wanted to educate our community about,” he says. “We promote trying to treat patients conservatively.”
While he acknowledges that some situations do require surgical interventions, he is cognizant of putting patients at ease when entering a surgical practice office. The doctors work collaboratively with patients to develop treatment plans tailored to their specific situations to avoid surgery anytime it is not essential.
Dr. Santos offers injections that can help with pain in a patient’s spine, neck, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and hand. For issues with feet and ankles, however, he refers patients to a podiatrist.
He stresses that early intervention is imperative, as the longer the damaged nerves and discs exist, the greater the likelihood that chronic pain will increase.
“Some of the most gratifying aspects of what I do is seeing the relief on a patient’s face when we tell them there are other minimally invasive options — like injection therapies — that can help a lot of back and nerve-related pain,” he says. “After we are able to proceed with those interventions — and some patients feel almost instantaneous relief that they’ve been suffering with for usually several months — it is quite rewarding.”
Dr. Andrew Corbett, a recent addition to the FASTMD practice, also earned his D.O. degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton. He completed his Adult Deformity and Spinal Reconstruction Surgery Fellowship at the Sonoran Spine Center in Tempe, AZ, following his Orthopedic Surgery residency at the USF Morsani College of Medicine.
Dr. Corbett says he was inspired to follow the path into orthopedics due to a personal experience with a sports injury he sustained in high school and college.
When surgical intervention for a patient’s spine is required, Dr. Corbett utilizes a MEND (Minimally-Invasive Endoscopic Discectomy) procedure, which is done by utilizing small cameras similar to laparoscopic surgery, allowing the removal of painful disc material, clearing out bone spurs and arthritis through a small camera less than an eighth of an inch wide. This process enables Dr. Corbett to access the painful area of the patient’s spine without damaging the surrounding tissues.
“The recovery is much quicker and, in most cases, less painful,” Dr. Corbett says, “and allows you to get to your rehabilitation and physical therapy much quicker than the larger incisions used in traditional surgeries. While certain indications do still require larger surgery, we try to offer the minimally-invasive offer whenever it is appropriate.”
Like Dr. Santos, Dr. Corbett finds that the most rewarding aspect of the practice is being able to alleviate a patient’s pain after surgery and “watching them return to an active lifestyle.”
Speaking Of Lifestyle…
Both doctors stress the significance of maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity and paying attention to cardiovascular health and core strength to all of their patients. They believe in stretching, proper weightlifting techniques, ergonomic practices, and postural awareness to prevent joint issues.
“Maintaining a healthy diet is number one to keep the pressure off your spine,” Dr. Corbett says. “Maintaining physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day, and paying attention to cardiovascular health, as well as core strength (also are important).”
Dr. Santos agrees and adds that proper diet and exercise allow your body to “essentially use all of the muscles, ligaments and joints harmoniously, so none of those systems is taking on the load and undergoing degeneration.”
The doctors share an unwavering commitment to providing patients with the best possible care. At the practice’s Trinity location, FASTMD has a very rare FDA-approved Stem Cell Lab where the doctors can harvest stem cells from patients and store them for the patient’s possible future needs.
“This way, if they need surgery in the future, we can use those stem cells to help the healing process,” Dr. Santos says. “(Stem cells) can be used for a herniated disc once removed and the fusion of certain joints that need to be fused using the patient’s stem cells. We also can harvest them to treat rotator cuff injuries, arthritis and tendonitis of other joints in the body, as well.”
In mid-November, a Board-certified general orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ryan Ouillette, will join the practice. He attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI, and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch Hospital. Dr. Ouillette furthered his specialization with a fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan.
Dr. Ouillette will perform all extensive and minor orthopedic surgeries, excluding spinal procedures, which will expand the practice’s capabilities for a broader full-service range of surgical options. This exciting addition further underscores FASTMD’s commitment to offering the Wesley Chapel community comprehensive orthopedic care.
Outside the practice, Dr. Santos enjoys basketball, football, and fishing. He is the proud father of an eight-year-old son and resides in Wesley Chapel with his wife and two Pomeranians, Becky and Gg. Dr. Corbett, who has been happily married for a year and a half, is excitedly anticipating the arrival of his first child, a baby girl. He enjoys spending quality time at the pool with family and friends and loves playtime with his three-year-old mini Goldendoodle, Leo. Both doctors also share a love of fishing.
As FASTMD continues to grow and evolve, patients can rest assured that their musculoskeletal health needs will be met with the highest standard of care and expertise, whether through non-surgical, minimally invasive interventions or surgical solutions when necessary. The practice’s dedication to each patient’s well-being remains unwavering, and it is poised to continue making a significant impact in orthopedics for years to come.
Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics’ Wesley Chapel office is located at 2309 Crestover Lane and is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For appointments and more information, call 855-3FASTMD, visit FASTMD.com.
