Piedmont Physicians Athens Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
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Advanced Orthopedic Care for Bone and Joint Injuries
Piedmont Physicians Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Athens specializes in sports medicine, athletic training and orthopedic services and surgery.
We provide orthopedic trauma coverage for Piedmont Athens Regional, a Level II Trauma Center accredited by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Our team consists of 3 fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeons and 3 Physician Associates (PA_C).
Sports-related injuries
Fractures and dislocations, sprains, strains and torn ligaments; work-related injuries; arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, overuse injuries; stress fracture, concussions and return to play protocol; nerve compression syndrome, tennis elbow, ACL or meniscus tear, Complex ligamentous injury of the knee, Shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tear, frozen shoulder, Elbow, Knee, Shoulder, Foot and Ankle, Throwers shoulder and elbow
On-site Imaging and Diagnostics
Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, X-ray
Sports Medicine Outpatient Rehab Services
Manual Therapy for Functional Alignment, Alter-G, The Antigravity Treadmill, Blood flow restriction therapy, dry needling; sports metrics, ACL, prevention and performance training; therapeutic exercise for sport-specific return to play, pelvic health for the athlete, vestibular ocular, sports concussion care, therapeutic massage
Sports Medicine Specialties
Progressive non-surgical treatment options, expert orthopedic surgery, injury prevention, return to activity planning, performance guidance, athletic training, fractures (adults and children), acetabulum, lower extremity, upper extremity; fracture nonunion, malunion and traumatic deformity
More about Piedmont Rehabilitation Services
Athletic Training Services
Athletic Trainers are health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the state's statutes, rules, and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
Piedmont Athens Regional Sports Medicine employs Athletic Trainers in 7 Northeast Georgia Schools, and supports Sports Medicine services in several others. For more information about community outreach through Sports Medicine, contact Katie Terrell (Katie.Terrell@piedmont.org) with Piedmont Athens Regional Outpatient Rehab.
- Athens Academy
- Athens Christian School
- Bethlehem Christian Academy
- Cedar Shoals High School
- Clarke Central High School
- East Jackson High School
- Madison County High School
- Oconee County High School
- North Oconee High School
Some insurance plans require a referral in order to see a specialist. If your insurance requires a referral, call the office. We will be happy to assist you. Please allow 48-72 hours to process referrals to specialists.
Piedmont Healthcare is a regional leader in the delivery and advancement of Orthopedic Services and offers a variety of diagnostic and surgical services.
Please visit our Ortho Trauma location in Watkinsville.
Services Offered
- Orthopedic Surgical ProceduresFracture treatment (all except spine)
- Arthritis surgery (joint replacement)
- Knee surgery
- Tendinitis relief procedures
- Tendon repairs
- Arthroscopy (shoulder, knee, elbow)
- Tennis elbow treatments – surgical and nonsurgical
- Non-surgical ProceduresNon-operative management of osteoarthritis
- Hyaluronic acid injections (Synvisc, Durolane, etc.)
Meet our Staff
Robert George Willson, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Dr. Willson’s areas of interest include treating sports injuries and instability of the shoulder, hip and knee joints, as well as care of overhead athletes. Dr. Willson also has experience in cartilage restoration and joint preservation.
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Alexander Reed Graf, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Dr. Graf specializes in Hand and Upper Extremity surgery. His special interests include common and complex conditions involving the shoulder to fingertip. He offers treatment for shoulder arthritis, rotator cuff tears, as well as fractures, dislocations, compressive neuropathy, tendinopathy and other conditions.
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- New Patient Visits
Stephen White, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
He went on to do further training with a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the prestigious OrthoCarolina Foot and Ankle Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his fellowship, Dr. White had training and mentorship under multiple world-renowned surgeons, and he was involved in the care of professional athletes. He has trained in a variety of orthopedic foot and ankle procedures, including primary and revision ankle replacements, all forms of foot and ankle trauma, and complex foot and ankle reconstructions.
Dr. White provides care for general orthopedic problems such as fracture care and treatment of arthritis. This care includes both surgical as well as non-operative treatment. He has a particular interest in lower extremity trauma and foot & ankle surgery.
Dr. White has been published in peer-reviewed orthopedic journals, co-authored several book chapters, and is a member of both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.
Dr. White is happily married with 5 children, 4 boys and a girl. He is actively involved in his church. He enjoys time with his family, sports, hunting, fishing, and traveling.
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Christopher LePage Gaunder, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Dr. Gaunder is a native Georgian and Air Force veteran. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, where he majored in Biology, lettered in football and was a member of the 2005 SEC Championship team. He graduated Cum Laude in 2007. He attended medical school at Mercer University in Savannah, Georgia where he was awarded the McAfee Endowed Vision and Leadership Scholarship. He then completed his residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. As a Major in the United States Air Force, Dr. Gaunder served for ten years both in San Antonio, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.
Dr. Gaunder has numerous peer reviewed publications as well as academic presentations. He has authored book chapters and has represented the Academy of Orthopedic surgeons in appointed committee positions throughout his career.
Dr. Gaunder is happily married with three children. While not serving his patients, he enjoys spending time with family, cooking, hosting church related activities and rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs!
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Elliot Nacke, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
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Robert Evan Hancock, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Dr. Hancock was born and raised in Georgia, growing up in Atlanta (Lakeside High School) and attending the University of Georgia. He enjoys all sports and outdoor activities including golf, hiking, running, and farming.
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Eric Russell Gordon, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Dr. Gordon specializes in advanced arthroscopic treatment of complex sports injuries and disorders of the shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic cartilage restoration, joint preservation, meniscus repair, complex knee ligament reconstruction, rotator cuff repair and shoulder instability reconstruction.
Dr. Gordon is published in multiple peer-reviewed orthopedic journals and textbooks and has spoken nationally and internationally on advanced orthopedic cartilage techniques.
In his spare time, Dr. Gordon enjoys surfing, kitesurfing, racquetball, soccer, fishing, golf, skiing and rooting for the Dawgs.
Eric Gordon, M.D. welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans.
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Jonathan Howard Payne, MD
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
After completing residency in 2018, Dr. Payne served four years as a military orthopedic surgeon and performed hundreds of surgeries during this time. He played a key role in bringing robotic surgery capabilities to Fort Hood, Texas and has several years’ experience with this technology.
He is a combat veteran and deployed to a remote location in the Middle East with the elite Green Beret soldiers of the 5th Special Forces Group. During this time, he performed multiple surgeries on casualties near the front lines of a war zone and provided humanitarian medical aid to the local population. Dr. Payne has research articles published in peer-reviewed orthopedic journals and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Dr. Payne is board certified and specializes in major joint surgery of the shoulder, hip, and knee. He cares for problems related to tendon and ligament injuries, broken bones, arthritis and a wide range of injuries from sports and daily activities.
He is happily married with two children, and has two miniature wiener dogs named Beau and Georgia. He enjoys spending time with family and is active in his church. The Georgia Bulldogs are near and dear to his heart as well as his mama’s home cooking.
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- New Patient Visits
Kelly Pruett Ward, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Kelly treats all sports related orthopedic conditions. He has a special interest in non-operative treatment and prevention of athletic injuries. He is proficient in the utilization of musculoskeletal ultrasound as a means of both diagnostic and treatment of athletic injuries.
In his spare time, Kelly enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He is a sports enthusiast and enjoys the outdoors.
Kelly welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans.
- New Patient Visits
- New Patient Visits
Carl Heinz Konieczka, NP
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
In his spare time, Carl enjoys spending time with family, traveling and golf. Carl Konieczka is accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans.
- New Patient Visits
- New Patient Visits
Joseph Kilzi, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Joe treats all sports related orthopedic conditions. He has a special interest in overhead athlete injuries and prevention in addition to anterior cruciate ligament injuries, which he has had personally.
In his spare time, Joe enjoys spending time with his family and sports.
Joe welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans.
- New Patient Visits
- New Patient Visits
Erin Marie Reiter, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
Erin has been practicing as a PA for 10 years. Prior to joining Piedmont Orthopedics, Erin was living in Ohio with her family, working in orthopedic spine surgery. While in Ohio, she partnered with the Physician Assistant Program at The University of Dayton as a preceptor and guest speaker. She is a member of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 kids. Since moving to Georgia, they have been getting acclimated to Georgia weather and southern food. Erin enjoys traveling, CrossFit and Ohio State Football.
Erin is accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans.
- New Patient Visits
- New Patient Visits
Paul D Schofield, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
John Gabriel Walker, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Jonathan Eric Hill, PA
Orthopedic Surgery
Office Number
706-613-5880About
He specializes in orthopedics, specifically hand and wrist injuries. He offers treatment for compressive neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. He also treats tendinopathies including trigger finger, de Quervain's tenosynovitis and tennis elbow; fractures of the hand, wrist and elbow; wrist and hand arthritis; and nerve injuries.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family along with hiking and spending time outside with his loveable lab, Finn.
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Map & Directions
Piedmont Physicians Athens Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
1305 Jennings Mill Road, Suite 300, Watkinsville, GA 30677