Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Hydration


Michael Yurkewicz, DO
Adequate hydration prior, during and after exercise is of upmost importance to avoid potential complications of dehydration. As we exercise our body produces heat, in order for our body to dissipate the heat created, we begin to sweat, thus losing water. This loss of water can lead to serious complications if one is not properly hydrated, replacing what is lost. Such complications can include muscle breakdown, and kidney failure. Studies have been done in collegiate athletes, weighing football offensive lineman before and after practice. They found that during vigorous exercise they would lose 2-3 lbs. of water weight. Thus they found and began emphasizing replacing this water loss after practice to equal out the amount lost.

For every 1lb lost, one should consume 16oz of fluid, preferably water. Do not wait until you feel thirsty, as thirst is a late manifestation, and it could be too late. And remember to take frequent breaks to allow for hydration during exercise.

Adequate hydration is important regardless of the activity, but when combined with environmental factors such as high temperature, its importance is greater. When the temperature and humidity rise, our body’s natural ability to dissipate heat becomes impaired, this we are unable to get rid of the extra heat produced by our working muscles. This can lead to mild symptoms such as cramps, and heat exhaustion, to potentially devastating heat stroke. Symptoms can include but not limited to, muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, mental status changes, and elevated rectal temp.

If symptoms do arise, promptly remove from environment, orally rehydrate, apply ice to head, under arms and groin, and get to medical facility for prompt evaluation.

Michael Yurkewicz, DO
PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Fellow

Friday, November 14, 2014

Sports Medicine Fellowship Program

Michael Yurkewicz, DO

Dr. Yurkewicz is board certified in Family Practice and is currently completing his one-year Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at the PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Center.

Dr. Yurkewicz received his Medical Degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He completed his Family Practice residency through PinnacleHealth and during his third year he was the chief resident.  Dr. Yurkewitzh received his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College, where he obtained a B.S. in Biology.


Over the past three and half years, Dr. Yurkewicz has covered many sporting events, including local high school football games, the Keystone State Games, Lebanon Valley College Ice Hockey team, Lacrosse and Injury Clinic, as well as conducting numerous pre-participation sports physicals. When not at the PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Center, he is the team physician for Bishop McDevitt High School, under the direction of the Sports Medicine Program Director, Dr. Michael Cordas. 


Friday, October 17, 2014

2014 Football Season Support from Primary Care Physicians

The Pinnacle Health Sports Medicine team is excited to kick off the 2014 High School football season.  We would also like to extend a special thank you to all the orthopedic and family medicine residents who assist at the local high school football games.

Primary care sports medicine attending physicians include:

Michael Cordas, DO

Dr. Cordas is board certified in Family Practice and Sports Medicine and is the chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission and an advisory member of the National Athletic Trainers Association.

 Along with this background, he is medical director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program at PinnacleHealth and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. Dr. Cordas was also the team physician for Penn State’s football and wrestling teams.

 Dr. Cordas adds extensive Sports Medicine experience to the PinnacleHealth orthopedic team that has been treating athletes from the weekend warrior to the professional level for many years.  PinnacleHealth surgeons perform more joint replacements than any other hospital in our expanded region and are in the top 1% of volumes for the state.


Amy  Zellers, DO
Dr. Zellers graduated magna cum laude from Lebanon Valley College in 2000 with a B.S. in Biology.  She attended medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania and completed her residency training in Family Practice at Pinnacle Health systems in Harrisburg, Pa.  She also completed PinnacleHealth System’s primary care sports medicine fellowship and is board certified in both Family Medicine and Primary Care Sports Medicine.  She is a partner in Family Practice Center, PC and maintains an office practice in Steelton, Pa.  She is on staff at PinnacleHealth Systems and serves as the Assistant Program Director for PinnacleHealth System’s family medicine residency and primary care sports medicine fellowship.

Currently Dr. Zellers serves as the Chairman of the Department of family medicine for PinnacleHealth.  She also works with the PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Institute and the PinnacleHealth System’s Spine Center of Excellence.

In addition Dr. Zellers is the physician for the Central Dauphin School district and the Harrisburg Area Community College as well as for Lebanon Valley College and the Harrisburg Stampede.   She provides medical coverage for the Keystone State Games and the annual Big 33 Football Classic.  She is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Zellers resides in Harrisburg with her husband Eric Shrader and their 6 year old twin boys Chase and Alex.


Matthew F. Wilson, DO
Dr. Wilson was born and educated in Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Science from Juniata College and Doctoral of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Family Medicine residency at Memorial Hospital in York, PA and went on to obtain a Sports Medicine Fellowship from PinnacleHealth.

Dr. Wilson is dual-board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. He enjoys practicing osteopathic manipulative medicine, which he incorporates into his Sports Medicine practice.  As a part of his practice, as well, Dr. Wilson covers high school football on the sidelines during games and is happy to see sports injuries in his office.

Dr. Wilson has lived in South Central PA with his family for the past seven years. His hobbies include running marathons, skiing, watching football and gardening.

2014 Football Season Support from Orthopedic Surgeons

The Pinnacle Health Sports Medicine team is excited to kick off the 2014 High School football season. We would also like to extend a special thank you to all the orthopedic and family medicine residents who assist at the local high school football games.

Orthopedic Surgeons are comprised of orthopedic surgeons from Arlington Orthopedics and the Orthopedic Institute of PA (OIP):

Timothy S. Ackerman, DO
Dr. Timothy Ackerman is a Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon who practices general orthopedics, fracture care, and has specific interests in all-arthroscopic shoulder procedures including rotator cuff repairs and stabilization procedures for labral tears and instability.  He also focuses on arthroscopic knee procedures including Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstructions as well as arthritis and meniscus surgery.  Dr. Ackerman’s practice also includes joint replacement surgery on the shoulder and knee.  He is one of the only orthopedic surgeons in the Harrisburg area who completed a Sports Medicine / Arthroscopy Fellowship.  Dr. Ackerman is also one of the only surgeons in the area to perform all arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery.

Dr. Ackerman received his undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).  He then completed his Internship and Residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at Pinnacle Health Hospitals in Harrisburg.  Dr. Ackerman decided to receive advanced and specialized training and completed a one year Fellowship Training Program in Sports Medicine / Arthroscopy at the Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. During his fellowship training, he worked with the Team Physicians and participated in the care of the Philadelphia Eagles Professional Football Team, the Philadelphia Flyers Professional Hockey Team, the Philadelphia Phantoms Hockey Team, as well as Drexel University and Rutgers University. While working with the Eagles, he traveled with the team and provided care to the athletes which included a trip to the Super Bowl.

Dr. Ackerman joined The Arlington Group in 2005 and currently serves as Team Orthopedic Surgeon for Steelton – Highspire High School.  He is also the Team Physician and Orthopedic Surgeon for Penn State University Harrisburg Campus and Lebanon Valley College.  He also provides orthopedic care and is an Orthopedic Consultant for several local area high schools.

Dr. Ackerman lives in Harrisburg with his wife, Jami.


John R. Frankeny II, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Frankeny attended Penn State University where he graduated first in his class with a BS in biology and a BA in psychology.  He then earned a Master’s degree in sports medicine and applied physiology at the University of California, Davis. He received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, where he received the top award at graduation as the student who best exemplified the academic and caring aspects of medicine. He then served as an intern and resident in Orthopedic Surgery at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. After a sports medicine traveling fellowship in Asia, he began a general orthopedic practice with the Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania in 1991. He now serves as their CEO/Executive Director.

Dr. Frankeny is board certified. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society. He is on the Board of Directors at the Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society. He currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and is an instructor in the Department of Orthopedics at Pinnacle Health System.

Dr. Frankeny has been named to the “Best Doctors, Inc.” for years 2002 to present.

He has served as the team orthopedist for the Harrisburg Senators baseball team and several high school football teams. He has done orthopedic mission work in Haiti.

He resides with his wife on their farm in Juniata County and enjoys the frequent visits of his children and grandchildren. He relaxes by doing farm chores, reading, and exercise. He is a Monday morning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Steven M. DeLuca, DO., MS.
Dr. DeLuca received his bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College, where he was an All-American football player in 1995.  He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine before joining OIP in 2007.

Dr. DeLuca is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Osteopathic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Osteopathic Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, North American Spine Society and Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society. Dr. DeLuca is the recipient of the 2007 Bob Green, DO. Memorial Award, which is given annually to the DO. orthopedic surgeon who achieved the highest combined score in the written and oral board certification examination.

A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Dr. DeLuca currently resides in Mechanicsburg with his wife, Amy, and their three children.


Matthew Kelly, MD
Dr. Kelly attended medical school at Penn State College of Medicine and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He served as a surgeon in the United States Army for five years during which he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Belvoir and Iraq. He also completed a surgery fellowship in Sydney, Australia, where he received additional training in rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement and instability surgery. He joined OIP in 2010.

Dr. Kelly is certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery. As a sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Kelly has extensive experience in ACL reconstruction, meniscus surgery and other procedures related to athletic injuries.

Dr. Kelly lives in Hummelstown with his wife and their four sons. He enjoys running, exercise, soccer and skiing. He is involved with his kids' activities, serves as an adult Cub Scouts leader and is the team surgeon for the Palmyra Cougars. He is also the current orthopedic team doctor for the Harrisburg Heat.


Adam Buerk, DO
Dr. Buerk attended The Pennsylvania State University, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his orthopedic training at the Pinnacle Health System where he scored among the highest in the nation on his orthopedic training examinations. He is a native of the mid-state area having graduated from Hershey High School in 1993.

Dr. Buerk is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, American Osteopathic Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association, North American Spine Society and Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society.

Dr. Buerk currently resides in Hummelstown with his wife Erin, a fifth grade teacher in the Derry Township School District, and their 3 daughters. Having over ten years of formal construction training, Dr. Buerk continues to enjoy construction projects, woodworking and home remodeling. He also enjoys all outdoor activities including mountain biking, road cycling, swimming, hiking and fishing.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

2014 High School Football Season

The Pinnacle Health Sports Medicine team is excited to kick off the 2014 High School football season. Our team of attending physicians and resident physicians will be working the sidelines of 10 local high schools this fall. The schools that are affiliated with our program this year are:  Big Spring High School, Bishop McDevitt High School, Halifax High School, Harrisburg High School, Line Mountain High School, Newport High School, Steelton-Highspire High School, Susquenita High School, Upper Dauphin High School and Williams Valley High School. 

Our team of attending physicians is comprised of primary care sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine.

Primary care sports medicine attending physicians include:
  • Michael Cordas, DO.  Dr. Cordas is the attending physician for Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg High School, Susquehanna Township High School, Line Mountain High School and Williams Valley High School
  • Amy Zellers, DO:  Dr. Zellers is the attending physician for Harrisburg High School and Central Dauphin East High School
  • Matthew Wilson, DO:  Dr. Wilson is the attending physician for Big Spring High School
  • Dr. Mike Yurkewicz, Sports Medicine Fellow, will be working the sidelines for Bishop McDevitt High School

Orthopedic Surgeons are comprised of orthopedic surgeons from Arlington Orthopedics and the Orthopedic Institute of PA (OIP):
  • Tim Ackerman, DO at Arlington Orthopedics:  Dr. Ackerman is the attending physician for Steelton-Highspire High School. 
  • Jack Frankeny, MD, FACS at Orthopedic Institute of PA: Dr. Frankeny is the attending physician for Newport High School
  • Steven DeLuca, DO at Orthopedic Institute of PA: Dr. DeLuca is the attending physician for Upper Dauphin High School
  • Matthew Kelly, MD at Orthopedic Institute of PA:  Dr. Kelly is the attending physician for Susquenita High School and Palmyra High School
  • Adam Buerk, DO at Orthopedic Institute of PA: Dr. Buerk is the attending physician for Halifax High School

The team of Orthopedic and Family Medicine Residents include:
  • Dr. Michael St. Onge (Big Spring HS)
  • Dr. Chuck Claps (Upper Dauphin HS)
  • Dr. Daniel Kim (Line Mt HS)
  • Dr. Dustin Dyer (Susquenita HS)
  • Dr. Gene Falkowski  (Newport HS)
  • Dr. James Miller (Harrisburg HS)
  • Dr. Lisa O’Brien (Line Mt. HS)
  • Dr. Matt Legel (Steelton-Highspire High School)
  • Dr. Miles Birmingham (Halifax HS)
  • Dr. Tyson Maugle (Line Mt. HS)
  • Dr. Greg Tocks (Steelton-Highspire High School)
  • Dr. Kyle Riganati (Williams Valley HS)

Our entire team is here to support all student athletes in the greater Harrisburg area for their Sports Medicine needs.  We wish everyone a successful and healthy season.  Good Luck!


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Center

Michael Cordas, DO
PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine welcomes Michael Cordas, DO, primary care sports medicine physician, to its team.
 
The PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Center provides comprehensive treatment for patients with injuries or other medical conditions that affect their ability to exercise, participate in sports or maintain an active lifestyle. 
 
Dr. Cordas is board certified in Family Practice and Sports Medicine and is the chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, a member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission and an advisory member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. 
 
Along with this background, he is medical director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program at PinnacleHealth and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine. Dr. Cordas was also the team physician for Penn State’s football and wrestling teams. 
 
Dr. Cordas adds extensive Sports Medicine experience to the PinnacleHealth orthopedic team that has been treating athletes from the weekend warrior to the professional level for many years.  PinnacleHealth surgeons perform more joint replacements than any other hospital in our expanded region and are in the top 1% of volumes for the state.
 
PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine office will be open 8;00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. We will be seeing patients Monday through Thursday, 12:30-4:00 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Community Campus, Bloom Outpatient Center 4310 Londonderry Road, Suite 1B, in Harrisburg. Please call (717) 791-2620 to schedule. For more information about the PinnacleHealth Sports Medicine Center, visit pinnaclehealth.org/sportsmed.