Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of the physician – PA team, PAs strive to increase the quality of care that is provided to the patient. PAs may work in a variety of medical and surgical specialties.
At Beacon Orthopedics, the PAs work very closely with the physicians to care for the orthopedic needs of the patients. The PAs at Beacon are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and the Ohio State Medical Board. They have completed their PA studies in addition to receiving extensive training in orthopedics and sports medicine. The most common duties performed by the Beacon PAs include: performing history and physical exam, ordering diagnostic testing, such as X-RAY, MRI, CT, DEXA, interpreting diagnostic tests and developing treatment plans, performing joint injections, applying casts, perform fracture reductions, coordinating care with other healthcare staff, such as physical therapists and athletic trainers, first assisting in surgery, providing post-operative care, either inpatient or outpatient, and providing coverage for high school/college athletic events.
Joseph Ehrhard
Joe received his Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Marietta College. He holds a B.S. degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph majoring in Athletic Training. While at the College of Mount St. Joseph, Joe worked with athletes ranging from high school to professional levels. He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants. He also holds Ohio State Medical Board certificates to practice as a Physician Assistant as well as an Athletic Trainer.
He has worked with Dr. Argo since 2005. He provides patient care for orthopedic injuries in the office as well as assisting with all surgical procedures. He has extensive training in the treatment of a variety of orthopedic injuries and has special interests in non-operative treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder injuries, and overuse injuries in competitive runners.
Meghan Rauchenstein
Meghan Rauchenstein, a native of Southeast Michigan, attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She went on to earn a Master of Public Health in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology in 2004 while working as a clinical coordinator in the Division of Cardiology within the University of Michigan Hospitals. She obtained her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Kentucky in 2007 and now resides in Cincinnati with her husband.
She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), She is licensed by the State Medical Board of Ohio, and is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
Sarah Snyder
Sarah Snyder, PA-C is a native of Cincinnati, where she graduated from Saint Ursula Academy. She was the manager of the 1992 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Champion women's soccer team. She attended the University of Dayton where she was vice president of Gamma Epsilon Lambda, a service and leadership fraternity.
She worked in patient care at Children's Hospital Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital Emergency Department before graduating from Kettering College of Medical Arts in 2003. Upon graduation, she began working for Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. She works closely with physicians who specialize in knee and shoulder injuries, as well as sports medicine injuries. She is also involved in the care of high school and collegiate athletes.
Shannon Urton
As a teenager, Shannon’s exposure to orthopaedics and sports medicine began as a patient rather than a provider. During her high-school sports career, she sustained a season ending knee injury which required her to have reconstructive knee surgery. What began as a nine month recovery from surgery over twenty years ago, has been transformed into what she describes as a “wonderful career path” which now allows her to help patients going through similar life experiences which she once did as an injured athlete.
Her early collegiate years were spent as a student leadership scholar at Wilmington College of Ohio where she was an athletic training/sports medicine major and a biology major. This formal sports medicine education allowed Shannon to be exposed to a wide variety of sports related injuries and their treatment.
After graduating cum laude from Wilmington College in 1991, Shannon’s education was continued in New York City where she obtained her graduate education in Physician Assistant studies from Cornell University Medical College. She chose to attend this physician assistant (PA) program because of the surgical focus which it emphasized. At Cornell, Shannon was able to study under physicians and surgeons from some of the most world-renowned hospitals such as The Hospital for Special Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and The New York – Presbyterian Hospital. During her PA education, she was active in PA affairs as the Cornell University class secretary, a representative for the New York state society of physician assistant association (NYSSPA) and was also a NYSSPA scholarship recipient.
Upon graduating from Cornell University with honors, Shannon knew all along that she would return home to the Cincinnati area to practice as a surgical physician assistant. Since her return to Cincinnati, she has had the opportunity to work in both an academic university sports medicine setting and in a private sports medicine practice. She has held professional memberships and involvement with the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, the Physician Assistants of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants and the American Association of Physician Assistants. Shannon returned to Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine working with Dr. Robert Burger in 2006.
Megan Whitehouse
Megan Whitehouse was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky where she graduated from South Oldham High School in 2003. She then attended University of Kentucky where she earned her B.S. in Human Nutrition and Biology. Upon graduation, she moved to Iowa where she attended the University of Iowa, and received her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in June 2010. She now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband.
Kristin VanBockel
Kristin VanBockel is Dr. Rodway’s physician assistant. She grew up in Louisville, KY where she graduated from Ballard High School in 1999. After high school, she attended the University of Cincinnati where she received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and then a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Upon graduation from UC she worked full-time as a contractor for the USEPA in water quality analysis and part-time as a veterinary assistant at Bellevue Animal Hospital. Kristin decided to go back to PA school at the University of Kentucky where she graduated in July 2010 and received her National PA Certification in August 2010.
Lee Reynolds
Lee Reynolds, PA-C is a native of Loudonville, OH near the Mohican State Park in North-central Ohio where he graduated from Loudonville High School. He then attended the University of Toledo where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Toxicology.
After working as a biologist for 1 year, Lee returned to school at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania to obtain his Master of Health Science: Physician Assistant degree. Lee joined the Beacon team after graduation and works closely with Dr. Rolf. He is certified by the NCCPA and holds a state license to practice both in Ohio and Indiana.
Lee lives in Cincinnati with his wife Sarah, a native Delhesian and graduate of Seton High School, and their Beagle, Stella. They enjoy outdoor activities together such as hiking and biking on local trails as well as attending other local entertainment such as sporting events and shows.