J. Travis Burt, M.D., F.A.C.S. - NEUROSURGEON   J. Travis Burt, M.D., F.A.C.S. received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS.  He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi and is board-certified in neurosurgery.  He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, International Wound Ballistic Association and the Wilderness Medicine Society. Dr. Burt spent 20 years in the Army Reserve and has served in numerous overseas deployments.

Matthew W. Wood, Jr., M.D. - NEUROSURGEON   Matthew W. Wood, Jr., M.D. received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee and is board-certified in neurosurgery. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Wood was a flight surgeon in Carrier Group 5 in the Western Pacific, and served as a neurosurgeon with a U.S. Naval fleet hospital in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. Board Certification in neurosurgery represents the approval of the Academic Neurosurgical Community in America, and is attained only after passing a rigorous multi-step evaluation process that begins in a residency and is not completed until after two years in practice.

PHYSIATRISTS
Our physiatrists play an important role in allowing Highlands Neurosurgery to provide comprehensive care for our neurosurgical patients. These physician specialists assist with non-surgical pain management. Following neck and back surgery, they assist some of our patients in their rehabilitation to optimal function. Occasionally, a physiatrist will perform an EMG (diagnostic, nerve conduction study) on a patient. For patient convenience, these studies are conducted in our office and the results are quickly available for our neurosurgeon to discuss with the patient, often later the same day.

John M. Marshall, M.D.   John M. Marshall, M.D. received his medical degree from the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Missouri-Columbia and is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is a fellow of the Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He is a charter member of the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sport and Occupational Medicine.

William M. Platt, M.D.   William M. Platt, M.D. received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Missouri-Columbia and is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is a fellow of the Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He is a charter member of the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sport and Occupational Medicine.

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is the national medical society representing more than 7,000 physicians who are specialists in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. They are called physiatrists.

Physiatrists focus on restoring function. They care for patients with acute and chronic pain, and musculoskeletal problems like back and neck pain, tendonitis, pinched nerves and fibromyalgia. They also treat people who have experienced catastrophic events resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia, or traumatic brain injury; and individuals who have had strokes, neurosurgical and orthopedic injuries.
 

Brian K. Killen, PA-C - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT   Brian K. Killen, PA-C earned a Bachelor of Science / Physician Assistant degree at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA. He is NCCPA credentialed and licensed in the state of Tennessee. Prior to becoming a Neurosurgical PA, he worked as a Registered Diagnostic Radiographer, specializing in nuclear medicine and surgery. He has over eleven years of experience in healthcare.

Chris Justus, PA-C - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT   Chris Justus, PA-C earned a Bachelor of Science Degree as a Physician Assistant at Jefferson College of Health Science in Roanoke, VA. He is NCCPA credentialed and licensed in the state of Tennessee. Prior to becoming a Neurosurgical PA, he was employed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. He has over eleven years of health care experience including critical care and emergency medicine.

What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in Tennessee, PAs write prescriptions.

Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure.