Health | 2024

HEALTH

From dental care to physical therapy to surgeries, the people of the Texas Panhandle rely on Amarillo. All 26 counties of the Panhandle travel here for health care, as do residents of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado. The expert providers they seek out— including our nationally acclaimed hospital systems—work hard to ensure professionalism and compassion as they improve quality of life. We spoke to several local leaders for this special Health section, which focuses on the key health issues in which they specialize.

Anthony Mancuso II, D.O.S

How long have you been in practice? I just completed six years of orthopedic training in July 2023, and started practicing with Northwest Physicians Group in December 2023.

What is your primary focus? My primary focus is orthopedic trauma, meaning I take care of fractures all over the body in all age groups, from pediatrics to geriatrics and everything in between.

Where did you receive your training? I completed my five-year Orthopedic Surgery Residency in Toledo, Ohio, at Mercy HealthSt. Vincent Medical Center, followed by completing a one-year fellowship in Orthopedic Trauma at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

What influenced your career choice? With orthopedic trauma, you see people in a state of pain and brokenness as a result of the injuries they have sustained. For me, being able to take care of those patients, to literally put them back together, and give them their life back is immensely rewarding. Also, when it comes to trauma, you never know what type of injury you’ll see during a shift or even limping into the office. Trauma keeps you on your toes, and each patient and fracture are different, requiring your entire attention to detail.

What sets you apart from other specialists? My specific specialty allows me to care for the polytraumatized patient— the people who are the sickest and most hurt. Additionally, I have trained, focused and dedicated my life to fixing all types of broken bones. From long-bone fractures, fractures around joints, pelvis/acetabular trauma, or fractures around previous implants/total joint replacements, and even to fractures that have not healed or healed in the wrong spot. My training has afforded me a special set of skills to care for all those injuries and the patients that present with them.

How do you stay involved in the community? As I have just recently moved to Amarillo, I am actively seeking ways to become involved in the community outside of work. Having school-aged children allows me to be involved in the community through their school and extracurricular activities. This lets me and my family get to know their friends and what they enjoy, which helps familiarize us with the community and what is important to them.

What fulfills you most as you practice orthopedic trauma? One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is being able to care for people who are injured, broken and in a dark place; being able to help them get their lives back and heal their injuries is immensely rewarding. Each patient encounter allows me another opportunity to get to know a different patient, help find things that bring them joy, and have a mutual goal with them to get them back to those activities. I am a member of AO Trauma North America, OTA, AAOS, and Mid-America Orthopedic Association.

Bradley Trinidad, M.D.

How long have you been in practice? Three years.

What is your primary focus? Vascular and endovascular surgery. It is a very unique specialty in general—it’s a specialty that combines other specialties, in a way.

First and foremost, I am a surgeon, but I am also an interventionist and a primary care physician. This combination allows me to provide my patients with comprehensive care.

Where did you receive your training? I earned my medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and completed my residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.

What certifications do you hold? I am board-certified in vascular surgery.

What influenced your career choice? When I was young, I would go to my grandfather’s art gallery. My grandfather was an artist and he was also in a band called Raul and the MDs. He was the lead singer and the rest of the band members were doctors. So I got my first up-close look at doctors from a more social aspect. As I got older, I decided medicine was something I wanted to do. I was heavily influenced by my mentors in medical school. I always saw vascular surgeons as the “cool” surgeons.

What sets you apart from other specialists? The ability to offer patients both traditional open surgery as well as minimally invasive endovascular procedures sets me apart. I can offer patients one or the other, or a combination of both procedures. The trust between a physician and patient is very important; the stronger the trust, the better the outcome for a patient, particularly with vascular surgery. Once someone becomes my patient, they are often my patient forever.

How do you stay involved in the community? Through my children’s school and through my hospital.

What fulfills you most as you practice medicine? The long-term relationships I make with my patients mean more to me than anything else. I am often the last line of defense—typically, when a vascular surgeon is called, that’s when things are most serious and people need help.

C. Edward Sauer, Jr., DDS and Nathaniel Avirett, DDS Shemen Dental Group, LLP

SBEFORE AFTER

hemen Dental Group provides a variety of modern dental services, from teeth cleaning and fillings to Invisalign® clear aligners. But some patients need more significant treatment, including dental implants. Unlike dentures or bridges, dental implants are attached to the jawbone and provide a functional, comfortable replacement for missing teeth. Implants are the gold standard for replacing natural teeth, both in appearance and function.

Shemen now offers new digitized technology that makes the dental implant procedure faster, more efficient, more predictable and much easier for the patient.

Q:How long does it take to get dental implants? What is the procedure like?

A standard procedure consists of removing all teeth in a given arch (upper or lower, and sometimes both) in order to place 4 to 6 implants. The implants convert a denture to a fixed appliance that allows the patient to leave the office with teeth that are attached and not removable like traditional immediate dentures with little or no pain.

This first appliance is a temporary one. In most cases, it is not strong enough to serve as a permanent solution. Within a year, it needs to be replaced with a final appliance—often using a zirconia or titanium bar—that will be fused to the jawbone and strong enough to last for a long time. The conversion from the initial appliance (temporary) to fixed appliance (permanent) used to take several hours and required multiple steps.

New technology at Shemen, however, has made this process much faster and far more comfortable for patients. The process starts with a 3D digital X-ray of the mouth using cone beam computed tomography, along with a digital scan of the teeth and surrounding tissue. An initial restorative setup is developed and approved. At the next visit, the dentist will remove the teeth and deliver the temporary appliances.

At the final delivery appointment, the dentists and technicians will trim the tissue and bone before placing the implants. After this, special scan bodies are attached to the implants while a specialized camera scans the mouth, locating the scan bodies and their exact position. The scan bodies are removed and a digital scan of the tissue is performed. While the patient is still resting comfortably in the office, these are sent to a special design lab that combines the scans to create a final developed prosthesis that perfectly fits the implants and tissue. This appliance is five times stronger than the temporary appliance, with a precise fit to allow ideal conditions for healing. We receive the digital file and print the appliance in-house using 3D printing technology. The entire design and printing process takes around 90 minutes total, providing customized, highly accurate and aesthetic results while optimizing patient comfort and convenience.

Dr. Eddy Sauer is a native of Amarillo, receiving his Bachelor of Science from West Texas State University and his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1987. He has practiced in Amarillo for the past three decades and also teaches other dentists across the United States in the latest technology and advanced practices in the profession. He and his wife, Tina, have been married for 40 years and have four daughters, three grandchildren and two more on the way.

Dr. Nathaniel Avirett is a native of Amarillo, receiving his Bachelor of Science from West Texas A&M University and his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Texas A&M College of Dentistry in 2011. Dr. Avirett has practiced in Amarillo for more than a decade and recently retired from serving

our country as a reservist in the Texas Army National Guard with the rank of Major. He and his wife, Dr. Erin Avirett, and together, they are raising three children.

Dr. Ahmad Khalil was born and raised in Houston. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2008, graduating Cum Laude. He then earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Khalil is married to his wife, Mubeena, a Chicago native and a professional in the financial services industry. As a general practitioner over the past few years, Dr. Khalil has treated adults and children of all ages, garnering experience in multiple disciplines.

806.358.2472 SHEMENDENTAL.COM

Texas Tech Physicians Surgery

At Texas Tech Physicians Surgery, our providers are dedicated to delivering exceptional care across various specialties. Our surgeons also serve as faculty members at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine, ensuring patients receive expert-driven care in the High Plains region. Notably, all our surgeons have completed fellowships.

What does it mean to be fellowship-trained? A fellowship is an advanced, specialized training program following the completion of a medical residency. It’s an immersive experience lasting a year or more, allowing physicians to delve deeper into a specific area of expertise. This additional training empowers our providers to offer more comprehensive and specialized care. All physicians at Texas Tech Physicians Surgery in Amarillo are fellowship-trained, making us the only surgical team in town with this distinction.

Texas Tech Physicians Surgery provides general and minimally invasive surgery, along with various sub-specialty services. Our surgeons specialize in trauma and critical care, colorectal health, hernia, bariatrics, surgical oncology, hepatopancreaticobiliary, wound care, burns, soft tissue masses, lipomas, breast surgery, and other general surgery needs.

Can you explain the partnership Texas Tech Physicians has with area hospitals? While we offer outpatient services at our Texas Tech Physicians clinic at 1400 S. Coulter St. in Amarillo, our providers also have privileges at hospitals such as BSA, Northwest Texas Healthcare System and Hereford Regional Medical Center, where we provide surgical patients with state-of-the-art medical care with compassion and skill.

We are proud to collaborate with Northwest Texas Healthcare System in celebrating its recent Level II Trauma Center verification by the American College of Surgeons. This designation ensures 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons and coverage in various specialties, emphasizing our commitment to providing accessible care. Our partnership with BSA, a recently named Level III trauma hospital, supports access to trauma surgery and other emergency services, as well as support for smaller, regional trauma centers. What exciting things are on the horizon for Texas Tech Physicians Surgery? Texas Tech Physicians Surgery is focused on serving the entire region, encompassing 350,000 people. As longstanding surgeons in the area retire, a need will arise to recruit surgeons to care for Panhandle residents. We are committed to filling that gap. As members of the TTUHSC School of Medicine faculty, we are responsible for educating medical students during their third and fourth years in Amarillo. As we aim to grow the health care workforce in the Panhandle, we are committed to establishing a surgical residency program at TTUHSC in the coming years. Residents will provide additional medical support at area hospitals while they’re getting their training, with the goal of retaining these physicians to practice in the area after completing their residencies or fellowships. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 66.1 percent of individuals who completed residency training in Texas stayed in the state to practice medicine after finishing. This endeavor will be no small task, but we look forward to growing our partnerships with local hospitals and community stakeholders to ensure the people of the Panhandle are the healthiest they can be.

Trey H. Miller, DDS, FAGD, LVIF Advanced Dentistry of Amarillo

How long have you been in practice? After graduating from UT School of Dentistry in May 2018, I moved back home to Amarillo to join Dr. Clint Esler in his cosmetic dental practice. Upon our partnership, we renamed the practice Advanced Dentistry of Amarillo. Dr. Esler retired two years later. I have been managing the practice since then, and it has been my joy and passion to serve the fine people of the Panhandle with the best cosmetic dentistry has to offer.

What is your primary focus? Staying up to date with the very latest in cosmetic restorative dentistry. We focus on working with smiles that have been worn out and restoring them back to masterpieces of esthetics and function.

Where did you receive your training? I received my undergraduate in Biology and Chemistry at Texas Tech University College of Arts & Sciences and Honors College. Afterwards, I attended the University of Texas School of Dentistry, graduating as the top student in the department of Operative Dentistry. After dental school, I furthered my specialty education in cosmetics at the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies, where I hold a Fellowship. I have also taken many courses through the SPEAR Center and through the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. I hold a Fellowship through the Academy of General Dentistry, an achievement held by less than 6 percent of all U.S. dentists.

What influenced your career choice? My desire to help others achieve confidence and function regarding their smiles, when that confidence was not present before. It is amazing to see someone’s personality improve because they are now confident to smile, after feeling like they had to hide that part of themselves before.

What sets you apart from other specialists? Our specialty training and laser focus on cosmetic restorative dentistry, porcelain veneers, TMJ and sleep apnea. We are not a “do-it-all” office—we are highly focused on these specific procedures, so our patients can feel reassured knowing their smiles are in the hands of specialists.

How do you stay involved in the community? I am proud to be the next President of the Panhandle Dental Society. I also regularly attend local dental meetings and continuing education events. My family and I actively attend Hillside Christian Church, Amarillo charitable events, and the Amarillo Symphony.

Re-Form Physical Therapy, Pilates & Aesthetics

Established in 2016, Re-Form took the first small steps in its journey to becoming a premier destination for physical therapy and Pilates. Recognizing clients’ evolving needs, the company swiftly expanded its offerings to encompass a comprehensive approach to wellness. Today, Re-Form stands as a beacon of holistic care. Physical therapy and Pilates are still central to its services, but Re-Form has now integrated aesthetics, massage therapy, and pelvic floor training into its wellness approach.

“At Re-Form, self-care isn’t just a service—it’s a philosophy,” says owner and founder Jentry Williams, PT, DPT. “Every visit is an opportunity to prioritize well-being, allowing our clients to embark on a journey of self-discovery and renewal.”

Re-Form maintains a dedicated staff of RNs and aestheticians to help skin-care clients look and feel their best:

Ashley Smith, RN, focuses on getting her clients’ skin as healthy as possible, especially for those dealing with common conditions like sun damage, acne, or a compromised skin barrier and rosacea. Smith establishes a custom, long-term plan for better skin health. She got started in aesthetics by training under some of the top clinicians in Dallas, Texas. She says being able to blend her nursing skills with aesthetic treatments has been incredibly fulfilling.

Brittani Worsham, aesthetician, focuses on prioritizing skin health and empowering her clients to feel confident and radiant in their own skin. Worsham’s commitment to continued education and her ability to embrace and adapt to the ever-evolving field of skincare helps her stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations. She holds various certifications, including those in dermaplaning and chemical peels. She is also a ZO Skin Health Expert.

With 13 years of service in the nursing field, Lacy Bailey, RN, began her journey in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northwest Texas Hospital. She then transitioned into aesthetics, where she specializes in the latest technology in lasers and the artistry of injectables, including neurotoxins and dermal fillers. Bailey’s commitment to education and expertise with advanced techniques—along with the personalized care and treatments she provides—set her apart in the Amarillo market. Her philosophy centers on embracing each patient’s uniqueness, crafting a customized aesthetic plan aimed at achieving authentic, confidence-boosting results.

Taking care of your skin goes beyond just surface-level pampering; it’s an essential aspect of holistic wellness. From facials to laser treatments, prioritizing your skin’s health doesn’t just profoundly impact how you look, but also how you feel. And the journey to radiant skin doesn’t end after you visit Re-Form—it’s a partnership between professional care and diligent self-care. By complementing your treatments with nourishing facials and high-quality skincare products, you’re nurturing your skin’s newfound vitality and ensuring lasting results.

Investing in your skin is an investment in your overall well-being. With proper maintenance and sun protection, the benefits can endure for years, becoming a cornerstone of your self-care ritual.

Christina Huseman, M.D. Women’s Healthcare Associates

How long have you been in practice? I’ve been in practice for almost two years at WHA, following a robust four-year residency at Texas Tech. My journey in medicine has been enriched by nearly six years of intensive training and hands-on experience.

What is your primary focus? My focus is on providing comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care from prenatal care and well-woman visits to delivering babies and performing surgeries. My aim is to build long-lasting relationships with my patients, providing them with the knowledge and care they need to make informed decisions about their health.

Where did you receive your training? I graduated from Randall High School here in Amarillo and completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Bioinformatics at Baylor University. I completed my medical and residency training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

What influenced your career choice? Ultimately, I chose this field because of the complexities and the profound impact of obstetric and gynecologic care. It’s not every day you get to be a part of such pivotal moments in someone’s life, even if it means your schedule is far from the standard 9 to 5.

What sets you apart from other specialists? My commitment to personalized care combined with a deep-rooted connection to our community. Having grown up and now practicing within the same community, I bring a personal touch to my practice that’s hard to find. My patients are not just names on a chart; they are my neighbors, former classmates and friends. This unique perspective allows me to tailor my care to the specific cultural and community needs of my patients, fostering a deeper trust and understanding.

How do you stay involved in the community? Though my attendance at church has become sporadic since welcoming my now 6-month-old son, my faith and values continue to inspire my approach to medicine. I bring empathy, integrity and a commitment to service into my practice, reflecting the principles I’ve valued in my spiritual life.

What fulfills you most as you practice medicine? The most rewarding part of my job is building lasting relationships with my patients, supporting them through various stages of life. Whether it’s helping a teenager navigate puberty, assisting a couple in their journey to parenthood, or guiding a woman into menopause, the trust and bond we form are incredibly fulfilling. Knowing I’ve made a positive difference in their lives is what motivates me every day.