We continue our physician blog series with an informal Q&A with the newest member of our physician care team: Mark J. Winston, M.D. Dr. Winston is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand, wrist and upper extremity conditions and treatment procedures. He joined our practice in August 2016.
Dr. Winston, please tell our readers a little about your professional and academic background.
I am originally from Green Bay, Wis., but I received my medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine. Upon receiving my degree, I moved to Madison to complete my residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. During my time in Madison, I served as Administrative Chief Resident and was recognized by the American Orthopaedic Association’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Prior to joining Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics, I completed a hand and upper extremity fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. While there, I also provided upper extremity care for the New York Giants, Mets, Rangers and Knicks.
What brought you back to Kansas City?
During my studies at UMKC School of Medicine, I had the opportunity to work with Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics. I enjoyed the team here and fell in love with Kansas City. I knew I wanted to return to Kansas City to start my practice when I completed my fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery.
As an orthopedic surgeon, what are your subspecialized areas of expertise?
I specialize in care and treatment for hand and wrist, shoulder and elbow conditions. Some of the most common conditions I treat are carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren’s contracture (a.k.a. Dupuytren’s disease), stiff elbow, elbow dislocations with or without associated fractures, distal humerus fractures, olecranon fractures and radial head fractures.
In addition, I specialize in sports medicine. In fact, I ultimately chose to pursue a career in orthopedics because of my love for sports. I played competitive tennis my entire life, including high school and college. Once my competitive career was over, I knew I wanted to use my passion to treat athletic injuries as well as other types of orthopedic conditions.
Do you treat workers’ compensation patients?
Yes. Hand, wrist and upper extremity injuries are among the most common work-related injuries in the U.S. Like all patients, I encourage workers’ compensation patients to seek treatment early to avoid permanent damage or loss of function, and return to work as quickly and safely as possible.
Do you coordinate care with other healthcare providers?
I am fortunate to work with a remarkable group of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners at Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics. I also coordinate care with case managers and adjusters when treating workers’ compensation patients, and I refer patients to certified hand therapists (CHTs) for occupational therapy, custom splints or braces when appropriate.
Tell us more about your approach to treating patients.
I believe it is important to listen to each patient and obtain a thorough history. I feel the diagnosis can often be obtained from the history alone and then confirmed with radiographs and a physical exam. Throughout the entire process, I maintain open communication with my patients to clarify any questions or concerns they may have about their care or condition. My biggest gratification comes from helping my patients return to the activities they enjoy, whether that is through surgical or non-surgical measures.
If you are a patient, referring physician, case manager or caregiver in need of more information about Dr. Winston or the procedures he performs, please call 913-319-7600.
