Contact Information
Patients should call the clinic during regular hours at 304-598-4830 to schedule an appointment. Physicians wishing to refer patients may call:
800-WVA-MARS
800-982-6277
Ortho Home | Physicians | Services | Spine Services | Conditions | Sports Medicine | Research
Sanford E. Emery MD, MBA Department Chair
Dr. Sanford E. Emery is a specialist in adult degenerative spinal disorders of the neck region of the spinal column as well as low back disorders. He is an expert at treating conditions such as disc herniations and spinal stenosis. He provides surgical treatment for cervical myelopathy and spinal stenosis and performs spinal osteomies. A nationally known spine expert, Dr. Emery is co-editor of "Surgery of the Cervical Spine," a textbook for surgeons that was published in 2003. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he attended the Duke University School of Medicine, completing residency training at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. He had a spine fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and earned an MBA from Case Western in 2003.
George K. Bal, MD
Dr. George K. Bal specializes in sports related injuries in patients of all ages. He also performs minimally invasive arthroscopic and traditional surgery for traumatic and degenerative conditions of the shoulder and elbow. An orthopaedic surgeon for the U.S. Army, Dr. Bal received his MD from F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He completed specialty training in categorical and orthopaedic surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington. He completed a shoulder/elbow fellowship at Duke University.
Beverly Epstein, MD
Dr. Beverly Epstein is the director of the WVU Spine Center. A board-certified neurologist, Dr. Epstein specializes in neuro-rehabilitation. She is an expert at diagnosing and treating neurological and orthopaedic disorders of the neck and back. She formerly worked at HealthSouth MountainView Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in 1993 and 1994, completing a neuro-rehabilitation fellowship at WVU. She earned her medical degree from Far Eastern University-NRMF in the Philippines. She completed a neurology residency at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She also has a degree in physical therapy.
John C. France, MD
Dr. John C. France is chief of the spine section. He offers minimally invasive procedures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine and traditional surgery to help patients with spinal degenerative disease (such as spinal stenosis), traumatic disorders, spinal tumors, and deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis). He received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency training at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then completed his spine fellowship at the University of Colorado.
Brian R. Hamlin, MD
Brian R. Hamlin provides adult reconstruction services for patients with disease of the hip and knees affected by arthritis. He performs standard hip and knee replacement procedures, joint preserving procedures, complex primary and revision arthroplasty, and unicondylar arthroplasty.
He uses the latest techniques and components for replacement, including computer-assisted surgery for knee arthroplasty, and alternative bearings for hip arthroplasty.
Joint preserving procedures of the hip and knee can allow patients to avoid joint replacement.
Unicondyolar arthroplasty of the knee is used for isolated arthrosis and preserves the remainder of the knee. The result is a better range of motion and better preservation of knee mechanics.
Dr. Hamlin received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his orthopaedic training at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He joins the WVU after completing a fellowship in adult reconstruction at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.
David F. Hubbard, MD
Dr. David F. Hubbard provides care for trauma patients with severe injuries and related complications. He treats patients with acute and chronic conditions in the emergency room or the clinic. He received his MD from Marshall University and completed specialty training in orthopaedic surgery at WVU. He also completed a trauma fellowship at the University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Barry McDonough, MD
Barry McDonough specializes in treating problems of the knee and shoulder. He received his medical degree from the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and completed specialty training at Wright State University. He completed a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine from the University of Michigan. He was formerly a team physician for football and gymnastics at Michigan.
Ben Moorehead, MD
Ben Moorehead is a sports medicine physician who has expertise evaluating and treating musculoskeletal injuries using a wide variety of rehabilitative techniques.
He manages injuries and medical conditions in athletes, including muscle and joint pain, sprains, and concussions. He provides evaluations for clearing athletes to return to their sport following illness or injury.
Dr. Moorehead joined WVU from Kettering Sports Medicine Center in Ohio, where he completed a sports medicine fellowship. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed training in internal medicine at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He is board certified in sports medicine and internal medicine.
Joe Prudhomme, MD
Joe Prudhomme treats patients of all ages who suffer from problems of the upper extremities, including fingers, hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
He performs a full range of elective procedures and trauma care, using minimally invasive and traditional techniques. He has special expertise treating sports injuries and degenerative conditions such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
He offers endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery and arthroscopic surgery of the wrist elbow and shoulder. He came to WVU from Baylor College of Medicine, where he completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery. He was a faculty member at the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, from 2003-05 and a team physician at Virginia Tech. He received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine, and completed his specialty training in general surgery and orthopaedic surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery.
Jaiyoung Ryu, MD
Dr. Jaiyoung Ryu is chief of hand and upper extremity surgery at WVU. Dr. Ryu sees more than 130 patients a week with arm and hand trauma, congenital anomalies, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis, as well as vascular and neurological problems such as cubital or carpal tunnel syndromes. He is a graduate of Catholic University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. He received surgical and orthopaedic training at the University of Cincinnati, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Also, he completed fellowships in hand surgery and biomechanics at the University of Connecticut, Yale University, and the Mayo Clinic, and holds an added qualification certificate for surgery of the hand. He has been a faculty member at WVU since 1992.
Franklin Shuler, MD, PhD
Franklin D. Shuler is an orthopaedic traumatologist — an orthopaedic surgeon who treats a full range of bone and joint problems. He sees the most severe cases in WVU’s Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center, often performing limb-saving procedures. He specializes in the following: acute and delayed fracture care surgery of bone malunions and nonunions peri-articular fracture management (joint surface reconstruction) surgery using osteobiologics fracture augmentation using bone stimulators management of trauma-related wound healing issues In addition to an active clinical practice, Dr. Shuler is WVU’s Director of Orthopaedic Research. He is the principal investigator for several active multi-center clinical trials aimed at improving patient outcomes following skeletal trauma. Dr. Shuler is actively sought for local and national speaking engagements. Formerly a faculty member at Vanderbilt University, he returns back home to WV to be with family. He is board certified and completed a fellowship in orthopaedic trauma at the University of Pittsburgh. He was the first person to graduate from WVU’s dual MD/PhD Program and was the first person awarded the Foundation of Orthopaedic Trauma traveling fellowship.
James L. Thomas, DPM
James L. Thomas, DPM, is a foot and ankle surgeon who provides diagnosis, treatment, and management for patients of all ages with a wide variety of problems, including sports-related injuries at WVU’s Sports Medicine Center. He performs reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. Typical problems Dr. Thomas sees include:
Dr. Thomas joins WVU from the University of Alabama School of Medicine where he was a faculty member. He received his medical degree from the California College of Podiatric Medicine and completed advanced training at Lakeview Hospital in Wisconsin. He is board certified in podiatric surgery.
John J. Ward, MD
Dr. Ward is an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in musculoskeletal oncology He offers world-class care to patients with
WVU is the only provider of orthopaedic oncological services in the state. Dr. Ward joins WVU from the Louisiana State Health Sciences Center where he was a faculty member. He earned his medical degree from LSU and received specialty training at the University of Alabama, where he also completed a research fellowship in orthopaedic surgery and a fellowship in orthopaedic oncology.
