The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. Surrounded by muscles and tendons, the shoulder allows you to place and rotate your arm in many positions. To be most effective, however, the shoulder must maintain the right balance of strength, flexibility and stability. Loss of this balance can lead to pain and/or injury.
Often shoulder problems can be managed with non-surgical methods like exercise and anti-inflammatory medicines. For cases that require surgery, however, delaying it can make the condition more difficult to treat later. Early diagnosis of shoulder problems leads to greater treatment success.
Our general orthopedic surgeons are able to provide you with assistance if, and when, the need arises for shoulder surgery.
For more information about the Orthopedic Program at St. John Providence Hospital, please contact your physician or our Program Coordinator at 248-849-8245.
Patient Education
Physicians
Sean F. Bak, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Dr Bak is a native of Michigan, graduating from Dearborn High School. He attended Wayne State University School of Medicine and performed his internship and residency at Michigan State University. In 2005, he completed a fellowship in Shoulder, Elbow and Sports Medicine at Columbia University in New York. Dr Bak has authored several book chapters on shoulder surgery and has published many articles in highly respected orthopedic journals. He has also served as an instructor to other surgeons at national level courses. He is very interested in sports medicine and has served as an orthopaedic consultant to Oakland University, team physician of Michigan Bucks, Columbia University, Western Michigan University and several area high schools. In addition, Dr Bak was a staff physician at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship in 2007. Currently Dr Bak serves on the Board of the Detroit Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Michigan Orthopedic Society. Dr Bak's clinical areas of interest Reconstructive Shoulder Surgery as well as Sports Medicine.
Ralph B. Blasier, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Ralph Blasier, MD, specializes in Orthopedic Surgery, the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect bones and their supporting structures. His special area of interest is in shoulder and elbow surgery.
Dr. Blasier is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine where he also completed his surgical internship and Orthopedic surgery residency. Dr. Blasier also received a "Business of Medicine" certificate from John Hopkins University.
Dr. Blaiser professional affiliations include the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, the Orthopedic Forum Club, the Orthopedic Research Society, the Academic Orthopedic Society, the Guam Orthopedic Association and he was the founder of the Michigan Shoulder Group.
James C. Bolz, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
James Bolz, MD specializes in Orthopedic Surgery, the branch of surgery concerned with disorders of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. He treats a wide variety of orthopedic conditions including sports injuries. He has a special interest in knee surgery, including arthroscopy, as well as total joint replacement of the hip and knee.
Dr. Bolz received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Mt. Carmel Hospital. Dr. Bolz's professional affiliations include the Michigan Orthopedic Society (MOS) and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Dr. Bolz was recognized by his peers as one of Metro Detroit's most respected orthopedic specialists in Hour Detroit magazine's annual "Top Docs" rankings in 2008.
Michael A. Brager, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Todd J. Frush, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital, St. John Hospital and Medical Center
William Higginbotham, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Dr. Higginbotham specializes in general orthopedic surgery including knee and hip replacement, arthoscopic surgery, shoulder surgery and fracture care.
His special areas of interest are trauma, arthroscopic and hand surgery, sports medicine and joint replacement.
Dr. Higginbotham joined Providence Hospital in 1999 where he is the Clinical Instructor for Orthopedics. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, College of Medicine and completed his surgical residency at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital and his orthopedic residency at Metropolitan Group of Hospitals of Northwest Detroit.
Dr. Higginbotham's professional affiliations include the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, the Michigan Orthopedic Society and the Mid-America Orthopedics Association.
Mark A. Kamil, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Elie G. Khoury, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
In 2004, Dr. Khoury was recognized as one of the area's most respected general vascular surgeons in Hour Detroit magazine's "Top Docs" listing.
Mark A. Kwartowitz, DO
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Ronald S. Lederman, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Mark D. Mackey, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Dr. Mackey offers total Hip & Knee, Orthoglide - Partial Total, and General Orthopaedics.
Jefferey E. Michaelson, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Jefferey E. Michaelson, MD, specializes in Orthopedic Surgery, the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect bones and their supporting structures. His special area of interest is in Arthroscopic Surgery of the shoulder, knee and ankle which compliments his interest in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Michaelson is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. While in Cleveland, Dr. Michaelson assisted with professional, college, high school and recreational athletes.
Dr. Michaelson's professional affiliations include the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Michigan Orthopedic Society as well as several other local and national societies.
Dr. michaelson was recognized by his peers as one of Metro Detroit's most respected orthopedic specialists in Hour Detroit magazine's annual "Top Docs" rankings in 2008.
Jeffrey D. Placzek, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Dr. Placzek received his undergraduate and graduate physical therapy degrees from Oakland University in 1988 and 1990 respectively. In 1998 he graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Dr. Placzek completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in 2003 and his fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at Washington University in St. Louis in 2004.
Dr. Placzek has published articles on a variety of topics involving surgery of the hand and shoulder in journals including The Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Journal of Hand Surgery, The American Journal of Sports Medicine, The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy and others. He has presented research and workshops at a variety of local and national meetings. He is the editor of the popular text, Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets. He remains active in physical therapy education as an Associate Clinical Professor for the Department of Physical Therapy at Oakland University.
In 2004, Dr. Placzek joined Dr. Guiboux at Michigan Hand and Wrist, PC. Dr. Placzek treats both pediatric and adult conditions including trauma, sports injuries, arthritis, microvascular reconstruction, rotator cuff disease, frozen shoulder and total joint replacement.
Mitchell Pollak, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Mitchell Pollak, MD, specializes in Orthopedic Surgery, the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect bones and their supporting structures. Speical interest includes sports injuries,
treatment of trauma to limbs, fractures, dislocations, and tendon and ligament injuries. He provides reconstructive surgery, total joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder and knee.
Joseph Salama, MD
Hospital Privileges: Providence Hospital, Providence Park Hospital
Dr. Jospeh Salama is an orthopaedic surgeon with expertise in total-joint repacement as well as industrial related injuries. He has been in private practice in the Detroit metropolitan area since 1980. His association with Birmingham Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine began in January 2000. Dr. Salama is an active participant in the Orthopaedic Residency Training Program of Wayne State University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery as well as the Michigan Orthopaedic Society.
