It’s no surprise patients prefer to stay close to home for medical care whenever possible.

A Growing Need for Shoulder Replacement Expertise

If a person from the Manitowoc area has needed a minimally invasive arthroscopic shoulder reconstruction, Ryan Dopirak, MD, orthopaedic surgeon at Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital in Manitowoc, has offered the procedure for many years.

However, Dr. Dopirak recognized a growing need to offer more complex shoulder replacements, or open shoulder surgeries, to area residents needing a higher level of care.

To offer the best possible outcomes to patients needing shoulder replacements, Dr. Dopirak trained with Steven Grindel, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and Medical College of Wisconsin faculty member, for the past two years.

“Because Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital has integrated into the Froedtert & MCW health network, I was able to tap into the expertise of Dr. Grindel, who has more than two decades of expertise in shoulder replacement surgery,” Dr. Dopirak said. “With these skills, I can better serve the needs of my patients.”

To gain this expertise, Dr. Dopirak assisted Dr. Grindel with shoulder replacements and reverse total shoulder replacement surgeries at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, one of several orthopaedic surgery locations within the Froedtert & MCW health network.

“With the health network’s commitment to academic medicine, we are dedicated to offering the latest treatments and techniques,” Dr. Grindel said. “Passing on my knowledge in complex shoulder replacements to Dr. Dopirak helps us reach patients where they are as we widen our reach with advanced procedures.”

Shoulder Surgery Specialized Care Team

The doctors regularly discuss patient cases to determine the most personalized treatment approach. When a case is particularly complex, a patient can receive shoulder surgery at a Froedtert & MCW hospital in the Milwaukee area — with Dr. Grindel and Dr. Dopirak working together. Patients from the Manitowoc area who have surgery in the Milwaukee area can return home for their follow-up care.

“This approach allows patients to receive the best of academic medicine, along with care from doctors they know and trust in their local community,” Dr. Dopirak said.

For more information about services at Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Hospital, visit hfmhealth.org.