Meet Our Lead Orthopedic Surgeon
John G. Atwater, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon and Spine Specialist
John G. Atwater, MD, is considered one of the top 50 spine surgeons in the USA. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Atwater focuses on adult and pediatric deformities, degenerative disc disease, tumor trauma, and other spinal issues. He hopes to improve the life of everyone he treats by focusing on education and well-coordinated, integrated healthcare.
Dr. Atwater attended Yale University for his undergraduate studies and the University of Virginia for medical school. He began practicing medicine in 1999 after completing several internships and residencies. Prior to moving to Vero Beach in 2014, Dr. Atwater practiced in Illinois for 16 years.
Dr. John Atwater is a member of the North America Spine Society, AO Spine North America, and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has published ground-breaking research in several peer-reviewed medical journals and is a staunch advocate for general and occupational health education.
Meet the Vero Beach Orthopedic Team
Sheree Ewar, MSN, FNP-C
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
Sheree’s mission is to provide patients with safe and effective care that leads to higher quality of life. An excellent leader and communicator, Sheree joined Dr. Atwater’s team to help with the ongoing mission of improving patient health literacy and quality patient care. Sheree started as a nursing assistant at the Indian River Medical Center in 2005 and has since worked in multiple settings including family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, and home care. Sheree was a CNA/HHA instructor at the Nursing Assistant Training Academy in 2011 and has always enjoyed teaching. She is exceptionally knowledgeable, bilingual, and able to work with a diverse population of patients.
Sheree is actively involved in her community, volunteers regularly, and is a member of Rho Kappa Chapter Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. She was a member of the Black Nurses Association of the Treasure Coast from 2010-2013. Sheree hopes to bring her skills, knowledge, and compassion to orthopedic patients in Vero Beach, Sebastian, and the surrounding areas.
Kara Mace, LPN, SA
Licensed Practical Nurse and Surgical Assistant
Kara’s been working with Dr. Atwater since 2014. After completing the Indian River County Practical Nursing Program in 2013, Kara moved on to attend the ACE Surgical Assisting Lab to further assist our orthopedic surgeon on his surgical cases. Before attending nursing school, Kara worked as a dietary aide in New Hampshire nursing homes. In 2012, she began working as a CNA at Atlantic Healthcare in Vero Beach.
Kara has been and continues to actively pursue her surgical nursing career with the hope of bringing health, education, and comfort to orthopedic patients. In addition to seeing patients regularly and assisting in surgical cases, Kara is helping Dr. Atwater build quality patient education materials and office processes that help patients get back to full functionality. Kara is CPR, BLS, First-Aid, and IV certified. She’s planning on adding a few more abbreviations over the next few years.
Orthopedic Surgeon & Specialists
Who We Are
Ortho Spine America (OSA) is an orthopedic clinic with privileges and permissions at Indian River (Vero Beach), Sebastian Medical Center, and Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. Our lead orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist, Dr. John Atwater, specializes in spinal conditions, musculoskeletal injuries, and pediatric deformities
How We Do It
We provide our patients with specialty orthopedic care through tailored treatment plans that are developed by our orthopedic surgeon and surgical specialists in coordination with patients, caregivers, and involved medical providers. Our treatments help patients with bone, joint, and muscle injuries and conditions.
How We Help
At OSA, we use an interdisciplinary approach to manage injuries and conditions related to the bones, joints, and muscles. Interdisciplinary in this context means we work with the body as a whole. Your musculoskeletal system is a complex piece of architecture that involves every system in the body, so we tailor plans to include a variety of medical, surgical, and lifestyle influences and treatments.
Our Approach
Everything we do ties into our core belief: Every person deserves to live a quality life, especially in this beautiful, historic city.
Our goal is to improve your quality of life, not just treat your symptoms. Our orthopedic surgeon and specialists provide an abundance of advice and information that clearly communicate our goals and initiatives for your care. Further, we keep our website blog and video library updated with new articles every week!
Our orthopedic doctor and specialists help you create a personalized care plan that addresses not only our recommendations, but your preferences and needs as well. For example, if you’re interested in acupuncture, we will add that into your care plan, get updates from your acupuncturist, and talk about it at your follow-up visits.
OSA coordinates services with your referring medical providers and personal injury attorneys to make it easier for you to navigate the long-term care process.
Our Commitment to Patient Education
Patient education is a crucial component of our care plans. Dr. Atwater, our lead orthopedic surgeon, understands that health literacy is a major component to helping you care for yourself at home; therefore, we do our part by creating and utilizing educational materials, like brochures, online articles, and a robust video library.
When you visit our orthopedic clinic, you’ll find plenty of reading materials and take-home items with the most updated information regarding your orthopedic care. All our patient education materials are filled with valuable information regarding your health. They will help you on your journey to making well-informed medical decisions with your orthopedic doctor and care team.
