Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners

The physician assistants and nurse practitioners at the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies take care of patients in close collaboration with their surgeon.

Patients may see one of our PA’s or NP’s for an office appointment, a pre-op appointment, at the time of surgery, or a post-operative appointment.

Here are more details about our staff of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. They work in our Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley, CO, clinics and surgery center.

Travis Babcock, PA-C
Travis Babcock, MPAS, PA-C
Joined OCR: March 2014
Physicians: Robert Baer, MD, Michael Rusnak, MD, Riley Hale, MD, and other surgeons on-call for trauma care
PA Experience: Since 2011 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S. in biotechnology, Univ. of Nebraska (Omaha), 2008; M.S. in physician assistant studies, University of Nebraska (Omaha),  2010
Todd Bryce, PA-CT
Todd Bryce, PA-C, LAT
Joined OCR: July 2014
Physician: Kirk Kindsfater, MD
PA Experience: Sports medicine, licensed athletic trainer; since 2014 in orthopaedics
Education: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Chicago), 2014
Matt Crawford, PA-C Matt Crawford, PA-C
Joined OCR: March 2010
Physician: C. Dana Clark, MD
PA Experience: Since 2007 in orthopaedics
Education: M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies, Shenandoah University, (Winchester, VA), 2006
Amber Curtis, MS, ANCP-C
Amber Curtis, MS, ACNP-C, FNP-C, RNFA
Joined OCR: January 2012
Physician: Michael J. Houghton, MD
NP Experience: Since 2012 in orthopaedics, previously 7 years as an operating room RN and 5 years as an RN first assistant
Education: B.S. in Psychology, Missouri State University (Springfield, MO), 2003; B.S.N., Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Springfield, MO), 2004; M.S., Dual Nurse Practitioner Program (Acute Care and Family, Colorado State University-Pueblo, 2012
Katie Driscoll, PA-C
Katie Driscoll, M.S., PA-C
Joined OCR: April 2011
Physicians: Robert Baer, MD, Michael Rusnak, MD, Riley Hale, MD, and other surgeons on-call for trauma care
PA Experience: Since 2011 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Physiological Sciences, University of Arizona, 2005;  M.S., Physician Assistant Studies, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, (North Chicago, IL), 2011
Mindy Geraets, NP
Mindy Geraets, MSN, FNP-BC
Joined OCR: 2004-2008 as an O.R. Nurse; in 2017 as a Nurse Practitioner
Physician: Rocci Trumper, MD
NP Experience: Family/Internal Medicine, Nursing Education, Orthopaedics
Education: M.S. in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner, University of Northern Colorado, 2009; B.S.N., UNC, 2002
Nate Hawkins, PA-C
Nathan Hawkins, PA-C
Joined OCR: December 2015
Physician: Kirk Kindsfater, MD
PA Experience: Since 2005 in orthopaedics
Education: B.A., Athletic Training, North Central College, (Naperville, IL), 2001;  M.S., Physician Assistant Studies, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, 2005
Brian Hoffman, PA-C
Brian Hoffman, PA-C
Affiliate Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University
Joined OCR: November 2004Physician: Sean Grey, MD
PA Experience: Since 2000 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Health Sciences, Lock Haven University, PA, 1996;
The George Washington University PA Program, 2000 
Dale Lehman, PA-C
Dale Lehman, PA-C, MS, ATC

Joined OCR: July 1996
Physician: Mark McFerran, MD
PA Experience: Since 1996 at OCR
Education: B.S., Colorado State University, 1989; M.S., University of Florida, 1991; PA certification, Cuyahoga Community College (Parma, OH), 1996
Nancy McRae, PA-C
Nancy McRae, PA-C

Joined OCR: February 2009
Physician: Robert Benz, MD
PA Experience: 2004-07 in physiatry; since 2007 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Sports Medicine, Montana State University, 1990; M.S., Health Education, Middle Tennessee State University, 1998; B.S., Physician Assistant, Rocky Mountain College, 2002
Alisha Meserve, PA-C
Alisha Meserve, PA-C

Joined OCR: November 2017
Physician: Robert Baer, MD, Michael Rusnak, MD, Riley Hale, MD, and other surgeons on-call for trauma care
PA Experience: Since 2017 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2011; M.S., Physician Assistant Studies, Duke University School of Medicine (Durham, NC), 2017
David Messinger, PA-C
David Messinger, PA-C

Joined OCR: 2016
Physician: Riley Hale, MD
PA Experience: Since 2016 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), 2011; M.S., Physician Assistant Studies, SUNY Upstate Medical University (Syracuse, NY), 2016
Betsy Metz, PA-C
Betsy Metz, PA-C

Joined OCR: 2018 as a PA; an athletic trainer-cast tech from 2010–2015
Physician: Joshua Snyder, MD
PA Experience: Since 2018 in orthopaedics
Education: B.S., Athletic Training, Illinois State University, 2010; Certificate in PA studies, Red Rocks Community College, (Arvada, CO), 2017; M.M.S., St. Francis University (Loretto, PA), 2017
Carri Miller, PA-C width=
Carri Miller, MPAS, PA-C

Joined OCR: April 2015
Physician: Kirk Kindsfater, MD
PA Experience: Since 1998 in orthopaedics
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Baylor University, 1992; M.S., Physician Assistant Studies, University of Iowa, 1995
Denise Quattlebaum, PA-C width=
Denise Quattlebaum, PA-C

Joined OCR: January 2018
Physician: Michael Rusnak, MD, Rob Baer, MD, and other physicians who provide care for trauma patients on-call
PA Experience: Since 2014 in Orthopaedic Trauma
Education: B.S. in Medical Technology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA 2007; M.S. Physician Assistant Studies, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA, 2013; Surgery & Trauma Physician Assistant Residency, Wakemed Hospital, Raleigh, NC, 2015
Amy Romero, PA-C
Amy Romero, MMS, PA-C
Joined OCR: June 2007
Physicians: Robert Baer, MD, Michael Rusnak, MD, Riley Hale, MD, and other surgeons on-call for trauma care
PA Experience: Since 2001 in orthopaedics
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Colorado College, 1995; Certificate in PA studies, Red Rocks Community College, (Lakewood, CO), 2000; M.M.S., St. Francis University (Loretto, PA), 2000
Danielle Talbert, PA-C
Danielle Talbert, PA-C
Joined OCR: June 2017
Physician: William Biggs, MD
PA Experience: Since 2012 in orthopaedics
Education: Bachelor’s degrees in Integrative Physiology and Psychology, University of Colorado (Boulder), 2007; M.S., Physician Assistant Practice, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 2012

Michael C. Thornton, PA-C

Joined OCR: 2013
Physician: Rocci Trumper, MD
PA Experience: Since 2005 in sports medicine
Education: Master of Physician Assistant, Eastern VA Medical School (Norfolk)
Master of Athletic Training, Old Dominion University (Norfolk)
B.S., Athletic Training, California University of Pennsylvania (California, PA)