Biographies

James J. Lynch, M.D., F.A.C.S. | Jonathan D. Burns, M.D. | Lisa M.M. Pitino, D.O. | Joseph L. Olivarez, P.A.-C | Josh Pfeifle, P.A.-C | Ken Schaefer, P.A.-C | J Brian Allen, P.A.-C | Thaïs Mollet, PT, DPT | Leslie H. Toulouse, MA, MPT

Neurosurgeon

James J. Lynch, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.I.
Board-certified Neurosurgeon
Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeon

Dr. James Lynch is a board-certified neurosurgeon with 18 years of experience, who specializes in complex spine surgery, cervical disorders, degenerative spine, spinal deformities, trauma, tumor infection and minimally invasive spine surgery.

Dr. James Lynch has been selected for Becker's Orthopedic & Spine Review's list of "50 of the Best Spine Specialists in America", which includes both neuro and orthopedic spine surgeons. He is the only northern Nevada spine surgeon recognized for this honor. Becker's Orthopedic & Spine Review offers news and analysis on business and legal issues related to orthopedic and spine practices. Dr. Lynch will be an invited guest speaker on Spine Center and ASC Development at the 2010 American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Dr. Lynch is one of a handful of spine surgeons with three fellowships in the specialty of spine surgery. He has been a consultant neurosurgeon in the Reno area since 2000 after completing his neurosurgery residency at Mayo Clinic and spine fellowships at Queens Square in London and Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He has also served as Chief of Neurosurgery at St. Mary’s Hospital. Dr. Lynch serves as a Partner and Director of Spine Services at Regent Surgical Health, a company involved in developing hospitals and ASC outpatient surgery centers. He has been published in leading journals including: Spine: Journal of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery.

He earned his medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, followed by a residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Lynch went on to complete a spine fellowship at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London, UK, followed by a spine fellowship at Mayo Clinic and an additional spine fellowship under Volker Sonntag, MD, at the prestigious Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ. As a leading authority on Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) development, Dr. Lynch lectures at national meetings on outpatient spine surgery. He serves as Chairman and Director of Spine Programs at Surgery Center of Reno.

Dr. Lynch is the founder of SpineNevada.

Click here to download and print out new patient forms for Dr. Lynch.

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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Jonathan D. Burns, M.D.
Board-certified Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician
Fellowship-Trained Interventional Pain Management Specialist

Dr. Burns joins SpineNevada after completing an interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at The SMART Clinic in Sandy, Utah. Dr. Burns specializes in the assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of back and neck pain problems. He is proficient in EMGs and pain-relieving spinal injections.

Dr. Burns earned his undergraduate degree at The Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore and his medical degree at New Jersey Medical School at Newark. He completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he also served as clinical instructor, elective coordinator and research coordinator. He is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports & Occupational Rehabilitation.

Click here to download and print out new patient forms for Dr. Burns.

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Lisa M.M. Pitino, D.O.
Board-certified Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician
Fellowship-Trained Interventional Pain Management Specialist

Dr. Pitino joins SpineNevada after completing a Pain Management Fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Pitino specializes in the assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of back and neck pain problems. She is proficient in EMGs and pain-relieving spinal injections.

Dr. Pitino earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California at Santa Barbara and her medical degree at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California. She completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports & Occupational Rehabilitation.

Click here to download and print new patient forms for Dr. Pitino.

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Physician Assistants

Joseph L. Olivarez, P.A.-C
Physician Assistant

Joseph Olivarez has been with SpineNevada since September of 2004. He received his certificate in PA studies in 1995 from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, in Pomona, CA.  

Joseph started his career in medicine in 1985 as a Navy corpsman. He spent 4 years in the Navy working as a surgical technologist. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, he continued work as a surgical technologist while pursuing his degree at Mount San Antonio College, in Walnut, California. Since becoming a PA, Mr. Olivarez has worked with both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgeons. He has assisted on thousands of spine surgeries in his 13 year career.

Joseph has remained active in the  education of physician assistants. He is on the adjunct faculty at Western  University. He is a clinical preceptor for Western University, Samuel Merritt College Physician Assistant Program, and Touro University Primary Care Physician Assistant Program. He is as well a regular speaker and presenter at the California Academy of Physician Assistants annual conference. Mr. Olivarez has received special recognition for achievements and knowledge of surgery and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He is also a Fellow member of the Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants and the Nevada Academy of Physician Assistants.

In his spare time Mr. Olivarez enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons. He is as well an avid cyclist.

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Josh Pfeifle, P.A.-C
Physician Assistant

Josh Pfeifle, P.A.-C, joined SpineNevada in 2007.  Josh also works alongside SpineNevada physicians and surgeons, assisting in all areas of patient care and management, including office visits, in-patient care and assisting in surgery.

Josh Pfeifle comes to SpineNevada from the rural farming community of Power, Montana with a particular interest in the care of patients with spinal disorder.  During his training he completed an elective neurosurgery internship in Great  Falls, MT.

He is a 2006 graduate of the Rocky Mountain College Physician Assistant Program, in Billings, Montana, where he earned a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies.  Josh is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

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Ken Schaefer, P.A.-C
Physician Assistant

Ken Schaefer joined the SpineNevada team in 2010. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Nevada in Reno. He was awarded his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland. Ken is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant since 2010.

Ken has clinical experience in general surgery, orthopedics, emergency medicine, women's health, internal medicine, trauma surgery, family practice, pediatrics and geriatrics. His responsibilties at SpineNevada include performing medical history and physical exams. Ken has experience prescribing and implementing treatment plans and interventions including splinting, casting, and joint injections for both new and established patients. Ken has served as both a first and second assistant for joint replacement, spine, hand, foot, ankle, and sports medicine surgeries.

In his spare time, Ken enjoys running, biking, bowling, hunting, fishing, traveling, following professional and college sports and public speaking.

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J Brian Allen, P.A.-C
Physician Assistant

J Brian Allen was born in Page, Arizona and grew up in Sandy, Utah. He graduated from Touro University Nevada in 2010 earning a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. He has been certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant since 2010.

JB has a special interest in spine and musculoskeletal medicine including non-surgical treatment of painful conditions related to the back and neck. He focuses his skills on diagnosis and pathology, pain management, finding appropriate treatment strategies and striving to achieve the highest standards in quality patient care.

He is excited to be joining our team and hopes to make your experience with SpineNevada a pleasant one. JB enjoys many aspects of life including oil painting, tennis, golf, basketball, camping, hiking, and community service.

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Physical Therapists

Thaïs Mollet, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist

Thais joined the Physical Therapy Department at SpineNevada in 2008.  She helps patients improve their quality of life through therapeutic treatment that includes manual therapy, specific exercises and patient education.  Thais earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Boston University in 2004.  Thais has studied manual spine treatment approaches from Australia. Her treatment approaches uses techniques from Kaltenborn, Evjenth, Maitland and Butler schools of thought.  Thais treats patients according to their individual needs to decrease their pain and increase their overall function in order to better enjoy life.

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Leslie Hill Toulouse, MA, MPT
Physical Therapist

Leslie joins the SpineNevada Physical Therapy Department with experience in manual and aquatic physical therapy. She has specialized training in the treatment of the cranial base, thoracic cage, pelvis, cervical and lumbar spine and lower and upper extremities. Leslie also brings experience in spinal evaluation and manipulation to SpineNevada.

Leslie has studied at the URSA Foundation, where she completed the highly respected Silver Series program, a 2-year post graduate course in the evaluation and manual treatment of the entire system. She also has specialized training in the following areas, mobilization of the nervous system, embryology for the manual practitioner and evaluation and treatment of the cervical, thoracic and pelvic ganglia.

Leslie’s background also includes professional experience as a Director of Aquatic Therapy Department for a CARF accredited rehabilitation facility and as a Director of outpatient physical therapy with a focus on manual and aquatic physical therapy. She has 14 years of experience as an Instructor and Instuctor-trainer for the American Red Cross Water Safety and Adapted Aquatics programs.

Leslie received her BA from the University of Nevada in Reno and her Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of California at San Francisco.

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