Our Medical Advisory Panel plays an integral role in the development of our educational programs. Thanks to the review and input of our panel members, our educational programs provide instruction that follows industry standards and best practices.

Each member of the panel has a vast level of knowledge and experience in the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. You can find more information about our panel members below.

Pamela Burwell, MS, PA-C

Ms. Burwell is a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine PA Program Class of 1994, and has been practicing emergency medicine since that time. In 2000, she founded Peacework Medical Projects, and has since produced twenty-three free medical clinics in developing countries utilizing US volunteers. With these efforts Ms. Burwell was honored with her profession's most prestigious service award, Humanitarian of the Year in 2008. She has also been named Arizona Physician Assistant of the Year in 2005. She is currently a writer for the inaugural specialty examination boards for the NCCPA in Emergency Medicine.

Ryan D. Clement, PA-C

Mr. Clement is a native of Scottsville, NY. He attended Gannon University, in Erie PA, and completed the Physician Assistant Program in 1996. He has since spent his time in Emergency Medicine and Orthopaedics. Mr. Clement is currently practicing Emergency Medicine in Raleigh NC.

Mr. Clement is a Fellow-member in the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant in Orthopedic Surgery, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants and the North Carolina Medical Board. Ryan has an interest in orthopaedic evaluation, orthopedic trauma, and sports injuries as well as education related activities for orthopaedic injuries.

A.J. Duffy, MS, ATC, PT

Mr. Duffy is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has earned a master's degree from the University of Arizona. He completed his Physical Therapy Certificate at Hahnemann University (now Drexel University).

He has been very active in the profession, serving various elected offices since 1993. Among those areas include President of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society. Duffy also has given talks on both the regional and national level. Duffy has been cited as the 2002 Interboro Education Association Volunteer of the Year, the 2002 NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer, the 2003 EATA Cramer Award winner and the 2005 Philadelphia Sports Medicine Congress Ted Quedenfeld Award recipient.

Prior to arriving at Widener, Duffy was an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Michigan from 1984-90 and an assistant at Temple University from 1981-83. He earned his BS from the University of Michigan in 1980, his MS from the University of Arizona in 1981 and his Physical Therapy Certificate from Drexel University (Hahnemann) in 1984. AJ is an approved clinical provider for athletic training students from West Chester University, Temple University and Neumann College.

Thomas V. Gocke, III MS, ATC, PA-C, DFAAPA

Thomas V. Gocke, III completed his undergraduate education at West Virginia University and earned a master's degree from the University of Arizona. He completed the Physician Assistant Program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. As a PA student, Mr. Gocke won both the Katherine Anderson Award and the James F. Wilson Award. In addition to being a Physician Assistant, Mr. Gocke is a certified Athletic Trainer, and was voted the Outstanding Clinical Athletic Trainer by the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association in 2000. Mr. Gocke also received the Athletic Training Service Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association in 2005.

Mr. Gocke has published articles on orthopaedic and sports medicine topics in peer-reviewed journals. He is a frequent speaker at family and community medicine seminars, sports medicine and athletic training meetings and has served as a sports medicine consultant for athletic teams in North Carolina and South Carolina. Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, Mr. Gocke worked for 10 years in college athletics as an Athletic Trainer.

Mr. Gocke is a Distinguished Fellow-member in the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants. He is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association. Mr. Gocke is a former Board of Directors member for Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery and Board of Director member for the Board of Certification, Athletic Trainers. Mr. Gocke has special interests in orthopaedic evaluation, sports injuries, orthopaedic trauma and education related activities for orthopaedic injuries. Mr. Gocke is currently employed by The Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dana Johnson, MPAS, PA-C - Chief Physician Assistant Medical Advisor

Mr. Johnson completed his undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and earned a master's degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Mr. Johnson completed the Physician Assistant Program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Mr. Johnson is a Fellow-member in the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants. He has been a sports medicine consultant for local collegiate and high school athletic teams, bicycle-racing teams, served as medical director for bicycle racing events, and affiliated with the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and AHL Carolina Icecaps. Mr. Johnson has special interests in orthopaedic evaluation, sports injuries, orthopaedic trauma and education related activities for orthopaedic injuries.

Abraham (Abe) McCoy, MHS, PA-C

Mr. McCoy holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology from Savannah State University, and is a graduate of Duke University with a Bachelors Degree from the Physician Assistant Program and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences. Mr. McCoy is a member of the following profession¬al organizations: the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants, the North Carolina Medical Board, and the Southern Medical Association. He served 20 years active duty in the United States Coast Guard, and retired as a Lieutenant. In his capacity as a Medical Officer/Physician Assistant for the USCG, he acquired extensive experience in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Mr. McCoy also proudly served as a member of the volunteer medical staff for the New York City Marathon for 5 years. Post-retirement brought the experience of Occupational Medicine and 5 years of Emergency Medicine.

Terry Messer, M.D.

Dr. Messer received his doctorate in medicine from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1995. This was followed by an internship and residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Messer completed his fellowship at the Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery in Louisville, KY. Upon completion of his hand fellowship, Dr. Messer joined the Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 2001 as a hand and upper extremity specialist. He also practiced at Wake Orthopaedics until 2006.

Dr. Messer is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He is part of the clinical faculty at UNC School of Medicine. He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery with additional certification in hand and upper extremity surgery. www.raleighhand.com

William A. Seeds, MD - Medical Director

Dr. Seeds earned his undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio) and completed his medical training from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Seeds completed his post-graduate residency training at St Luke's – Roosevelt Hospital Center at Columbia University in New York, NY. He has specialty training in sports medicine and total joint replacement from Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has advanced specialty training in computerized total joint replacement and trains physicians in these procedures. Dr. Seeds is the Medical Director for the Ashtabula Surgery Center and the Ohio Bone and Joint Institute. He is a medical consultant to Depuy Orthopaedics/Johnson & Johnson.

Jeremy Thomas, DPM

Dr. Thomas earned his undergraduate degree for Western Carolina University and received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree for Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He has completed a post-graduate residency at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur Georgia. Dr. Thomas is a teaching and research faculty member at the Podiatric Institute. Dr. Thomas is a recent co-author of "The Podiatry Institute Annual Update", co-author of the "AO Internal Fixation Workbook" and is a contributing author of Mcglamry's Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Text. He is a member of the North Carolina Foot and Ankle Society, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management.

Dr. Richard W. Ward, MD

Dr. Ward received his doctorate in medicine from West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed his Internship at the Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, WV and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. Dr. Ward completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. He is a Senior Partner atStrand Orthopaedic Consultants. His orthopaedic surgery special interests are in arthroscopy of the knee and shoulder, rotator cuff surgery and sports-related injuries.

Dr. Ward is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is the Head Team Physician for Coastal Carolina University, serves as a leading Team Physician and consultant for High School sports in South Carolina and the past Committee Chair for the South Carolina Medical Association Medical Aspects of Sports Medicine. Dr Ward was elected into the Coastal Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.  www.strandorthopaedic.com

Wendell C. John, MSN, FNP-C

Mr. John is a native of New York City. He earned his Undergraduate Degree from Northeastern University and in 2003 received his Family Nurse Practitioner Degree from The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Mr. John is experienced in Family Practice, Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care. He is adjunct faculty for East Carolina University Nurse Practitioner Program and Clinical Instructor for The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Nurse Practitioner Program. Mr. John formerly treated acute traumatic and non-traumatic orthopaedic injuries in the Emergency Department on a full time basis. He now treats acute and sub-acute bony and musculoskeletal injuries and ailments in an Urgent Care Setting. He utilizes his years of experience to preparing students for future Orthopaedic Care, Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care practice. He is a member of the American Nurses Association and North Carolina Nurses Association. He has actively participated on medical mission teams nationally and internationally. He has served as team medical personnel for Triathlons, Marathons and local Tennis, Soccer and Football events. Mr. John has special interest in endurance sport-related medical complications and injuries, emergency and urgent care medicine and Advancing Nurse Practitioner education.

Patrick Toy, MD

Dr. Toy completed his undergraduate education at Union University where he graduated Suma cum laude. Prior to attending medical school, he earned a Master's of Science degree from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Toy received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He completed his internship at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences and his orthopaedic residency at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics in Memphis. Dr. Toy completed his orthopaedic fellowship training at the University of Florida in orthopaedic oncology.

Dr. Toy is a partner at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has won many honors in his medical career, which include: Resident Paper Award, Tennessee Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting, Hugh Smith Orthopaedic Research Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Distinguished Graduate Award, the Navy Commendation medal and the Navy Marine Core Achievement Medal.

Dr. Toy has published many articles on orthopaedic and musculoskeletal tumors. He is active in research projects monitoring musculoskeletal tumors and has been a speaker for the Southern Orthopaedic Association, International Symposium for Limb Salvage Surgery, International Surgical Pediatric Oncology Annual Meeting and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Annual Meeting. Dr. Toy has particular interests in general orthopaedics, arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine and orthopaedic-related tumors.

John Hyden, MD

Dr. Hyden graduated from medical school in 2005 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. He completed a Family Medicine residency at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC in 2008 and a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Boston University in 2009. In 2007 he was selected Family Medicine Resident of the year by the faculty at Wake Forest University. He has served as team physician for Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Lane College. Since June 2010 he has been on the staff at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics in Memphis, TN, and is team physician for the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, the Memphis Redbirds, and First Assembly Christian School. A native of Memphis, TN, he is married to Courtney, who is also from Memphis, and they have a son (Jack) who was born in 2010.