Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine Physician Michelle Sliva, M.D., M.S., Joins North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center

Fellowship-trained Sports Medicine Physician Michelle Sliva, M.D., M.S., has joined North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center effective Aug. 1. Appointments are now being scheduled. To schedule an appointment, call (985) 230-BONE [2663] or click here.

Dr. Sliva comes to North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center after recently completing a fellowship in Sports Medicine through WellSpan Health System in York, Pennsylvania.

Using non-surgical orthopedic treatments, Dr. Sliva will work with North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center’s team of orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and athletic trainers as well as North Oaks Rehabilitation Services therapists to get injured athletes back in action quickly and safely. She also will serve as medical director of both North Oaks Sports Medicine and the Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics Sports Medicine program.

“I enjoy seeing athletes at all levels of competition recover and succeed after injuries,” notes Dr. Sliva, who is a triathlete herself.

“I have always wanted to help others improve their health,” she continues. “My specific interest in sports medicine came about when I was injured as a young swimmer. I had the benefit of working with a great sports medicine team to get me back in the pool. The team included an athletic trainer, physical therapist, primary care sports medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon. It was then that I knew I wanted to do what they did for me for other athletes.”

Board-certified in Family Medicine by the American Academy of Family Medicine, Dr. Sliva earned her medical degree from Saba University School of Medicine in the Netherlands Antilles and went on to complete an internship and residency in Family Medicine through Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in South Carolina. In her second year of residency, she was honored as “Resident of the Year” by the Intensive Care Unit, and in her final year of residency, she served as chief resident.

Prior to medical school, she earned a master’s degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. She has held certifications as an athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainers Association and a corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

As a certified athletic trainer, medical student, resident and fellow, Dr. Sliva had the opportunity to work with a variety of sports and athletes at all levels – from high school and collegiate to semi-professional and professional – including minor league baseball, USA Taekwondo and Ironman events. She also routinely gave of her personal time as a medical volunteer for the Western Michigan Region Special Olympics Winter Games and various marathons and 5K runs, including the Baltimore Marathon and Lake Placid Ironman.

Dr. Sliva’s approach to patient care centers on empowering her patients to play an active role in mapping out their care plan.

“I believe medical decisions should be a group decision between the patient, their family and the sports medicine team,” she explains. “I encourage my patients and their family members to ask questions and share concerns so that I can make sure that they are well informed to make a decision.”

Professionally, she belongs to the American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and American Academy of Family Physicians.

North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center’s Hammond clinic is located in Suite 100 of the North Oaks Clinic Building at 15813 Paul Vega, M.D., Dr. Providers who practice in Hammond include: Foot and Ankle Specialist Patrick Barousse, M.D., M.P.H.; Spine Specialist Matthew Lafleur, M.D.; Total Joint and Trauma Specialist Vince Lands, M.D.; General Orthopedics and Total Joint Specialist Robert McAfee, M.D.; Hand and Wrist Specialist Nader Shourbaji, M.D., M.B.A.; Sports Medicine and Shoulder Specialist Katy Morris M.D.; and Sports Medicine Specialist Jeffrey Witty M.D.; Physician Assistant Marc Pitre, PA-C; and Nurse Practitioners Janet Morse, ANP-C; and Rae Pitcher, FNP-C, APRN. To schedule an appointment in Hammond, call (985) 230-BONE [2663].

North Oaks Orthopedic Specialty Center’s Livingston clinic is located in Suite 100 of the North Oaks-Livingston Parish Medical Complex at 17199 Spring Ranch Road. Providers who practice in Livingston include: Physician Assistants Randy Herrin, PA-C, and Marc Pitre, PA-C. To schedule an appointment in Livingston, call (225) 686-4900.

Hours of operation for both clinic locations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

For more information about North Oaks’ primary, specialty and urgent care clinics, call North Oaks Public Relations at (985) 230-6647.