The Medical Opinion Marketplace

Dawn Steiner, M.D., is an obstetrics and gynecology physician based in Kansas City, Missouri. She provides comprehensive women’s health care across the lifespan, with a focus on evidence-based, patient-centered care for routine gynecologic needs, preventive care, and pregnancy-related services. Dr. Steiner earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is affiliated with University Health and Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, supporting continuity of care across outpatient and hospital settings. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Steiner has served in a leadership role as Medical Director for University Health Women’s Care. Her professional interests include quality improvement in women’s health, including efforts to strengthen postpartum follow-up and coordination with primary care for patients with a history of gestational diabetes. Dr. Steiner is fluent in English and also speaks Russian and Spanish, helping her connect with a diverse patient community through clear communication and shared decision-making.

Brandon B. Carlson, MD, MPH, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery, with clinical focus on complex spinal disorders, including scoliosis and other challenging deformities. He is part of the medical staff at The University of Kansas Health System, where he provides comprehensive evaluation and surgical management for patients with a wide range of spinal conditions. Dr. Carlson earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training at the University of Kansas. He then pursued advanced fellowship training in spine surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, an institution affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine, further refining his expertise in complex and reconstructive spine care. His professional interests include the use of advanced techniques such as robot-assisted spine surgery, with an emphasis on precision and thoughtful surgical planning. Dr. Carlson also contributes to spine education and collaboration through involvement with the International Spine Study Group as participating site faculty, supporting ongoing learning and research in the field of spine surgery.

Laura Parks, M.D., is an obstetrician-gynecologist with a special focus on pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and holds a Focused Practice Designation in Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, a distinction held by a limited number of physicians in Kansas. Dr. Parks earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Louis University. She serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and is the Director of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology. In clinical practice, Dr. Parks provides compassionate, evidence-based care across the lifespan, from infancy through menopause, with particular expertise in the unique gynecologic needs of children, teens, and young adults. She is affiliated with Menorah Medical Center and is part of the Town Plaza Women’s Health team within the HCA Midwest Health physicians network. Dr. Parks speaks English and French.

Eric P. Ecklund-Johnson, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist and psychologist with The University of Kansas Health System, affiliated with the Neurology department. He is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Clinical Neuropsychology. Dr. Ecklund-Johnson specializes in neuropsychology, providing comprehensive neuropsychological assessments for conditions that affect cognitive and emotional functioning. He works with adult patients, including older adults, and conducts evaluations designed to clarify diagnosis, characterize strengths and challenges across thinking skills, and support practical treatment and care planning. Dr. Ecklund-Johnson earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago and completed advanced postdoctoral residency training in neuropsychology at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. His clinical approach is informed by an ongoing interest in the measurement and interpretation of brain-behavior relationships, with particular attention to memory disorders and executive functioning. He also has scholarly interests in forensic neuropsychological assessment issues and has contributed to peer-reviewed neuropsychology publications. Dr. Ecklund-Johnson provides care in English and is committed to delivering careful, evidence-based evaluations tailored to each patient’s goals and concerns.

Michael A. Rippee, MD, is a neurologist with subspecialty expertise in vascular neurology at The University of Kansas Health System. Board certified in Neurology with subspecialty certification in Vascular Neurology through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, he provides comprehensive neurologic care with a focus on evidence-based, patient-centered treatment. Dr. Rippee earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine. He completed internship training in internal medicine followed by a neurology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he also completed fellowship training in vascular neurology. His clinical interests include caring for athletes with neurologic injuries as well as athletes managing chronic neurologic conditions, with an emphasis on brain health across the lifespan. He is known for a team-based, multidisciplinary approach that coordinates care across specialties to support diagnosis, treatment planning and recovery. Dr. Rippee cares for a wide range of patients, including children, adolescents, adults and older adults, and offers video visits when appropriate. He also serves as an associate professor of neurology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

David Vernikov, MD, is a physician specializing in psychiatry with additional expertise in internal medicine at The University of Kansas Health System. He is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). Dr. Vernikov earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and completed residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in both internal medicine and psychiatry. Dr. Vernikov provides comprehensive, patient-centered psychiatric care and integrates medical and mental health perspectives to support overall well-being. He sees a wide range of age groups, including children, teens, adults, and older adults, and tailors care to each patient’s developmental stage, goals, and medical needs. Video visits are available, offering additional flexibility for follow-up care and ongoing treatment. He practices at multiple University of Kansas Health System locations, including sites that support specialty care for older adults as well as hospital- and clinic-based services. Dr. Vernikov speaks English and Russian, helping him connect with and support diverse patient communities.

Matthew L. Drake, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty focus in hand and upper extremity surgery. He cares for a wide range of conditions affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow, including upper-extremity injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and lacerations, as well as common problems like trigger finger, tendonitis, ganglion cysts, and arthritis of the fingers and wrist. Dr. Drake has a particular clinical interest in peripheral nerve surgery, treating conditions such as carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome and providing complex nerve repair and reconstruction when needed. He performs many procedures using wide-awake hand surgery techniques, allowing select operations to be completed with local anesthesia and without a tourniquet, which can support patient comfort and efficient recovery for appropriate candidates. Dr. Drake sees patients across the lifespan, including children, teens, adults, and older adults, and offers the option of video visits when clinically appropriate. He is affiliated with The University of Kansas Health System (Kansas City Division).

Dr. Andrew Murtha is an orthopaedic surgeon with The University of Kansas Health System and an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of hip and knee conditions, with a clinical focus on joint replacement for both primary cases and complex revision or failed joint replacements. His procedural expertise includes anterior hip replacement, robotic-assisted knee replacement, and unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement. Dr. Murtha earned his medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He completed an orthopaedic surgery residency through the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium while serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, followed by fellowship training in adult reconstructive surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital. During his military career, he served as a staff orthopedic surgeon at Keesler Air Force Base and held leadership and education roles as an orthopedic surgery medical director and an assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Board certified in orthopaedic surgery, Dr. Murtha is also involved with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

Julia C. Slater, MD, is a plastic surgeon with advanced training in burn surgery. She provides comprehensive surgical care focused on restoring function and appearance after injury, illness, or complex wounds, with particular expertise in the management of burn injuries and their reconstruction. Dr. Slater cares for a broad range of patients, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, and is committed to clear communication and individualized treatment planning. Dr. Slater earned her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed a general surgery residency at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. She pursued fellowship training in burn surgery at Johns Hopkins University – Bayview, followed by plastic surgery residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is board certified in both general surgery and plastic surgery. In addition to in-person care, she offers video visits when appropriate to support access and continuity. Dr. Slater’s approach emphasizes patient safety, thoughtful reconstruction, and coordinated care across the surgical and multidisciplinary teams involved in recovery.

Timothy Badwey, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle care. He is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, from common forefoot problems such as bunions and hammertoes to sports-related injuries including ankle instability and Achilles tendon disorders, as well as arthritic conditions affecting the foot and ankle. Dr. Badwey earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita. He pursued advanced fellowship training in foot and ankle surgery at the Campbell Clinic, strengthening his expertise in both operative and nonoperative management. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Badwey serves as a Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine and is an Associate Program Director of the UMKC Orthopaedic Residency Program at Saint Luke’s Hospital. He is affiliated with Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.