Piedmont Orthopedics - OrthoAtlanta Piedmont West

Jonathan Mathers, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine.
He completed a sports medicine fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder and knee, total knee replacement, and fracture care. He employs the latest arthroscopic techniques including ACL reconstruction using quadriceps tendon autograft, cartilage restoration, rotator cuff repairs, and treatment of shoulder instability. He also has a special interest in custom total knee replacement. He has extensive experience in both operative and nonoperative treatment of fractures throughout the skeleton including all upper and lower extremity fractures.
Dr. Mathers is very active in the community and can be found on the sideline as the team physician for North Atlanta High School football and athletics. He also serves on the Georgia Arthritis Foundation Leadership Board.
He has previously served as the assistant team physician for the MLB Houston Astros, NFL Houston Texans, and University of Houston Cougars. He has also been a team physician for Morehouse College, Georgia Perimeter College, and area high schools.
Dr. Mathers believes in lifelong learning and is always striving to improve on current treatments. At the same time, he believes every patient has their own story and deserves personal attention. His goal is to build trust with each of his patients and to make informed healthcare decisions together as a team.
He lives in Atlanta with his wife and three children and enjoys photography, live music, soccer at all levels, and Duke basketball.

Richard B. Johnston, M.D., is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Fellow. Dr. Johnston is fellowship trained in sports medicine. His specialties are orthopaedic surgery, arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery and sports medicine. Areas of Expertise Sports Medicine Shoulder Arthroscopy Knee Surgery Board Certification American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Fellow Education Fellowship: Oasis Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy, San Diego, CA, 1995, Sports Medicine Fellowship Residency: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, Atlanta, GA, 1994, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Internship: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, Atlanta, GA, 1990, General Surgery Internship Medical Degree: Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN, 1989, Doctor of Medicine Undergraduate Degree: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 1985, Bachelor of Science Professional Memberships American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Atlanta Orthopaedic Society Georgia Orthopaedic Society Hughston Society Medical Association of Georgia Appointments Clinical Instructor of Orthopaedics, Emory University Community Involvement Dr. Johnston's training and expertise in sports medicine have kept him actively involved in many community and professional organizations. Dr. Johnston is a Clinical Instructor of Orthopaedics at Emory University Medical School. He has served as an associate team physician for the Atlanta Falcons, an assistant orthopaedic team physician for the San Diego Chargers football team, and an assistant team physician for the professional International Hockey League. He was an orthopaedic sports medicine physician treating athletes in the Olympic Village during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served as a sideline physician for the USA Women's Soccer Team. He has also served as sideline physician for the college football Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and as a physician for the professional tennis players at the annual BB&T Tennis Atlanta Open. He is also the team physician for Chattahoochee High School and other local high schools. Honors / Recognition Been named one of "America's Top Surgeons" numerous times, most recently 2012. Been recognized as one of the Top Doctors in Atlanta Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in 2001. Insurance Plans Accepted Aetna, BCBS, Champus Tricare, Cigna, Coventry, Humana, Medicare, United Healthcare and many others. Please contact physician office for additional plans covered.

Dane A. Iams, M.D. is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in the replacement and reconstruction of the knee and the hip, specifically primary and revision hip and knee replacement. Dr. Iams specializes in minimally invasive surgery, anterior hip replacement, robotic and computer navigated hip and knee replacement, hip resurfacing, and partial knee replacement.

Dr. Iams attended The University of Georgia for undergrad and attended the Medical School of Georgia in Augusta. Upon graduation from medical school, Dr. Iams completed his orthopedic surgery residency and adult reconstruction fellowship at The University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida.

Steven E. Blackwood, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon in the subspecialty of foot and ankle surgery. Dr. Blackwood offers comprehensive treatment of a variety of foot and ankle conditions including sports injuries, post-traumatic deformity, acute fractures, tendinopathy, chronic degenerative disease, and acquired toe deformity. He is experienced in fracture care, general orthopedics, ankle arthroscopy, cartilage preservation and restoration, complex deformity correction, ligament and tendon repair and reconstruction, ankle replacement, and fusions of the ankle and midfoot. Dr. Blackwood also specializes in the treatment of common foot and ankle disorders including bunions, hammer toes, Morton’s neuromas, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinitis.

Dr. Blackwood is from Roswell, GA and graduated with the highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed his medical training at the Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta and completed residency in orthopedic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He went on to complete a foot and ankle fellowship at Grand Rapids Orthopedic Associates in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

During Dr. Blackwood’s time at Georgia Tech he played collegiate baseball and is the only four year letterman to be named Mr. Georgia Tech. In 2018, he was inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. He was also drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2005 MLB draft. Most recently, Dr. Blackwood served as the Team Physician at the University of Mississippi and Lafayette High School in Oxford, MS.

Douglas B. Kasow, D.O., is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and is an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Fellow. Dr. Kasow holds AO/ASIF Fellowship training in surgery of the spine and spine trauma. Upon completion of his fellowship, Dr. Kasow received advanced training in spinal trauma under the direction of Dr. Bartolome Marre at the Hospital de Trabajodor in Santiago, Chile.

Dr. Kasow specializes in adult degenerative cervical and lumbar spinal pathology, traumatic spinal injuries, motion preservation technology, also known as total disc arthroplasty, and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Dr. Kasow values educating his patients on their underlying condition and personalizing their care so that they can make informed decisions to meet their needs and goals.

Dr. Kasow grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and went to Emory University where he was involved with Habitat for Humanity. He is heavily involved in education and research, and has given multiple talks at medical conferences. He frequently mentors high school, college, and medical students considering a career in orthopaedics. Dr. Kasow has served on multiple hospital related committees and most recently was Vice Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics, Gwinnett Hospital System. He is an active sports enthusiast who enjoys snow skiing and scuba diving. Dr. Kasow is married and has two daughters and loves spending time with his family.

Christopher E. Alexander, M.D. is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He practices in our Brookhaven and Piedmont West locations. Dr. Alexander provides nonsurgical orthopedic care to patients utilizing his training in nonsurgical management of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and sports-related injuries. His practice includes nonsurgical orthopedic medicine, interventional spine, and musculoskeletal medicine, Botox injections to treat migraine and dystonia, spinal cord stimulation, and sympathetic blocks.

Dr. Alexander is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C. and completed medical school at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He completed a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at The University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine and went on to complete a Pain Medicine Fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. As a PM&R physician, Dr. Alexander's goal is to improve function, pain, and quality of life for his patients.

Travis W. Littleton, M.D., is a board certified orthopedic surgeon, fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Littleton’s practice includes wrist, elbow and shoulder arthroscopy, fracture care, adult and pediatric hand injuries, and work injuries.

Dr. Littleton has a special interest in endoscopic and mini open carpal tunnel release, rotator cuff repair, shoulder replacement and complex elbow and wrist reconstruction.

Other procedures include treatment of Dupuytren’s Disease, tendon transfers and nerve repair and reconstruction. Fracture care provided by Dr. Littleton includes finger, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm and shoulder.

Peter J. Symbas, M.D., is double board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Symbas is Fellowship trained in sports medicine and shoulder disorders at The Hughston Clinic. His specialty is orthopaedic surgery with a special interest in sports medicine, shoulder disorders, arthritic reconstruction and fracture care. Areas of Interest Sports Medicine Shoulder Disorders Total Joint Reconstruction Fracture Care Board Certification American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialty certificate: Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialty certificate: Sports Medicine American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Fellow Education Fellowship: The Hughston Clinic, Columbus, GA, Sports Medicine Fellowship 2002 Residency: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency 2001 Internship: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA, Surgery Internship 1997 Medical Degree: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA 1996, Doctor of Medicine Post-Baccalaureate: Emory University, Atlanta GA, 1991 Undergraduate Degree: Emory University, Atlanta, GA 1990, Bachelor of Psychology Professional Memberships American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons American Medical Society American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Georgia Orthopaedic Society Hughston Society Medical Association of Georgia Robert P. Kelley Research Society Appointments Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics for Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (2016-2018) Mercer University, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor Community Involvement Dr. Symbas is an Atlanta native who graduated from The Westminster Schools. During his time at Emory University, he was captain of the nationally ranked collegiate soccer team and went on to play semi-professional soccer. His special interest and expertise in sports medicine has kept him involved with many local and professional organizations. He is the team physician for Atlanta's professional soccer team, The Atlanta Silverbacks, as well as Pace Academy. Dr. Symbas has served as assistant team physician for the Emory University Men's soccer team, assistant medical director for the LPGA Chick-fil-A Charity Golf Championship, and sideline physician for both the Peach Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He is the Chief of Orthopaedics for the Piedmont Clinic. In 2016, Dr. Symbas will begin a two-year appointment as the Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics for Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Insurance Plans Accepted Aetna, BCBS, Champus Tricare, Cigna, Coventry, Humana, Medicare, United Healthcare and many others. Please contact physician office for additional plans covered. Hospital Affiliation Piedmont Atlanta Hospital Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Piedmont West Surgery Center