"I hope that patients feel like they were well-informed throughout the process with a solid expectation of their outcomes."
Tyler Laber, a physician assistant in orthopedics, sees patients with a wide variety of low back and neck problems. He takes a special interest in minimally-invasive spine surgery.
He focuses on a multitude of spinal disorders including spinal stenosis, intervertebral disc herniations, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy, as well as cervical myelopathy.
Laber works to identify the goals of the patient and tailor the treatment plan to fit each patient in order to optimize their results. "We really focus on individualized medicine. A 78 year old will have different challenges than a 48-year-old patient, and we discuss that with the patient in order to offer the best care possible," he said. "Based on the type of pathology and symptoms a patient has, they often times have a few different surgical options or approaches we can discuss with them."
He is involved in patient care throughout all stages of treatment. This gives him the chance to see the impact the surgery and post-operative recovery have on the patients and their families. "Often people are dealing with significant pain or weakness pre-operatively that is impacting their function or mobility," Laber said. "When we can help them feel significantly better than before they came in and improve their quality of life, it's a win for everyone."
Laber earned his Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
When not at work, Laber enjoys being outside and staying active. He also serves as a PA-C within the Wisconsin Army National Guard. He and his wife have a daughter. During his free time, he is often working on building a cabin in the Northwoods.