General Orthopedic Care

At our General Orthopedics program, your child's care comes first. Our highly trained team of experts offers comprehensive care for a range of orthopedic injuries and conditions.

One area of specialty is our treatment of pediatric lower limb disorders - conditions affecting the legs, ankles and feet. We can begin this care in infancy when needed, with support as your child grows. We seek to help each child move better, feel better and live life to the fullest.

Our General Orthopedic services

Many orthopedic conditions are congenital (present at birth) and require management over several years. Others show up as your child grows, from disease or injuries. Whether treating a newborn or a teenager, we provide the right care for every stage of development.

At Cook Children's, our services include:

Casting and bracing to realign club feet and bowlegs
Orthotics and prosthetics for children who need extra support
Physical therapy and occupational therapy to improve movement and function
Surgery to address differences in leg length

Conditions we treat

Our orthopedists are experts at caring for children's growing bones. Our General Orthopedics team treats a variety of orthopedic conditions, including:

Adolescent hip dysplasia: dislocation of the hip joint that can occur as a teen grows
Arthrogryposis
Brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta)
Club foot
Bowlegs
Flat feet
Growth plate injuries
In and out toeing
Limb-length discrepancy
Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)
Toe walking and other gait abnormalities

Get to know our general orthopedic team

Our pediatric orthopedists are experts at treating conditions that affect children and teens. We understand that growing bodies have unique needs, and we use the most advanced methods to customize treatment.

Cody Beaver, MD

Orthopedics

4.6 out of 5

98 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Ronald Burke, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

40 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

W. Taylor Dodgen, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

139 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Stephanie Goldstein, MD

Orthopedics

4.8 out of 5

84 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

David Gray, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

77 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Jason Kennedy, MD

Orthopedics

4.8 out of 5

109 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Lauren LaMont, MD

Orthopedics

5.0 out of 5

43 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Matthew Mayfield, MD

Orthopedics

4.9 out of 5

127 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Richard Schuster, MD

Orthopedics

4.8 out of 5

45 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Pamela Sherman, MD

Orthopedics

4.8 out of 5

151 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-4405

Advance practice providers

Lauren Ball

Lauren Ball grew up in Bloomsburg, Penn. and moved to the Fort Worth area in spring 2022. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, from the Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master in Medical Science from Saint Francis University in 2022. She has been working as a physician assistant in orthopedics for nearly two years.

Lauren joined the hand team at Cook Children’s Orthopedics in February 2024 to work alongside Dr. Sherman and Aaron Perkins, PA-C. She assists with surgeries in the OR, as well as sees patients both in the outpatient and inpatient settings.

Lauren found her calling in orthopedics after growing up with an orthopedic surgeon father and being a Division I student-athlete on the University of Maryland Women’s Track and Field team, specializing in the heptathlon. Outside of work, Lauren remains very family-oriented, frequently catching up with her two sisters, nieces and nephews, as well as her younger twin brothers; she also enjoys working out, reading, watching sports, trying new foods (especially desserts) and skiing in the winter.

Alec Bove, MPAS, PA-C

Alec Bove graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. He attended graduate school at Harding University where he obtained his Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 2023.

Growing up, Alec played a number of sports including basketball, football, and track. His various orthopedic injuries in school led him to develop a deep interest in Pediatric Orthopedics. During his clinical rotations in PA school, he had the opportunity to participate in multiple Pediatric Orthopedic rotations where his knowledge and passion for the field continued to grow. He finds great value in being able to relate to his patients because of his own personal experience with injuries.

Alec sees patients in the inpatient setting, outpatient setting, and assists in the operating room primarily with Dr. Goldstein. He was born and raised in Plano, TX but moved to Fort Worth in 2024 to join the Cook Children's Orthopedic department. When Alec is not at work he enjoys trying Fort Worth's newest restaurant, golfing with friends, or going for a run. He has completed multiple marathons over the years and hopes to one day complete a full Ironman triathlon!

aBritt

Alexandra Britt grew up in South Dakota where she attended undergrad at Dakota Wesleyan University and received her Master's in Physician Assistant studies from the University of South Dakota. She moved to Texas shortly after graduating from PA School. She worked in adult pain management for a couple years before coming to work in orthopedic surgery at Cook Children's in 2020. She works primarily with Dr. Mayfield and greatly enjoys helping children feel better.

When not at work, she likes spending time with her husband, friends, and dogs. She enjoys the outdoors, especially the warmth Texas has to offer, live music, and watching movies.

Charles Coppinger

Charles (Chuck) Coppinger, PA-C

Brittne Craig

Brittne Craig received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Before joining Cook Children's Orthopedics, Brittne worked as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Emergency Department at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas and in the Emergency Department at Baylor Scott & White in Grapevine, Texas. After working as a nurse for nearly 10 years, she decided to go back to school to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington. Brittne is certified as an Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Brittne works directly with Dr. W. Taylor Dodgen and provides clinical coverage at the Alliance and Dodson locations. Together, they specialize in complex child and adolescent hip conditions, cerebral palsy, myelodysplasia, clubfoot/foot deformities, and trauma/fracture care.

Brittne is a native Texan and grew up in the Grapevine area. She and her husband, Shelby, live in Fort Worth with their two daughters who are both active in cheerleading. In her free time, Brittne enjoys spending time with family and friends and attending/watching Texas Tech sporting events (Wreck 'em)!

kDiggs

Katy Diggs is an East Texas native. She graduated from Hendrix College in 1992 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biology.

She completed the Surgical Physician Assistant Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor's of Science degree.

She joined Children's Orthopedics of Atlanta Scottish Rite from 1998-2004.

In 2005, she joined the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Department at Cook Children's Hospital providing acute injury and fracture care to the greater Fort Worth area.Currently, she works primarily out of the Alliance location and works with Dr. Schuster.

In 2008, she completed a Master's Degree in Physician Assistant Studies specializing in Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.

Katy lives in Keller, TX and enjoys gardening and hiking. She has three children and loves watching them play soccer, baseball and football on weekends and evenings.

tEdwards

Torrie Edwards is a 2009 graduate of Baylor University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She started off her nursing career as an inpatient nurse at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas on the Hematology/Oncology unit and eventually found her way to Children's Medical Center in Dallas where she worked in the Department of Orthopedics. This is where her interest in pediatric orthopedics began and in 2011 she began her studies to become a nurse practitioner at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Torrie is a Fort Worth native and once she completed her nurse practitioner training, she headed back home to Fort Worth and began working in the department of Orthopedics at Cook Children's Medical Center in 2014.

She works directly with Dr. David Gray and sees patients at the Dodson and Southwest locations. She enjoys caring for pediatric patients and their families and watching them return to their activities.

In her free time, Torrie enjoys traveling and spending time with her dog – a very active Labrador retriever.

Jennifer Elkins

Jennifer Elkins is a Texas and DFW native that grew up in Mansfield, TX. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Samford University in Birmingham, AL in 2009 and graduated with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies in Fort Worth, TX in 2014. She has worked in Orthopedics for the past nine years. Jennifer joined the Cook Children’s Orthopedic Department in 2023 and she sees patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting, as well as assisting in surgery.

Jennifer live in North Richland Hills where she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children who keep her very busy. She enjoys running, the outdoors and reading. If you come to clinic with a book, she will probably ask you what you are reading!

sFisher

Sarah Fisher graduated from the University of Kansas in 2006 with a BS in Human Biology. She started graduate school at UT Southwestern the day after college graduation and completed her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies in 2008.

She has worked as a physician assistant in orthopedics for nine years, with the majority of that time being in pediatric orthopedics. She also has several years of experience in pediatric emergency medicine.

Sarah has been a member of the Cook Children's Orthopedic Department since 2017 where she sees patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting as well as assisting in surgery. She works primarily with Dr. Kennedy and provides clinical coverage at the Hurst and Dodson locations.

She is from Lawrence, KS and moved to Texas in 2006 for graduate school where she met her husband. She has two little boys who bring lots of love, joy, and energy to her life!

Tate Hayes, MPAS, PA-C

Tate Hayes grew up in Sweetwater, TX and graduated from Texas A&M University in 2012 (Gig 'em!) with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences. He started PA school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in 2013 completed his Master in Physician Assistant Studies in 2016.

Tate has worked as a physician assistant in orthopedics for 8 years, with experience in adult and pediatric orthopedics. He has been a member of the Cook Children's Orthopedic Department since 2024 where he sees patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting as well as assisting in surgery. He works primarily with Dr. Mollabashy and Dr. Gilbert and provides clinical coverage at the Southwest and Dodson locations.

Tate resides in the mid-cities area with his wife, Tiffany, and two kids, and in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family/friends, playing golf or traveling.

cLeitch

Camille Leitch graduated from UT Southwestern in 2016 with a Master's degree in physician assistant studies.

She is a Fort Worth native who graduated from Southwest Christian School. She then attended Texas A&M University, receiving her undergraduate degree in biology in 2012. She returned back to Fort Worth to work at Cook Children's as an emergency department scribe prior to starting physician assistant training at UT Southwestern. During her tenure as an ED scribe, Camille suffered a torn ACL and three fractures while playing soccer, sparking her interest in orthopedics.

Camille joined the Cook Children's Orthopedic team in 2017, working directly with Dr. Ronald Burke. She primarily sees patients at the Walsh, Southwest, and Dodson locations. She enjoys helping children and teens return to the activities they love to participate in.

She and her husband, Jeremy - a geologist - reside in Fort Worth with their two dogs. In their free time, they love to golf, ski, and cycle.

Jennifer Nance

Jennifer Nance, DNP, CPNP, RN

Jennifer grew up in North Texas and attended Texas Tech University to play golf there. She got her masters and doctorate degrees in Cleveland Ohio at Case Western Reserve University and has been practicing Pediatric Orthopedics for the past 17 years, most recently at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is married with two dogs who enjoy playing and adventuring the outdoors!

Aaron Perkins

Aaron Perkins grew up just outside of Waco in Robinson, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated with her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She has worked as a physician assistant in Orthopedics for 6 years.

Aaron joined Cook Children's Orthopedics in 2023 and works with Dr. Sherman and the hand team, seeing patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as assisting in the OR.

Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending her free time with her husband and daughter. You can usually find them outside with their two dogs enjoying everything outdoors - running, exercise, hiking, fishing and sports

Frankie Kindy

Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD

Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD started working with Cook Children's in 2023 as a Registered Dietitian in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. She received her Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition, Master of Science in Human Nutrition, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). Prior to coming to Cook Children's, Frankie worked as a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer at a commercial gym, providing fitness and nutrition guidance for teens and adults in all walks of life. She is currently studying to become a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics.

Frankie grew up participating in sports and loves teaching young athletes how to fuel their bodies to perform at their best and reduce their risk of injury. In addition, she is very passionate about promoting a good relationship with food that lasts a lifetime. Food is fuel and fun! In her free time, Frankie enjoys exercising, reading, eating yummy food, and spending time with her husband and two cats.

General Orthopedic Care

Our General Orthopedic services

Conditions we treat

Get to know our general orthopedic team

Advance practice providers

Jennifer Nance, DNP, CPNP, RN

Meet our registered dietitian!

Frankie Kindy, MS, RD, LD

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