Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina, P.A. (OSNC), one of the area’s leading orthopaedic practices, recently added Derek P. Watson, M.D. as a physiatrist to their treatment staff. Dr. Watson specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and will practice in OSNC’s Wake Forest, Henderson and Louisburg offices.
“Dr. Watson brings a unique specialty to our practice and the community,” said Dr. Mark Galland, orthopaedic surgeon and managing partner for OSNC. “His skills and expertise are valuable assets to our practice and further attest our ability to provide all-inclusive orthopaedic care to our patients.”
Physiatrists are medical doctors who use non-surgical methods to treat and rehabilitate patients who have been disabled as a result of a disease, disorder, condition or injury. Physiatrists are most concerned with the patient’s overall quality of life, and therefore employ a whole-person treatment approach that addresses the patient’s physical, emotional and social needs.
The goal of a physiatrist is to reduce pain and enhance performance without surgery. To that end, Dr. Watson focuses in the areas of pain management, neurodiagnostics and rehabilitation from a variety of neurological and musculoskeletal disorders including stroke, cerebral palsy, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and amputation. Dr. Watson is specialty-trained in performing electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Other non-surgical treatment specialties include physical therapy prescription, medication management, adaptive equipment assessments, botulinum toxin (Botox) injections for spasticity, soft tissue injections, and selective fluoroscopic guided lumbar spine injections.
Dr. Watson received his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University and completed his medical training at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. He continued his residency training in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at East Carolina University where he served as Chief Resident and received board eligibility with the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Dr. Watson is an active member of the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation;
According to HealthGrades, there are currently 12 practicing physiatrists in the Raleigh area and only one practicing physiatrist in Henderson. There are currently 130 practicing physiatrists throughout the state of North Carolina.
About Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina, P.A.
Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina, P.A. (OSNC) is dedicated to providing comprehensive orthopaedic care to adults and children living in northern Wake County and surrounding communities. The Board Certified physicians and physician assistants at OSNC are highly trained in the areas of orthopaedic surgery, musculoskeletal medicine, spine, pain management and sports medicine. The practice proudly serves as the official sports medicine provider and orthopaedic consultant to the Carolina Mudcats, AA affiliate of the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball, as well as numerous local high schools and colleges. OSNC operates six conveniently located offices in Wake Forest, North Raleigh at WakeMed North, Henderson, Louisburg, Oxford and Chapel Hill. For more information, visit www.orthonc.com.
