Spotlight on UH Orthopaedics and Advanced Practice Providers

Innovations in Orthopaedics | Fall 2025

Both University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital benefit from their dedicated and expert advanced practice providers (APPs). The collaboration between orthopaedic surgeons and physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) is vital for expanding patient access, optimizing surgical efficiencies and ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

“The Ortho Department APPs are incredibly valued members of our team, and they have been crucial to our success,” says James Voos, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at University Hospitals, the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at University Hospitals, Executive Director of the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center and the Charles H. Herndon Professor and Chair at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “I think the greatest vote of confidence is the personal attachments they develop with our patients.”

APPs’ range of responsibilities include:

• Orthopaedic and injury clinic appointments. APPs are often the first point of contact for patients seeking orthopaedic care. They also hold adult and pediatric injury clinics to expedite access to orthopaedic care.
• Pre-surgical care. APPs conduct pre-surgery assessments and evaluations, helping prepare patients for their procedures.
• Surgical assistance. APPs often work alongside orthopaedic surgeons in the operating suites, providing support and assistance to ensure a smooth and safe surgical experience.
• Post-surgical care. APPs are experts at handling post-surgical care, including patient monitoring, pain management and rehabilitation during recovery. 
• Diagnostic and ultrasound procedures. APPs perform diagnostic tests and procedures, including X-rays, MRIs and ultrasound-guided injections.
• Patient education. APPs frequently educate patients about their conditions, treatment plans and recovery expectations, which can be particularly beneficial for complex orthopaedic cases. Longstanding orthopaedic surgeon and APP partnerships

Longstanding Orthopaedic Surgeon and APP Partnerships

Nellie Renko, MSN-CNP

Nellie Renko, MSN-CNP, works alongside Robert Gillespie, MD, providing treatment for shoulder and elbow conditions, including minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures, shoulder and elbow replacement, reverse shoulder replacement and fracture care.

“Nellie has been working with me for over seven years, and she is our leader in everything we do day-to-day,” says Dr. Gillespie, the Michael and Grace Drusinsky Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine and Chief of shoulder and Elbow Surgery at University Hospitals.

“As the first contact for our patients during all portions of our care paths, she helps them feel comfortable when they see her before, on the day of surgery and after surgery,” Dr. Gillespie says. “The compassion and connection our APPs offer play a huge role in the orthopaedic care our team provides and, ultimately, are likely the biggest reason for our patients’ success — we couldn’t do what we do for our patients without them.”

Renko says, “I love being an integral part of our patients' overall care. It is truly a privilege to assist them in regaining their health from ‘start to finish.’ The teamwork in orthopaedics is second to none, from the doctors to the APPs, nurses, therapists and athletic trainers. The patients know that the surgeons are getting them to feel better from a surgical standpoint, and they can appreciate the personal touch the APPs and the rest of the team are able to provide. Integration of the two is a recipe for success.” 

Ashli Wagner, MSHS, PA-C

Ashli Wagner, MSHS, PA-C, works with Robert Wetzel, MD, treating adult and pediatric complex trauma and adult orthopaedic conditions, including hip deformity and dysplasia, multiple-injury cases and fractures of the pelvis and hip socket.

“Ashli’s expertise is unparalleled by any other clinical or postgraduate staff. She has been with me for eight years—the time equivalent of almost two full orthopaedic residencies,” says Dr. Wetzel, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and senior attending physician at University Hospitals and an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine. “Most importantly, she knows our patients. She has met them, assisted during surgeries, closed their wounds and develops personal connections that a resident or practice partner couldn’t.”

Wagner handles much of Dr. Wetzel’s practice management, including surgical bookings and pre- and post-operative communication. “In orthopaedics, we wear many hats. In addition to seeing our own patients, we follow patients after surgery to monitor healing and help them physically and mentally progress through their recovery,” she says. “Supporting people as they get better is a very satisfying part of my job.”

Emily Canitia CNP

Emily Canitia, CNP, is one of four NPs and one PA providing pediatric orthopaedic care at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. In addition to their specialized clinical and surgical roles, the team runs full-day pediatric walk-in injury clinics on Cleveland’s East and West Sides. Canitia has been working at the children’s hospital for the past 11 years. She partners with Raymond Liu, MD, who specializes in treating limb deformities and deficiencies.

For the past six years, Canitia has also worked with Michael Glotzbecker, MD, MBA, running the hospital’s pediatric orthopaedic injury clinics. “Thanks to Emily and our team of extremely capable APPs, we opened our first walk-in pediatric injury clinic three years ago to create a medically savvy and comfortable environment for parents to get their kids seen quickly,” says Dr. Glotzbecker, the George H. Thompson Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics and Division Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and a Professor at School of Medicine. Looking at September visits over the past three years, patient volume at the UH Ahuja Medical Center walk-in clinic jumped from 100 in 2023 to 310 in 2025.

“It takes a special level of compassion, knowledge and expertise to interpret x-rays and diagnose injuries in our pediatric patients, whose bones are still growing,” says Dr. Glotzbecker. “Along with our two registered nurses, who are also huge assets to our division, our five APPs are the front line in earning trust and building lasting relationships in our communities.”

Patients and parents remember the familiar faces the APPs provide. “I tell all of my families that we are available to them even into young adulthood,” Canitia says. “Whether it is something as simple as a question over the holidays or a medication refill, they can bring any concern to me. I think it is very comforting to families to bring that holistic level of care to them.”

For more information about UH Orthopaedic care, call 440-581-7879.

Contributing Experts: 

James Voos, MD
Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 
Executive Director
University Hospitals Haslam Sports Innovation Center
Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine 
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center  
Charles H. Herndon Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Head Team Physician, Cleveland Browns 
Medical Director, Cleveland Ballet 

Robert Gillespie, MD
Michael and Grace Drusinsky Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Chief, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery
Vice Chair for Education, Orthopaedics, UH
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Associate Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 

Michael Glotzbecker, MD, MBA
George H. Thompson Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Division Chief, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
Interim Surgeon-in-Chief
UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Robert Wetzel, MD
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery
Hip Joint Preservation and Replacement
Senior Attending Physician 
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Associate Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Emily Canitia, CNP
Nurse practitioner
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

Nellie Renko, MSN-CNP
Nurse practitioner
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Ashli Wagner, MSHS, PA-C
Physician Assistant
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center