Surgeons
Peter Newton, M.D., Division Chief; Surgeon-in-Chief, Rady Children’s; Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Henry Chambers, M.D., Director, Cerebral Palsy Center; Co-Director, 360 Sports Medicine; Director, Orthopedic Training Program; Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Emily Cidambi, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Patrick Curran, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Eric W. Edmonds, M.D., Director of Orthopedic Research; Co-Director, 360 Sports Medicine; Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Michael Kelly, M.D., Director of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities
Andrew T. Pennock, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Maya Pring, M.D., Coordinator, Pediatric Orthopedic Residency; Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Chris Souder, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon; Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
V. Salil Upasani, M.D., Director, International Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Hip Disorders; Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
C. Douglas Wallace, M.D., Director, Orthopedic Trauma; Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UC San Diego
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners
All of our physician assistants and nurse practitioners are trained to treat common orthopedic conditions, including fractures.
Casey (Kathryn) Abare, M.S.N., C.P.N.P.
Casey joined our team in 2015 after working in general pediatric orthopedics in Atlanta for four years. A board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, she works closely with Dr. Yaszay, specializing in spine conditions. Casey earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Richmond in 2005 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University in 2010. In her free time, she enjoys exploring San Diego and the West Coast.
Amanda Asaro, M.P.A.S., P.A.-C
Amanda joined our team in 2006. She earned both a Bachelor of Health Science degree and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She then completed a post-graduate fellowship through the Illinois Bone and Join Institute in Chicago, where she had a year of specialty training in orthopedics at a level 1 trauma center. After completing the fellowship, she accepted a position at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, where she was part of the pediatric upper extremity team. At our Center, Amanda is also a part of the upper extremity team, working closely with Dr. C. Douglas Wallace. She also works in the Clubfoot Clinic. Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and running half marathons.
Linh Darnell, P.A.-C
Linh joined our team in 2001. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University in 1995 and earned another bachelor’s degree from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in 1997. Later that year, she became a board-certified physician assistant. After practicing in family medicine/women’s health, Linh pursued her passion of orthopedics and accepted a position with Scripps Clinic’s Department of Orthopedics. She then joined our team as the division’s first physician assistant, and in 2008, was appointed manager of all mid-level providers. She also provides clinical care, specializing in upper extremity, trauma and spine abnormalities.
Erynn Krasovic, P.A.-C
Erynn joined our team in 2015. She graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and earned a Master of Health Sciences degree from Duke University’s physician assistant program in 2015. While at Duke, she trained with several pediatric orthopedic surgeons and fell in love with the field. Here at Rady Children’s, she works alongside Dr. Rickert focusing on lower extremity deformity correction. Erynn also specializes in the treatment of clubfeet and developmental hip dysplasia, and has found a passion for trauma care and fracture remodeling. In collaboration with Dr. David Bennett, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, she published Fracture Healing in Children: A Review of Pediatric Osseous Modeling and Remodeling in 2021. The book became an international success, with orthopedic practitioners and surgeons from around the globe to contributing to the text. Erynn and Dr. Bennett published the second edition in October of 2022.
Abigail Nakamitsu, M.P.A.P., PA.-C.
Abigail joined our team in 2015. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Prior to graduate school, Abigail completed her American Sign Language interpreting certificate at San Diego Mesa College. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in 2012. Following graduation, Abigail served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy and as a family medicine physician assistant. Since joining our team, she has worked with all of the attending physicians and is now closely working with Dr. Emily Cidambi, who specializes in foot, ankle and lower extremity disorders, with a special interest in dance medicine, and with Dr. Maya Pring, who specializes in hip disorders, cerebral palsy, spinal defects, limb deformities, sports and trauma.
Chrissy Paik, B.S., M.P.A.P., P.A.-C.
Chrissy joined our team in 2011. She graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and from the USC Physician Assistant Program in 2011. After becoming a certified physician assistant, Chrissy returned to her home town of San Diego where she now works as part of our hip team, treating patients with conditions including developmental hip dysplasia, femoroacetabular impingement, spastic hip subluxation, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. She also runs independent clinics screening for and treating scoliosis, treating back and hip pain, and providing care for fracture and trauma patients. Chrissy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing beach volleyball and competing in sprint triathlons.
Sunny Park, C.P.N.P.
Sunny joined our team in January 2011. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins University, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing in 2006. Following graduation, Sunny joined the Pediatric Orthopedics Division of Johns Hopkins, where she gained experience in treating sports injuries, scoliosis and hip conditions. Sunny is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner who works closely with Dr. Dennis Wenger. She also has a special interest in sports injuries. Sunny enjoys playing sports, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring San Diego.
Raquel Sanchez, B.S., P.A.-C
Raquel joined our team in 2002. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, Irvine in 1993. In 1997, she graduated from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Physician Assistant Program in Los Angeles and became a board-certified physician assistant. Since joining our team, Raquel has worked mainly with Dr. Maya Pring, who specializes in hip disorders, cerebral palsy, spinal defects, limb deformities, sports and trauma. She also works closely with Dr. Henry Chambers, who specializes in sports medicine and cerebral palsy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, photography, travel, sports and going on medical missions.
MaryLou Scott, M.S.N., C.P.N.P.
MaryLou joined our team in 1998 as the division’s first nurse practitioner. She has been instrumental in advancing the role of the mid-level provider in our busy practice. MaryLou earned a bachelor’s in nursing from Arizona State University, followed by a master’s in nursing, and a pediatric nurse practitioner degree, from the University of San Diego. At our Center, she specializes in pediatric spine and hip disorders. She also runs her own independent back pain clinic, acute fracture care clinic and ingrown toenail clinic. Along with being a nurse practitioner, MaryLou is a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves and is currently stationed at North Island. She is actively involved in orthopedic research and won best presentation at the 2010 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. for our team’s research on the use of midlevel providers for partial toenail ablations for ingrown toenails outcomes of care.
Philip Stearns, M.S.N., C.P.N.P.
Phil joined our team in August of 2000. He graduated from Iona College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He received his Master of Science in Nursing from Yale School of Nursing in May of 2000. Phil is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and works closely with Dr. Andrew Pennock, specializing in pediatric fracture care. Phil also has a special interest in pediatric hip and foot disorders.