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MEET OUR DOCTORS
& SPECIALISTS

Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists is a multi-specialty medical practice consisting of a team of board certified and highly trained physicians, physical therapists, and massage therapists.

Dr. Lawrence Shepard
Dr. Lawrence ShepardDoctor of Osteopathy

Dr. Shepard graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor of Science and subsequently from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery with his medical degree. Board Certified in Family Practice, he is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, American Osteopathic Association, Hillsborough County Osteopathic Medical Society and has served as a clinical instructor for Southeastern Osteopathic College of Miami, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Tampa APRN Program. Dr. Shepard spent four years in St. Louis with a busy Family Practice before moving to Tampa where he opened a Family Practice in Land O’ Lakes. Prior to opening Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists, Dr. Shepard worked as an Emergency Room Physician for University Community Hospital in Tampa for eight years. He has served on the Executive Committee at Centurion Hospital (now UCH) as well as held the position of Vice-Chief of Family Practice. He resides in Tampa with his wife, Debbie, and four children, Lauren, Kyle, Kaitlan and Hunter. He enjoys fishing, sports and spending time with his family.

Natalie Kaczmar-Stecko. PA
Natalie Kaczmar-Stecko. PA
Natalie is a board certified physician assistant with over 9 years of clinical experience. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University and her Master of Medical Science at NOVA Southeastern University in 2013. She began her physician assistant career in pain management in South Carolina before moving to Miami to pursue her interest in Neurology. She worked for 7 years at HCA Kendall Regional Hospital in the Neuro ICU along with proving care in the clinic setting. She worked with acute, critically-ill patients in the hospital suffering from a multitude of injuries with a primary focus on brain injuries. In addition to traumatic injuries, she was involved in the care of neurological conditions such as strokes, seizures, migraines, and syncopal episodes. She has extensive clinical experience and is proficient in procedural skills, medical therapies, diagnostics, records review and monitoring. Natalie recently moved to Tampa and joined Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists, where she now applies all of her prior experience and knowledge to treat auto-related injuries in an outpatient setting.
Lance Gerald Nadala, PT
Lance Gerald Nadala, PT
Lance attended De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy. There he trained in multiple settings including: Acute Care, Outpatient – General population and Athletic training, Pediatrics, and Post-Op. After graduating, he moved back to Tampa, FL. He continues to hone his skills and provide the utmost care. Lance also enjoys playing tennis on the weekends and going on road trips with his family.

When you go to the doctor, you can often get confused as to who is treating you. D.O., M.D., D.C., P.A., and APRN are all medically licensed professionals that can treat you. However, there are only two types of physicians, D.O. (Doctor of Osteopath) and M.D. (Medical Doctor). D.O.s and M.D.s are both highly educated, fully trained and have taken the prescribed amount of pre-medical training. As well, have graduated from an undergraduate college (bachelor’s degree), and then received their medical degree after 4 of more years of medical school. Some physicians participate in residency programs for an additional 2-6 years.

Whether your doctor is a D.O. or M.D. the route of medical education and training is basically the same. Both use all scientifically accepted methods of diagnosis and treatments, and are licensed to prescribe medication. Residency trained D.O. and M.D.s can also perform surgery.

The differences between the two are: the philosophy and the approach to the delivery of health care. Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) emphasis is more comprehensive and deals with the treatment of the whole person not just a body area, disease, or system. They recognize that all body areas are interdependent, and a disturbance in one body system can cause altered functions in the other systems of the body. Therefore the D.O. treats the entire person. Another difference between D.O. and M.D. is that the D.O. is trained in the use of manipulation therapy in the treatment of their patients.

The Osteopathic Physician in comparisons to the Medical Doctor is in the minority. However over 20 million Americans turn to Osteopathic Physicians for comprehensive medical care yearly.

Other Healthcare Professionals include Chiropractors, D.C., they also do manipulation but are limited in that they are not trained or licensed to prescribe medication or perform surgery.

Nurse Practitioners (APRN) and Physician Assistants (P.A.) are both licensed to treat patients and usually work closely with a M.D. and a D.O. Both are not trained to do manipulations.

In Summary:

  • D.O.s , M.D.s , and D.C.s can diagnose and treat patients.
  • D.O.s , M.D.s can both prescribe medications and do surgery; D.C.s cannot.
  • D.O.s & D.C.s can do manipulation; M.D.s cannot.
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