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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.

Timothy M. Faber
Timothy M. FaberMS, ARNP
Timothy Faber started as an emergency room nurse at University Community Hospital. In 2001 after the birth of his first son, he went back to school and earned his Master’s degree from the University of South. Tim is board certified in Family Practice. He began his career as a Nurse Practitioner at an internal medicine practice in Zephyrhills. He then returned to the ER for several years before branching out to urgent care at Med Express in Tampa. For the last 3 years, he has been practicing in the Emergency Room at Tampa Community Hospital while also working part time with Dr. Shepard at Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists (BAIRS). In September 2016, he joined BAIRS full time.
Tim grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and migrated to Florida in 1982. He has been married to Jessica since 2015, with whom he has 2 daughters (Paige, 3 and Samantha, 1). Tim also has 2 sons (Ryan, 20 and Seth, 16). His kids are the joys of his life. Most of his time is spent with his family, but he also enjoys surfing, golfing, fishing, biking, woodworking and all outdoor adventures.
Michael Gomez
Michael GomezPT, DPT, MBA
Dr. Gomez graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and subsequently obtained a Masters of Business Administration from the Appalachian State University. He graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of South Florida. He obtained additional specialized training in rehab protocols for the Shoulder, Knee and Spine in over 25 years of clinical experience. Dr. Gomez is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Florida Physical Therapy Association. He has functioned as Administrative Director of Rehab for Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Vice President of Rehabilitation Services for Harborside Healthcare Services in Boston, Massachusetts before joining Bay Area Injury Rehab Specialists in 2009. He resides in Tampa and enjoys spending time outdoors, camping, and traveling.
Justin Spiegel
Justin SpiegelPT, DPT, CMP
Justin Spiegel PT, DPT, CMP hails from upstate New York where he graduated from Houghton College in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Biology with minors in athletic training and psychology. He immediately entered graduate school at the State University of New York at Buffalo where he completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2007. In 2007, Dr. Spiegel relocated to Tampa, Florida with his wife and began his career in outpatient therapy. Dr. Spiegel has demonstrated significant interest in the fields of manual therapy as well as vestibular rehabilitation (including vertigo, dizziness and balance disturbances), which has melded well with the outpatient population. Justin has also followed his manual interests and has gained certification in the Mulligan Concept, which is based on pain-free mobilization of joints through the range of motion. Justin is one of just six clinicians certified in this technique in the state of Florida. For more information, please visit www.bmulligan.com.

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.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy is a Physical Therapist with expanded skills and training to meet today’s clinical challenges. A Doctor of Physical Therapy has completed Post-Baccalaureate 3-4 year degree which is conferred upon successful completion of the professional doctoral program and state licensure examination. After completing a DPT program the doctor of Physical Therapy may continue training in a residency and then fellowship. A Doctor of Physical Therapy is the “Practitioner of Choice” to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function and health.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy works closely with your physician through examination and evaluation of individuals with musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, integumentarty (skin), and Neuromuscular problems and the provisions and supervision of all interventions within the plan of care.

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