Services

A History of Excellent Service

At Southgate Medical Group, our collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to care is not only better for easing patient access, it helps us achieve the high standard of care to which we hold ourselves. While we emphasize convenience, we understand that nothing is more important than a trifecta of quality, trust and professionalism. That’s why our excellent team of compassionate medical professionals makes it possible to provide a comprehensive continuum of care in one central location.

• Primary Care

• Podiatry

• Physical Therapy

• Surgery

• Sports Medicine

• Endocrinology

Primary Care

Routine check-ups and general wellness begin with primary care. When it comes to everyday health, your primary care physician (PCP) is your main resource and the person you’ll see most often for regular check-ups. PCP’s at Southgate Medical Group are there to partner with and educate you along your health care journey.

You can always count on PCP’s at Southgate Medical Group to provide the compassionate care for which they’re known in our community and beyond.

They administer a range of preventive services, including:

Routine physicals
Immunizations, including flu shots
Initial diagnoses
Referrals to specialists

Chronic illness management
Prescriptions
Diagnostic testing and imaging
Medication and treatment for illness or injury

Podiatry

While no pain or sprain is especially pleasant, foot or ankle complications are especially pesky because they can inhibit your ability to move comfortably through everyday life. When it comes to foot and ankle trauma, our excellent team strives to help you understand the cause of any complications and partners with you on a comprehensive treatment plan that fits into your lifestyle.

Southgate Medical Group offers a range of podiatry services, from non-invasive corrective procedures to surgery and physical therapy, to promoting healthy foot health among diabetic patients.

Services Include:

X-ray/ultrasound capabilities and treatment for athletic injuries or general foot/ankle trauma
Custom-molded shoes
Custom-molded sports orthotics for track shoes, skates or cleats
Diabetic screening and foot care
Diabetic shoe program
Evaluation and treatment of common foot disorders, such as sprains and fractures, bunions or hammertoes, dislocations, dermatological conditions, or ulcers

Gait analysis and corrective technologies, such as custom-molded orthotics or braces
Reconstructive foot surgery for conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, flat-foot deformities or heel pain. All surgeries are done in an out-patient setting.
Wound management
Pharmacy
Podopediatrics

Our Specialist:

Jay Thomas Hassenfratz, DPM

Dr. Hassenfratz earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Canisius College and is a graduate of the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine where he was awarded the Dr. Marvin W. Shapiro Operative Podiatry Award for outstanding proficiency in podiatric surgery. He completed his residency/fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic with special training in foot fractures/dislocations and diabetic foot pathology and reconstruction. Dr. Hassenfratz has been in private practice since 2002 and is affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital, Mercy Hospital and the Center for Ambulatory Surgery. Dr Hassenfratz is certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Physical Therapy

Our team of medical professionals work closely together from diagnosis to surgery to post-operative treatment and rehabilitation in order to provide a comprehensive, individualized continuum of care for your specific wellness needs. Physical therapists play an important role in the road to recovering from injury or surgery, and our collaborative approach to health care allows them to communicate directly with your other providers for a well-rounded treatment plan.

Our experienced team of physical therapists work one-on-one with you to help improve your mobility, manage acute and chronic pain, and prevent future injury or discomfort in the back, neck, shoulder and knee, among other areas. They also treat issues such as vertigo and headaches and administer a range of services.

Services Include:

Vestibular rehabilitation
Myofascial release techniques
Therapeutic ultrasound
Electrical stimulation
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Lumbar/cervical traction (decompression)

Diagnose the root cause of pain or limited mobility
Develop a tailored wellness plan and personal exercise routines to restore and promote mobility
Evaluate progress and modify plans as needed
Provide resources education on how to prevent future pain or injury

Our Specialists:

Edward Tojek, PT

Edward Tojek earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at the University at Buffalo. He is a New York State licensed physical therapist with wide clinical experience in the fields of education, home care, orthopedics, rehabilitation and therapeutic massage.

Lauren Fuest, DPT

Lauren Fuest is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Natural Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at Daemen College. Her proficiency, compassion and treatment skills in working with adults, children and seniors in orthopedic and sub-acute rehab settings have earned wide respect from both patients and clinicians. Ms. Fuest is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Surgery

As part of our comprehensive continuum of care, we’re able to perform a range of surgical procedures for those who require them. Our primary care physicians and specialists work closely on any diagnoses leading to surgery, and communicate with our surgeon to ensure the best possible outcomes. Surgery can be intimidating, but the medical professionals at Southgate Medical Group do all that they can to help you feel informed and at ease before going in to any procedure.

Services Include:

Colonoscopies
Dermatologic biopsies
Skin cancer removal
Lipoma removal
Inguinal, epigastric & umbilical hernia repair

Our Specialist:

Rexford Lee Thomas, Jr., PhD, MD, FACS

Dr. Thomas is a distinguished surgeon with a specialty in surgical oncology. He earned a doctorate in organic chemistry at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Roswell Park Division, and is graduated magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He completed his surgical residency at SUNY at Buffalo where he became administrative chief surgical resident. He went on to complete a fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Thomas was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1998 and recertified in 2009. He is an assistant clinical instructor of surgery at SUNY at Buffalo. He is also the recipient of numerous awards for his chemistry and cancer research and is senior author of several scientific papers and abstracts in cancer research. Dr. Thomas is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgery.

Sports Medicine

Whether you’re a high school athlete, a current or former college athlete, or just a regular in your Thursday night pick-up league, no one wants to be sidelined by a sports-related injury. Our sports medicine practice treats injuries caused by repetitive use and overuse with a focus on preventative measures to keep you injury free moving forward.

Our team brings a comprehensive background in sports and orthopedic medicine to every case. We’ll partner with you every step of the way as we develop a treatment framework that fits into your lifestyle and helps you get back to doing what you love as soon as possible.

Our sports medicine services include:

Treatment for injury and pain caused by prolonged repetitive motion and overuse
Treatment for sprains, fractures, tendonitis, concussions and cartilage injuries, and for orthopedic complications involving knees, hips, ankles, elbows and shoulders
Coordinated recovery and prevention plans

Our Specialists:

Brandon Brownell, MD

Dr. Brownell is a Western New York native who graduated from Ross University School of Medicine and earned his Master of Science degree at Canisius College, specializing in Health and Human Performance. He completed his residency with the University at Buffalo in the Department of Family Medicine before specializing in sports medicine. With his background in family and sports medicine, Dr. Brownell has a passion to return patients of all ages back to their active lifestyles. Brownell is currently the team physician for the UB Bulls Division-1 Men’s and Woman’s Basketball teams, and Rochester American’s Hockey team. He has a focus in ultrasound guided musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment.

Brownell is a recipient of the Family Medicine Outstanding Service Award from the University at Buffalo and the Health and Human Performance Center Award from Canisius College. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association.

Endocrinology

An endocrinologist is a specialist who treats diseases related to hormones, chemicals that regulate the actions and balance of most organ systems in the body. Hormones are associated with growth, metabolism, sleep, digestion, mood, movement, reproduction, and more. It’s no surprise that endocrine disorders tend to be complex because they can affect many body systems.

At Southgate Medical Group, our focus is caring for the person as well as the disease. Endocrine disorders, the most common being diabetes, are typically chronic diseases that require lifelong management. With diabetes, we help patients learn how to balance diet, lifestyle, and/or medications to maintain recommended blood sugar levels, minimizing risks from serious complications. Our team of professionals, including Amy Wnek MD, Physician Assistants, Nursing, Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator, are dedicated to promoting optimal management of all endocrine disorders.

Services include:

Treatment of Diabetes, thyroid diseases and other metabolic conditions
Monitoring of insulin pumps
Initiation and management of CGM (continuous glucose monitoring)
Diabetes Education and training of diabetic devices
Individualized diet plans and nutrition therapy

Our Specialists:

Amy Lynn Wnek, MD

Since completing a Fellowship specializing in Endocrinology at the University at Buffalo in 2005, Dr. Wnek has been taking care of patients throughout Western New York. Prior to that, she was a magna cum laude graduate of Canisius College, obtained her Medical degree at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse, NY, and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University. She is certified by the New York State Board of Medicine and both the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Internal Medicine/Endocrinology. In addition, she has done clinical research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and other prominent research institutions.