Michael Allan Raethka, Pa

I was born at Jefferson Regional - Dr. Charles delivered me. I'm from Desloge originally, so I'm a hometown girl and I'm glad to be home serving the community.

When people think about orthopedic surgery, a lot of times they assume 'I'm going to see the surgeon, so I have to have surgery.' That's not the case at all. I would estimate 80 percent of patients that I see don't have to have surgery. Most conditions can be treated non-operatively. Surgery is for when all other treatment options have failed.

From laparoscopic operations to robotic-assisted procedures, surgery is always changing. And these changes force you grow as a surgeon to be able to care for people. One thing I really want my patients to know about me is I truly follow the golden rule. If you can apply that to your interactions with others, it will lead to better relationships and outcomes.