Medical Staff

James Penna, MD

Dr. James Penna is the Chief of the Sports Medicine Division of Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates in East Setauket and is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stony Brook University.  He joined the practice in 2002 and specializes in the care of athletes and disorders of the knee, shoulder, and elbow.  Dr. Penna serves as the Director of the Stony Brook University Orthopaedic Residency Program, overseeing the training of 25 orthopaedic residents.  He grew up on Long Island, graduating from Connetquot High School and later attended Cornell University.  Dr. Penna obtained his medical degree from the State University of New York at Downstate in Brooklyn.  He completed his orthopaedic residency training at Stony Brook University, followed by an Arthroscopy Fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.  While at Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Penna had the opportunity to participate in the orthopaedic care of the New York Jets, New York Islanders and the student athletes at Hunter College and Hofstra University.   In addition to his duties as a team physician for the Long Island Lizards, Dr. Penna has been a team physician for the Stony Brook Seawolves since 2002.

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James Paci, MD

Dr. James M. Paci joined the Sports Medicine Division of Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates in East Setauket in 2010 and is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stony Brook University.  He specializes in the care of athletes and disorders of the shoulder, elbow and knee.  In addition to his duties as a team physician for the Long Island Lizards, Dr. Paci is a team orthopaedic physician for Stony Brook University, and an orthopaedic consultant for many high schools on Long Island.  Dr. Paci completed an orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama, under the direction of Dr. James Andrews, where he received the 2009-2010 award for excellence in clinical research.  In Birmingham, Dr. Paci was the team physician for Huntingdon College and Bessemer Academy, and assisted with the care of athletes from the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the Washington Redskins football team, and the Montgomery Biscuits (AA) and Birmingham Barons (AA) baseball teams.  Dr. Paci received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and was a member of the varsity football team.  He continued his education at the Chicago Medical School where he received his medical degree.  He then went on to complete his orthopaedic surgery residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, where he was Chief Resident from 2008-2009.  While in Syracuse, Dr. Paci assisted in the care of the Syracuse Crunch ice hockey team (AHL), the Syracuse Chiefs baseball team (AAA), the SUNY Cortland University athletic program and the Onondaga Community College athletic program.  Dr. Paci has presented research and lectured at numerous national orthopaedic and sports medicine conferences.  He has also authored research and book chapters in topics related to orthopaedics and sports medicine.  In addition to his clinical and team coverage responsibilities, Dr. Paci currently performs clinical and biomechanical research at Stony Brook University Medical Center.  
 

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Stuart Cherney, MD

Dr. Stuart Cherney is an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Smithtown, New York who was recently named a Team Physician for the Long Island Lizards.   After completing a Sports Medicine fellowship at the Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center he became the first sports medicine specialist at Stony Brook University. Since 1983 he has been the Head Team Physician for the Stony Brook Seawolves.  He is Board Certified and an active member of the Arthroscopy Association of  North America and The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.   Dr. Cherney has lectured and published on a wide range of topics in his field and also is an orthopaedic consultant for many local colleges and high schools.   He has provided coverage for the Empire State Games since 1986 as well as being named field physician for several national level competitions.     

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Ron Bredow

Head Physical Therapist

Ronald Bredow, MSPT           

      Ron Bredow has been the team Physical Therapist to the Long Island Lizards for the past six years. Ron graduated from Mercy College with Honors in November of 1999 with a Bachelors Degree in Health Science and a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. Ron has since been affiliated with multiple clinical rotations in acute care, private practice, and hospital settings where he was exposed to a multitude of injuries resulting in various neurological and orthopedic deficits. In 2001, Ron became co owner of NY Physical Therapy & Wellness. Since the opening of his first office, Mr. Bredow has expanded his practice to several offices found throughout Long Island and Queens where he has remained dedicated to providing effective treatment to his patients. Along with his private practice, Mr. Bredow has been the Physical Therapist for both the male and female divisions of the Long Island Rough Riders for the past four years. Ron continues to extend his knowledge and experience to others by working as an adjunct professor at Nassau Community College in the Physical Therapist Assistant program along as remaining an active member of the New York Physical Therapy Association, Alliance of Independent Physical Therapists, and Council of Licensed Physiotherapists.

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Mike Spreckels

Head Athletic Trainer

Head Athletic Trainer Michael Spreckels joins the team in his fith year as the Head Certified Athletic Trainer for the Long Island Lizards. Mike (AKA Sprecks) graduated from Manhattan College in 1998 with a Bachelors degree in Athletic Training/Physical Education and received his Masters Degree in Physical Education from Hofstra University in 2002. Mike has been teaching Physical Education in the Seaford School District for 7 years and has been the district athletic trainer for 8 years. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA); National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE); American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD); and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC); New York State Emergency Medical Technician; Certified American Red Cross Instructor; and studying to become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Michael is currently pursuing an Advanced Certificate Degree in Educational Leadership at Stony Brook University.

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Sebastian Lattuga, MD

Spinal Surgeon

Dr. Sebastian Lattuga is a fellowship trained and board certified Spine Surgeon whose practice is exclusively dedicated to the care and treatment of patients with spinal disorders. Dr. Lattuga is considered an expert in the surgical and non surgical management of traumatic and degenerative conditions affecting the spine including herniated disks, degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis, fractures, and many other conditions. Dr Lattuga has vast experience in surgical treatment of even the most complicated conditions affecting patients, having successfully helped thousands of patients. He is considered an expert in fusion surgery, decompression surgery, minimally invasive surgery and is highly skilled at all of the most modern, up to date and state of the art procedures required to address the individual patient needs. Education Dr. Lattuga's training is considered to be impeccable. He completed Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Stonybrook School of Medicine, Internship at the Mount Sinai, and Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgical Fellowship at University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Affiliations Sebastian Lattuga is currently affiliated with the prestigious Northshore-LIJ health system, and is currently the Chief of the Spine Division at Northshore –LIJ at Franklin Hospital. Accolades Dr. Lattuga has recently been ranked in the top 1% of doctors in the New York Metropolitan area by Press Ganey, a nationally recognized healthcare survey company. Click here to learn more about Dr Lattuga's accolades

Websiste: http://www.spinesurgeonnewyork.com/home/

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