Meet our Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners
Meredith McCann, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
A certified physician assistant (PA-C), Meredith McCann joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2013. Meredith was a student athlete at the University of North Carolina – Wilmington, as well as at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's of arts in biology. She then studied abroad in Belize while playing professional indoor volleyball as well as coaching the men’s and women’s volleyball teams at the University of Belize.
Meredith graduated from the physician assistant program at Nova Southeastern University of Southwest Florida in 2012. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants.
MaryAnna Piekarski, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
A certified physician assistant (PA-C), MaryAnna Piekarski joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2013. MaryAnna completed her undergraduate degree in biotechnology at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers before earning her master of clinical medical sciences as a physician assistant at Nova Southeastern University. MaryAnna is a member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants and speaks fluent Polish.
Lydmila Melnik, ARNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Lydmila (Luda) is a certified nurse practitioner who joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in 2016. Luda completed her master of science in nursing at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, and her bachelor of science in nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
While completing her master’s degree, Luda was an RN working as a circulating nurse in the OR at Fawcett Memorial Hospital for over 10 years. She has excellent communication skills in Russian and Ukrainian languages. She is dedicated to providing excellent quality care to her patients.
Amanda Pumilia, ARNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner
Amanda is a certified nurse practitioner who joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in September of 2019. She completed her master of science degree as a nurse practitioner at the University of Illinois at Chicago and obtained her undergraduate degree in nursing through the University of Phoenix. She worked as both an RN specializing in pediatric orthopedics and as a nurse practitioner specializing in orthopedics, particularly in the area of adult hip and knee reconstructive surgery.
Kaitlin Georgiafandis, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Kaitlin Georgiafandis joined Advanced Orthopedic Center in late August 2022. She hails from Illinois, where she was working in Orthopedics for several years. She graduated from Carroll University with a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies under their Capstone Master’s Thesis & Cultural Competency Curriculum. She has been a member of the NCCPA since 2013. We are happy to have her extensive orthopedic experience on our team.
Grace Tice, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Grace is a certified physician assistant who joined our team in October 2022. Grace attended Penn State University where she received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology. During her time at Penn State, Grace was the head coach of the local YMCA gymnastics program, where she attended as a child. She continued her education at Nova Southeastern University where she received her Master of Health Science in physician assistant studies. She is certified through the NCCPA and is affiliated with AAPA and FAPA.
Alexxis Reid, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Alexxis is a certified physician assistant that moved to Florida and joined our team in June 2024. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022, where she completed a Dual Degree program earning a master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies and Public Health. She has been a member of the NCCPA since January of 2023. We are excited to have her on our team.
Top Orthopedic Care in Punta Gorda, Venice, & Port Charlotte, FL
Trust in the orthopedic physicians and supportive orthopedic providers at Advanced Orthopedic Center to provide you with personalized, compassionate care. Call our offices in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, Florida, today at (941) 629-6262 or for our Venice office, (941) 497-1771 to schedule an appointment.
