Swift Institute

Swift Institute The Swift Institute, formerly known as Spine Nevada and Tahoe Fracture, includes orthopedic, spine, neurosurgery, neurology, and vein specialists.

Locations in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Henderson, Nevada. "Our goal is to create a specialty center that is comprehensive, integrated and user friendly in one practice. We believe this results in better quality and enhanced service for our patients." ~ Dr. James Lynch, Neurosurgeon

Join us in welcoming Hillarie Lara, ACNPC-AG, to our orthopedic team! đź‘ŹHillarie is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in ...
06/05/2026

Join us in welcoming Hillarie Lara, ACNPC-AG, to our orthopedic team! đź‘Ź

Hillarie is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in foot and ankle care, proudly serving patients in South Reno and Sparks. She earned her Master of Nursing from the University of Nevada, Reno, and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Great Basin College and a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Psychology from The Evergreen State College.

Hillarie brings a diverse clinical background to her role, with experience in emergency medicine, hospice care, critical care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and orthopedic injury treatment through her work at the Northstar Ski Clinic. During graduate school, she also served as a teacher’s assistant for the undergraduate nursing program, where she enjoyed mentoring future nurses as they began their careers.

As part of her clinical training, Hillarie traveled to Cambodia for a rotation at Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital, gaining valuable experience in both outpatient and emergency care while learning about healthcare delivery in a different setting. She has also contributed to academic research with her published thesis, “Descriptive Analysis of Indoor and Outdoor Climbing Injuries,” and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Hillarie’s approach to care is rooted in active listening, collaboration, and respect. She is passionate about helping patients improve their mobility, function, and overall quality of life through personalized treatment plans that align with each patient’s unique goals and lifestyle. Her interest in orthopedics and sports medicine grew from her passion for the outdoors and her desire to help people stay active and return to the activities they love.

Outside of work, Hillarie enjoys rock climbing, trail running, backcountry skiing, backpacking, photography, watercolor painting, baking, reading, and traveling with her two teenage boys. She also loves creating stickers inspired by her outdoor artwork.

Please join us in giving Hillarie a warm welcome to the team! We’re excited for the care, experience, and passion she brings to our Northern Nevada community. 💙

06/04/2026

"Prior orthopedic surgeon years ago on one hip, now looking at the other. He knows what he is doing. Not many as clear-headed and care for the patient as Dr. Dirig. I crossed the country to come back to him." - rater8 Verified Patient

On Wednesdays, we wear Swift Pink đź©·Meet our incredible Vein Institute team (left to right): Kimberly Koerner, APRN, Dr. ...
06/03/2026

On Wednesdays, we wear Swift Pink đź©·

Meet our incredible Vein Institute team (left to right): Kimberly Koerner, APRN, Dr. Waqaar Ahmad, Adam Slamowitz, PA-C, and Carla Chong, PA-C. đź‘Ź

Did you know vein disease affects nearly 50% of people? It often progresses over time if left untreated, but early diagnosis can help prevent complications and improve comfort and quality of life. If you are experiencing symptoms such as leg pain, aching or cramping, leg or ankle swelling, heaviness or fatigue in the legs, restless leg symptoms, or skin discoloration and texture changes, our vein team is here to help.

The Swift Vein Institute is the ONLY center in Nevada to achieve accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) as both a Vein Center and in Vascular Testing in the area of Peripheral Venous Testing. Dr. Ahmad and his team provide expert, individualized care with every patient evaluation and treatment plan.

Most patients can return to work and normal activities the following day after treatment, helping them get back to doing what they love with less discomfort and improved quality of life. đź’™

🏆 BACK-TO-BACK WINS! 🏆Last year, we were honored to be recognized among Northern Nevada’s best. This year, we’re proud t...
06/02/2026

🏆 BACK-TO-BACK WINS! 🏆

Last year, we were honored to be recognized among Northern Nevada’s best. This year, we’re proud to share that we’ve done it again!

SWIFT Institute was recognized in the following categories:
✨ Best Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Center
✨ Best Surgery Center
✨ Best Physical Therapy Clinic
✨ Best Benefits – Top Employers
✨ Best Places to Work – Top Employers
✨ Best Overall Leadership – Top Employers

We’re especially proud to have earned Best Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Center, Best Surgery Center, and Best Benefits – Top Employers for the second consecutive year.

These awards represent more than recognition—they reflect the trust our patients place in us, the dedication of our team, and the support we receive from our community every day.

To everyone who voted for us, referred their family and friends, trusted us with their care, and supported our mission—thank you. We are truly grateful!

To our incredible providers and staff, thank you for your commitment to excellence and for making SWIFT Institute a place where patients receive exceptional care and employees are proud to work.

We are honored, humbled, and excited for what the future holds as we continue raising the standard of healthcare in Northern Nevada.

Thank you for being part of our journey. đź’™

✨ Feel Good Friday! ✨We wanted to share some photos of our very own Dr. Jessell Owens and her incredible PA, Nikki Hanno...
05/29/2026

✨ Feel Good Friday! ✨

We wanted to share some photos of our very own Dr. Jessell Owens and her incredible PA, Nikki Hannon, as they recently returned from life-changing work completed in Panama with Operation Walk Denver. 🌎🩺

If you are not familiar with the organization:

Operation Walk Denver is the dream of a group of healthcare providers committed to providing free surgical care for those with debilitating arthritis in developing countries. Our missions have provided us with great personal satisfaction and the ability to give back to those in need.

Dr. Owens and Nikki traveled to Panama with a team from Reno, where they helped perform total knee replacements for patients who otherwise would not have access to orthopedic care. Their compassion, dedication, and commitment to helping others truly embody what healthcare is all about. đź’™

We are so proud of the incredible work they are doing both in our community and around the world! đź‘Ź

05/28/2026

"Always so glad to see Dr. Edmunds. He's so kind and always takes care of my hip problems. I'm doing great right now and in the future I'll be in great care in the event I need surgery. I think you're terrific Dr. Edmunds! 🥰" - rater8 Verified Patient

On Wednesdays, we wear Swift Pink đź’•The Rancharrah PT crew is always showing up in pink, and of course we had to capture ...
05/27/2026

On Wednesdays, we wear Swift Pink đź’•

The Rancharrah PT crew is always showing up in pink, and of course we had to capture another photo! This time, we decided to make it a little more fun by incorporating some PT equipment into the picture. Since this team consistently commits to the Swift Pink tradition, we always find ourselves sharing their photos — and we are definitely not mad about it!

Building Stronger Connections Across SWIFT Clinics ✨Recently, Marcy Echevarria, Physician Liaison, had the opportunity t...
05/27/2026

Building Stronger Connections Across SWIFT Clinics ✨

Recently, Marcy Echevarria, Physician Liaison, had the opportunity to accompany Adam Slamowitz, PA, to several internal SWIFT clinics to connect with fellow providers and share insights from his 10+ years of Emergency Room experience. đź©ş

As Adam transitions into his new role with the Swift Vein Institute team, these visits created a valuable opportunity to educate our providers on available vein services, strengthen collaboration across clinics, and highlight the expertise he brings to our organization.

We’re excited to continue building collaboration across our locations, expanding access to care, and sharing information that enhances the patient experience. 💙

Join us in welcoming Keypher Steffanich, MPAS, PA-C, to our orthopedic team! đź‘ŹKeypher is a board-certified Physician Ass...
05/23/2026

Join us in welcoming Keypher Steffanich, MPAS, PA-C, to our orthopedic team! đź‘Ź

Keypher is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in orthopedics, proudly serving patients in Carson City. She earned her Master of Medical Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies from Touro University Nevada and her bachelor’s degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Before PA school, Keypher worked as a medical assistant, gaining hands-on experience that fueled her passion for orthopedics. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and brings a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to every visit.

Keypher’s care is rooted in understanding each patient’s individual goals. She is dedicated to helping patients return to the activities they love—whether it’s skiing, golfing, or keeping up with their kids and grandkids—through personalized treatment plans and compassionate care. Her fascination with the human body and its unique capabilities inspired her to pursue a career in orthopedics, recognizing that no two patients are exactly alike.

Originally from Nevada, Keypher enjoys staying active and exploring new experiences outside the clinic. Her hobbies include golfing, reading, crafting, scuba diving, and working out at the gym. She and her husband love to travel, with Thailand being her favorite destination so far.

We’re so excited to have Keypher on board and look forward to the incredible care she’ll provide to our community! 💙

05/21/2026

"Very knowledgeable and helpful. Gentle and took her time with my treatment and asked me constantly how I was feeling throughout the appointment and her exercises and stretches were feeling.
A very pleasant experience and I certainly felt better after Zoe’s session thsn before!" - rater8 Verified Patient

Address

10539 Professional Circle, Suite 201
Reno, NV
89521

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17753488800

Website

https://theswiftinstitute.com/, https://theswiftinstitute.com/, https://theswiftinst

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