Elizabeth Garcia, MD

Piedmont Physicians Neurosurgery Athens, formerly Athens Brain and Spine Center, is a patient-centered clinic dedicated to bringing you the best possible treatment options for cranial and spinal conditions.

Dr. Paul Henkel, a graduate of The University of Georgia, earned his medical degree at The Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. He then attended Holston Valley Medical Center (now East Tennessee State University) where he completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery. He is fellowship trained in Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery by world renowned trauma surgeons Drs. Jim Stannard, Brett Crist, Greg Della Rocca, Dave Volgas and Mauricio Kfuri. Dr. Henkel is board certified in orthopaedic trauma surgery and is a team physician for The University of Georgia. Dr. Henkel specializes in orthopaedic trauma surgery and sports traumatology. His interests include fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum, complex fractures of the upper and lower extremities, and total hip arthroplasty. Dr. Henkel is involved in orthopaedic surgery education both nationally and globally. He has numerous peer-reviewed orthopaedic and scientific publications and has authored orthopaedic trauma book chapters. He is active in the AO surgical education program, a member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In his spare time, Dr. Henkel enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children enjoying the outdoors and staying active. Dr. Henkel and his wife both attended The University of Georgia and met as undergraduate students, and Dr. Henkel played 4 years on the UGA Lacrosse team.

Lauren E. Fesperman, DNP, AGACNP-BC is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in the Acute Care of Adults and Geriatrics. She will be providing high quality health care to Neurosurgical patients with issues varying from peripheral nerve injuries to cranial and spinal trauma or abnormalities such a degenerative disease of the spine, traumatic brain injuries and brain tumors. Lauren earned her Doctorate in Nursing from Augusta University in May 2020 and is certified by American Nursing Credentialing Center. In 2015, she graduated from Georgia College in Milledgeville with her Bachelor's in Nursing and has been working in the Athens area as a nurse since! In her spare time, she enjoys working out at Orange Theory, online shopping and traveling to see her family in South Georgia and her twin sister in Birmingham, Alabama.