Physician assistant Dave Spencer manages
all aspects of operative care as well as
performs patient histories, medical exams,
helps with treatment plans and serves as
first assistant in surgery.
The Marshfield native was first exposed
to orthopedics after he fractured his
leg during high school football practice.
Seeing how his leg was cared for piqued
his interest in medicine. It also helped that
his mother, a long-time medical assistant
in the department, encouraged him to
shadow medical providers to learn more
about the field.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Madison, he later earned a degree as an emergency medical technician from Madison Area Technical College, volunteering as an EMT in Waunakee. While a physician assistant student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Spencer again pursued an interest in orthopedics, completing two rotations at Marshfield Center Orthopedics.
After being in a large metro area for two years, he was happy to return home. “Being a Marshfield native, it’s nice to connect with patients here. Because of my larger family, most people are familiar with my family name.”
He believes in a patient-centered approach to health care. “Making sure my patients understand fully and get the best possible care is my primary responsibility. I want to explain everything to the best of their knowledge, using plain terminology.”
He is most passionate about the surgical aspect of his practice, “being on the same page with the doctor and the rest of the surgical team, working together for the best patient outcomes.”
In his free time, he enjoys bow hunting for deer, fishing, hiking, video gaming and building his own PCs.