Our
Team

Bruce E. Heck, MD

Bruce E. Heck, M. D. graduated from Youngstown State University (1986-1988) at the age of 20 with Bachelor of Science in Combined Science (Summa Cum Laude). Dr. Heck received his M.D. From Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM/NEOMED) in 1992 where he was inducted a member of Alpha Omega Alpha in his junior year. After completing residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Medical College of Ohio (University Toledo Medical Center) Toledo, Ohio, he began practice in Findlay Ohio in 1997. Dr. Heck is  certified with the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons and maintains subspecialty certification in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Dr. Heck has maintained academic affiliation with the University of Toledo Medical Center where he is actively engaged as Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopedics.

Bruce E. Heck, M.D. specializes in sports medicine, rotator cuff surgery and industrial related orthopedic injuries. He has numerous publications in the orthopedic field and over the last several years has focused research interest in mesenchymal stem cell applications to orthopedics and inflammatory disorders.

As a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon living and raising his family in a midsize town, he treats all general orthopedic conditions. With Dr. Heck’s specialization in sports medicine, he has cared for many athletes at surrounding universities including but not limited to University of Findlay, University of Tiffin, and Heidelberg University. Dr. Bruce E Heck has not only developed a team approach in caring for the athlete but also the industrial worker. Dr. Heck was the founder of Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Findlay, Ohio in 2001. The practice and it’s physicians currently see patients in Findlay, Fostoria, Tiffin, and Fremont. Under his direct supervision, Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has grown from one employee to over 100 employees since 2001 including the addition of other medical specialties including orthopedic surgeon specialist, podiatry, chiropractic, nutrition, alternative medicine, pain management, occupational medicine, family practice and others. With cooperative affiliations from larger healthcare institutions, Dr. Heck has provided specialty services to his community including spine specialist, rheumatologic specialist, allergist and cardiologist. To care for patients with complex orthopedic conditions, he assembled and integrated a team that encompasses the ability to diagnose and treat these conditions including on-site x-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound, and a rehabilitation/physical therapy department.  With the diverse industry in Findlay Ohio, Dr. Heck has had the opportunity to tour fabricating plants/manufacturing facilities and understands at the ground level what jobs an individual performs.  This facilitates not only the care and return of injured workers but aids in the prevention of industrial related injuries by addressing proper ergonomics and orthopedic work conditions. Also, communication between the employer, the patient, and the physician is enhanced which makes for a winning combination when caring for an injured worker.

Bruce E. Heck, M.D. has been instrumental in the development and leadership of medicine in his community. In addition to being the founder of Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, he is cofounder of Northwest Ohio Medical Institute, Tiffin, Ohio. He was responsible for joint venturing with a local hospital for the NWO Urgent Care and the development of NWO Family Medicine. Dr. Heck is a founding member of Findlay Surgical Center, Findlay, Ohio where he currently is an active board member. He is an active member of Hancock County Medical Society where he was Past President. He is actively engaged with the hospitals in his community. He is on active staff at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay, Ohio where he serves on quality assurance committee. He is  an active staff member at Mercy Tiffin Hospital and serves on surgical care review committee. Dr. Heck has served Promedica Fostoria Community Hospital on Board of Trustees since 2006. He is Clinical Assistant Professor Orthopedics at University of Toledo Medical Center. Dr. Heck is engaged in teaching and mentoring students from many disciplines.

Bruce E. Heck, M.D. is committed to his patients and the development of improved medical technology. Dr. Heck became a surgeon after medical school as the rewards of fixing a fracture, removing a mass, or replacing an arthritic joint were immediate with often curative results. In direct contrast to his training years, most medical treatments could not cure an underlying disease.  After 20 years of orthopedic surgery practice, Dr. Heck was disheartened with the current treatments for his patients. He realized that many surgical procedures were performed as a result of insufficient medical management of a given condition. He observed the treatment of osteoarthritis had gone largely unchanged during his years in practice. The mainstay of treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), addressed the symptoms however did not change the underlying disease progression. Total joint replacements although effective, are invasive and subject the patient to significant risk. “As a doctor you’re taught how to treat a given medical condition based on the current facts supplied by your educators and accept them”, says Dr. Heck.  He recounts in medical school a lecture on arthritis that he felt Osteoarthritis was hereditary as he observed this condition to occur in certain families, however, he was advised it was just “wear and tear” and not genetic. Certainly, the absence of proof does not mean absence of existence. Currently, there is evidence in the literature that there are genes and inflammatory markers associated with this disorder. Dr. Heck also realized that aging was associated with increased inflammation and incidence of most diseases including arthritis and osteoporosis. “Unlike Clinical Medicine where you’re taught to treat a given medical condition with an algorithmic protocol based on science that you should not deviate from lest be judged by peers or suffer legal consequences”, Heck states, “Research Medicine requires innovation and creativity based on science that allows the frontier of discovery to expand and ultimately the suffering of the human pathologic condition to be improved.”  He is grateful for his clinical medical experience and education that has enabled a greater understanding and needs of medical research. Over the last several years, he has focused research interest on the mesenchymal stem cell and its application to the treatment of orthopedic conditions and inflammatory disorders. He is President and cofounder of NWO Stem Cure, LLC and Miracle Stem Cure, LLC. Dr. Heck and his team currently research herbal supplements and their combination effects on the stem cell as an equally efficacious yet safer alternative for arthritis and other inflammatory disorders, research applications of synthetic analogues and other small molecules to the mesenchymal stem cell for arthritis, osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal conditions and have grant applications to the National Institutes of Health.

Michael R. Tremains, MD

Michael R. Tremains, M.D. is a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio. He completed his residency at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio and has been working in Findlay since 2002. Dr. Tremains has numerous publications in the orthopedic field. He is a board-certified physician in both general orthopedics and in sports medicine through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons specializing in sports, hand and industrial related injuries. He is also a diplomat of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Dr. Tremains specializes in minimally invasive surgery of the shoulder, knee as well as hand surgery. He performs over 90% of his rotator cuff surgeries arthroscopically. This minimally invasive procedure causes less pain and earlier return of strength than traditional procedures. Over 80% of Dr. Tremains’ surgical practice is performed with minimally invasive techniques.

The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff disease. Its severity can range from mild tendonitis to full thickness tears of the tendon with weakness. Treatment varies with severity and can include medicine, injections or physical therapy but may require surgery. Symptoms of RTC disease include:

• Shoulder pain after activities that are constant

• Pain with over the head activities 

• Weakness when lifting arm

• Pain with repetitive light lifting

• Trouble sleeping secondary to shoulder pain

• Popping or grinding “crepitus” in the shoulder

Recommendations for surgery are based on a patient’s pain and disability, not age. Rotator cuff repairs have been performed successfully at all ages, from the young athletes after traumatic injury, laborer secondary to repetitive use to the elderly patient with degenerative disease.

Brian P. Hecht, MD

At NWO, our physicians offer complete care in orthopedic services from preventative care to diagnosis and treatment including rehabilitation. Dr. Brian Hecht performs general surgery procedures of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, foot and ankle. He also performs arthroscopic surgeries of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle. 

Dr. Brian Hecht is the only fellowship-trained adult reconstruction and total joint replacement specialist in the area. Dr. Hecht performs hip and knee arthroplasty procedures. Hip replacements are an attractive option for active patients who have limited mobility and pain from arthritis, previous injury, or other conditions of the hip. The implant consists of a ball that fits into a socket. About 3,000,000 people each year benefit from hip replacements, which significantly decreases hip pain, restores mobility and improves overall quality of life. 

Dr. Hecht is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed his residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Hecht also completed a fellowship in adult reconstruction surgery and total joint replacement at the University of California, San Diego. He is a board-certified physician in orthopedics through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Diplomat of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Dr. Hecht provides general orthopedic and sports medicine care with specialty services in total joint and adult reconstruction.

Darin D. Nye, MD

Darin D. Nye, M.D. is a Seneca County native who is thrilled to provide care for the people of his hometown and surrounding Northwest Ohio. He is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in minimally-invasive arthroscopic procedures including rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs and shoulder stabilization, throwing injuries, ligament reconstructions, meniscus repairs, and cartilage preservation. In addition, he provides non-surgical and surgical treatments for a variety of other musculoskeletal conditions including injuries to tendons, ligaments, and muscles, as well as fractures and arthritis, including joint replacement surgery.
Dr. Nye received his undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University, and then went on to obtain his Doctorate of Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He then elected to pursue additional fellowship training specializing in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery. He completed his fellowship at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, FL where he trained under James R. Andrews, M.D.
With widespread experience in Sports Medicine, Dr. Nye specializes in the care of athletes of all ages and levels of competition, Dr. Nye has provided care for Northgate High School in Pittsburgh, T.R. Miller High School in Alabama, Auburn University, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Minor League Baseball Club, the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball Club, and USA Eagles Men’s Rugby. In addition, Dr. Nye was selected to complete a traveling fellowship offered by the prestigious Herodicus Society, which will provide him the opportunity to learn from some of the national leaders in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Nye is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America
He has personal experience in athletics, competing in basketball and baseball throughout high school, rugby during college, and has continued to compete in various recreational leagues. Aside from caring for patients and participating in various sports, Dr. Nye enjoys time with his family and friends, hunting and fishing.

R. Brent Steiner, MD

Dr. Steiner is a Findlay-native and graduated from Cory-Rawson High School in 2002. He attended Ohio Northern University for undergraduate studies and was admitted to the University Of Toledo- College Of Medicine (former MCO) for medical school. Having completed medical school training in 2010, he was able to get matched into Orthopedic Surgery at his home program in Toledo, Ohio. Before completing five years of orthopedic surgery residency in June 2015, he was involved in teaching medical students and residents, clinical research, providing physical exams and medical coverage to local high school sports, and he served as chief resident. Dr. Steiner accepted a position at Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and moved with his family back to the Findlay area in the summer of 2015.
Dr. Steiner and his wife enjoy activities with their children, family, friends, church, and Ohio State football. They have enjoyed getting re-acclimated to Findlay, and Dr. Steiner looks forward to serving Findlay and the surrounding communities.

Douglas J. Steiner, DO

Dr. Doug Steiner is a Hancock County native, graduating from Cory-Rawson High School in 2005. He completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Findlay in 2008 with Magna Cum Laude honors. He earned his medical degree at The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, where he was awarded with the Outstanding Medical Student Award in the Centers of Osteopathic Research and Education. He then completed his orthopedic surgery residency in 2018 at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio, receiving the Outstanding Graduate Medical Education Trainee Physician Award during his training.
Dr. Steiner is energized to return to Northwest Ohio to provide comprehensive general orthopedic care, including primary joint replacement surgery, general adult and pediatric fracture care, sports medicine, and the treatment of many other musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr. Steiner currently resides in Findlay with his wife, son, and baby on the way. He enjoys time with his family and is a faithful Cleveland sports fan.

Kimberly A. Smith, DPM

Born and raised in Northwest Ohio, Dr. Smith attended The Ohio State University where she earned her undergraduate degree. She completed her medical training at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. She pursued her surgical internship and residency at Saint Vincent’s Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Smith is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association. She contributes to medical education.
Dr. Smith is trained in all aspects of foot and ankle care. Her special interests include arthritis, bunions, diabetic foot care, heel pain and sports related injuries. She is seeing patients at the Findlay and Tiffin campus.

Sheena N. Niese, DPM

Dr. Niese is a Putnam County native who is excited to return home and provide care to her community. Dr. Niese was introduced to Podiatry after she, herself sustained an injury to her foot while doing gymnastics at the University of Findlay during her undergraduate training. After being treated surgically by the team at NWO, she knew she needed to help others recover from their foot injuries. “You don’t truly understand how important your feet are until you can’t use them.”

After graduating from the University of Findlay, Dr. Niese obtained her medical degree from Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, OH. She then completed a three year surgical residency at The Alliance Community Hospital in Alliance, OH. She is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle surgeons and the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Dr. Niese is trained in all aspects of foot and ankle care with special interest in flatfoot deformities, dermatologic conditions of the lower extremity, bunions, hammertoes, heel pain, sports related injuries and diabetic foot care. Her philosophy is to treat every patient as if he or she was a family member.

Aside from helping patients get back on their feet, Dr. Niese is involved in her community through coaching gymnastics, being an active member of her church and participating in recreational sports. She and her husband enjoy time outdoors fishing, hunting and hiking. They also cherish time spent with their family and friends.