Our Surgeons and Staff

Download a guide to our Trauma Team (PDF format)

Brett D. Crist, M.D., Gregory J. Della Rocca, M.D., Ph.D., and Yvonne Murtha, M.D., are the only fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons in mid-Missouri and specialize in seeing patients with complex fractures. Our surgeons also treat basic fractures and fractures that do not need surgery. Their clinical and research interests include complex articular fractures (fractures that involve the joints, excluding spine and hand), long bone fractures, pelvic and acetabular (hip socket) fractures, minimally-invasive fracture surgery, and treatment of fracture nonunions and malunions.We provide clinic care and surgical care for patients jointly. They alternate weeks that they see patients in clinic, and they coordinate schedules to run at least one trauma operating room five days a week. As Drs. Crist, Della Rocca, and Murtha take a team approach to fracture patient management, a given patient may see one or more surgeons throughout the surgery and recovery phases.

Brett D. Crist, M.D.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, Dr. Crist earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1999. He completed his residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, in 2004, and a fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma at the University of California-Davis in 2005. He joined MU as co-director of Orthopaedic Trauma that year.Dr. Crist's full biography can be found here.

Gregory J. Della Rocca, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Della Rocca earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1992. He completed a doctoral degree from Duke University in 1998 and earned his medical degree from the same institution in 1999. He completed his residency training at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 2004 and a fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center in 2005. He joined MU as co-director of Orthopaedic Trauma that year.

Dr. Della Rocca's full biography can be found here.

Yvonne M. Murtha, M.D.

Dr. Murtha completed her bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence in and earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas in Kansas City. She completed her residency training at the University of Kansas in Wichita. She completed fellowship training in Orthopaedic Trauma at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

Dr. Murtha's full biography can be found here.

Kelly Small, A.P.R.N., B.C.

Drs. Crist and Della Rocca are assisted in the evaluation and management or orthopaedic injuries by a nurse practitioner, Kelly Small, A.P.R.N., B.C., who works exclusively with the orthopaedic trauma service. She received both her bachelor's and master's nursing degrees from University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing. Kelly worked for five years as an ICU nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner in 2006. Her clinical interests include injury prevention and trauma.

Kelly performs a variety of services, and you will undoubtedly meet her at some point during your recovery period. Kelly provides the majority of follow-up care for the orthopaedic trauma service. She also helps coordinate elective surgery scheduling, helps manage inpatient stay and discharge plans, provides patient education, and returns patients’ phone calls. 

Karen Frink, L.P.N.

Karen Frink, L.P.N., is the orthopaedic trauma service clinic nurse. She has more than 13 years experience at the University of Missouri. Karen provides nursing care for patients that are seen in our clinic. She also assists Kelly in coordinating surgery, making preoperative appointments, and providing patient education.

Tara Powell, R.N.

Tara Powell, R.N., is our service's nurse clinician. She assists Drs. Crist and Della Rocca in evalauting and informing patients during the preoperative phase and in following up after surgery. She also works with the physicians on research projects. Tara has worked at University Hospital since 2002.

Tammy Ellebracht

Tammy Ellebracht is our administrative assistant and has been with the university for 30 years. She is the friendly voice that you will talk to when you call the orthopaedic trauma service for a question or request. She assists the orthopaedic trauma service in a variety of administrative tasks.

Resident physicians

Resident physicians are orthopaedic surgeons in training. They are doctors with medical degrees, having graduated from medical school (and are therefore no longer students. They training in the field of orthopaedic surgery in anticipation of practicing on their own in the future. Every orthopaedic surgeon in practice today was a resident at some point in his or her career. Resident physicians assist Drs. Crist and Della Rocca during, before, and after your operation. Resident physicians are closely supervised as they learn the latest techniques and procedures. They do NOT perform surgeries on their own. Resident physicians also help see patients in clinic and help manage the hospital stay. To learn more about our resident physicians, who rank among the very top of their classes at some of the most prestigious medical schools in the country, follow this link.