Our Team

Meet Our Team

Renee Mathew, P.A.-C.

Renee received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and worked as a Registered Nurse in the medical-surgical ICU at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas and then the neurosurgical ICU at Zale Lipshy University hospital in Dallas, Texas. After working as a nurse for a several years, Renee decided to attend the Physician Assistant program at St. John’s University in Queens, New York and completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Renee moved back home to Dallas and worked as a Physician’s Assistant in the emergency department at Children’s Medical Center, where she discovered her passion for pediatric orthopedics. After working closely with the orthopedic department for 4 years, she decided to follow her heart and pursue a career in pediatric orthopedics. Since then, she has been a valuable member of our family here at Pediatric Sports and Spine Associates. She has an active interest in fracture management and she enjoys the challenge of treating athletes of all levels. Whether it is sports or just normal everyday activities, Renee is dedicated to helping her patients get back to the things they love to do.

Renee is a native Texan and was raised in the DFW area. Renee has had a passion for sports from a very young age and grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and running track. Her and her husband, Lejoy, currently live in Plano with their two sons, Jaxon and Jordan. In her free time, Renee enjoys playing basketball, spending time with family, and being involved in her church community.

Renee Mathew is a Physician Assistant certified by the National Commission of Physician Assistants and the Texas State board of Physician Assistant Examiners. She is currently an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants. Renee is a healthcare provider and practices under the direction of Dr. Roderick Capelo.

M.D. Versus P.A.

What is the difference between an MD and a PA?
A physician assistant is a medical professional who operates under a doctor’s supervision. Both the doctor as well as the PA, share patient care responsibility. The scope of a PA’s duties includes examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, taking the patient’s history, developing and carrying out treatment plans, counseling patients on healthcare plans and performing certain medical procedures, such a re-aligning fractures. The main duties of a PA are very similar to that of a doctor across several aspects; except for a few major procedures, such as surgery. Physician assistants may assist doctors in surgical procedures but they themselves are not licensed to perform surgery. Other than that, the major difference in job functions between a doctor and a physician assistant is that a doctor works autonomously whereas a PA always works under the supervision of the doctor. Physician Assistants in Texas are authorized to write prescriptions. At Pediatric Sports and Spine Associates, our Physician Assistants have been trained directly by Dr. Capelo, and have extensive experience in treating pediatric fractures, sports and overuse injuries, scoliosis and other conditions of the spine, and many other pediatric orthopedic conditions.

What It Takes To Become A Doctor
A medical doctor invests many years into the education and training which is required to become proficient in diagnosing various conditions, determining the appropriate treatment options, and prescribing the best treatment. After obtaining an undergraduate degree, it takes four years to obtain a degree a medical degree(MD), and then 3 to 7 additional years of residency training before receiving a license to practice medicine or surgery. Doctors are board-certified on the national level and must obtain a state license where they practice.

What It Takes To Become A Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant qualifications vary slightly from one state to another, but obtaining a license to practice usually requires a 4-year undergraduate degree and completion of an accredited Physician Assistant Master’s program. Most programs are approximately 26 months (three academic years) and require the same prerequisite courses as medical schools. Most programs also require students to have about three years of healthcare training and experience. To obtain a PA license, PAs must successfully complete a one-year clinical rotation where they gain hands-on medical experience. Physician assistants are certified on the by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and a PA must obtain a state license where they practice. Physician Assistants are also required to complete ongoing continuing education classes and regular re-testing of medical expertise.