Amy L. Maxson, PA-C
Amy L. Maxson, PA-C, is a highly experienced Physician Assistant specializing in orthopedic and spine care, currently practicing in Lander, Wyoming with Summit Ortho and Spine. She earned her Physician Assistant degree from the University of North Dakota in January 2003, building on her earlier Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wyoming. Amy began her healthcare career as a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital of Converse County, where she worked for eight years in medical-surgical nursing and emergency medicine, training to become a flight nurse before transitioning into orthopedic surgery.
Her move into orthopedics was inspired by Dr. Murphy, an orthopedic surgeon who recruited her to serve as a first assistant in the operating room. After several years performing advanced surgical responsibilities similar to those of a PA, Amy pursued her PA certification and has remained deeply rooted in orthopedics ever since. Her career has included nearly a decade in family practice, locum tenens work in emergency and psychiatric settings, and orthopedic roles with Steamboat Orthopaedics & Spine Institute and Flagstaff Bone & Joint before returning home to Wyoming.
Today, Amy operates with a clinic model that allows her to manage patients’ comprehensive orthopedic and spine care from initial evaluation through physical therapy, injections, surgical coordination, and post-operative follow-up. She collaborates with visiting spine surgeons who travel monthly, ensuring patients receive specialized surgical care close to home while she oversees their recovery locally. A strong advocate for patient education, Amy believes informed patients achieve better outcomes and prioritizes clear communication at every stage of treatment. In addition to clinical practice, she serves as a lecturer and preceptor for PA students, continuing her commitment to mentorship and advancing the profession.
• BSN from University of Wyoming
• PA degree from University of North Dakota (graduated January 2003)
• PA-C
• ACLS
• BLS
• NCCPA
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Orthopedics
- Spine
- Emergency Medicine
- First Assist
- Med-Surg
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I love taking care of people. I've always been a caregiver type of person. What I really love about my practice is the patient education aspect - I spend a lot of time teaching my patients because they do so much better when they understand why we tell them to do certain things. Education is a huge part of my practice, and I think that probably comes from my nursing background. I get to spend the time with patients that surgeons don't have, so I fill in that void for them. I work patients up, send them to therapy, try injections, and if all of that fails, then I get them set up to see the spine surgeons. I take care of all their post-op care so they don't have to travel to see the surgeons every time. I think our system works very well, and I really love what I do. I feel really blessed to have a wonderful practice.