
Meet The SOS Staff:

Joseph Yacisen, D.O. | Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Yacisen received his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. He completed his residency at Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan and a sports medicine fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. During his fellowship, he had the opportunity to treat elite athletes on a collegiate and professional level- the Northeastern University Huskies and Boston Celtics, respectively.
After completing his fellowship, Dr. Yacisen served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. He also served as an orthopedic surgeon at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Illinois, Jacksonville and Florida.
His primary focus is helping patients resume their normal activity level, whether it is high-level sports or restoring comfort and function for activities of daily living.
" I am grateful for my time in the United States Navy, and feel honored to have been able to help the men and woman in the armed forces. " -Dr. Yacisen.

Nichole Shuff PA-C| Orthopedic Physician Assistant
Nichole graduated from Baker College with a Surgical Technology degree in 2009. After graduating she worked for Mid Michigan Medical Center in various surgical specialties. In July of 2010, she was hired by Dr. Yacisen where she spent the next four years assisting in orthopedic surgeries, working in clinics, and helping with care of patients. It was during that time that she discovered she had a profound interest in orthopedics and wanted to have more involvement with patients. In 2014, Nichole was accepted into the Physician Assistant program at Ohio Dominican University.
Upon graduating in 2016, Nichole's passion for giving back to others took her to India where she spent three months volunteering. She traveled several areas in the country giving assistance in pediatric clinics, women's health clinics, and teaching English in orphanages, schools, and monasteries.
In April of 2017, Nichole moved to the United Kingdom, Scotland after she recruited help with incorporation of the PA profession at Hairmyres Hospital Orthopedic department. She spent the next two years gaining further orthopedic knowledge, creating standards and protocols for incorporating PA's into orthopedic department and mentoring Physician Assistant students.
" I want to be caring and compassionate provider for all our patients. I feel it is important to listen to the comments and concerns of each patient and treat them based on their individual needs." - Nichole

Barbara Yacisen | Director of Daily Operations

Alexa Becht | Certified Surgical Technician
Alexa attended Kirkland Community College for her associates degree in Surgical Technology. She attended Central Michigan University for her Bachelors in Community Health and is currently seeking a Masters in Health Administration. She has currently worked for Sports Orthopedic Specialist since 2015. She has worked along the side of Dr. Yacisen since 2011 assisting in surgery. Alexa travels to all SOS office locations and enjoys working with our patients in every aspect of their care including preoperative, intra operative post operative and follow-up appointments. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Kim James | Radiology Technician
Kim graduated from Mid Michigan Community College in 2007 with an Applied Science degree. She has been an employee of SOS for 14 years. Kim enjoys helping others and loves getting to know our patients. When Kim is not at work she loves spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys playing games watching football. If you call our office chances are you have spoken to her she has multiple jobs here at SOS.

Kayla Hanson | Business Development Manager
Kayla attended Mid Michigan Community College. She has worked in the Marketing and Medical Field for 5 years. Kayla does all our marketing with Physicians, planning lunches getting to know the physicians and their needs while meeting them for SOS. She travels from all three of our locations and does all and every marketing event. She maintains our website as well and our social media pages. Kayla develops plans and strives to meet all our patients needs. She loves making sure that our patients needs are met and her goal is make sure each and everyone has the best experience while at SOS and that our patients share their experience with others.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids. Kayla enjoys the outdoors, sports, her kids activities and loves working out with her husband and sons. She loves watching her sons sports as well as her daughters and her dance.

Kelsi Hauter | Medical Assisant
Kelsi has been a member of the SOS staff since September 2020. She is originally from Toledo, Ohio area but traveled to Michigan to pursue her education. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences in the Fall of 2020. Currently she is applying to Physician Assistant programs to continue her medical education. Kelsi has gained a newfound love for orthopedics while working with SOS and hopes to someday return to the field as a physician assistant. In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors fishing, hiking and being with her dogs Arlo and River.

Jessica | Radiography Technologist
Jessica has been working at Sports Orthopedic Specialist since July 2020 as the X-ray tech in our Saginaw office. She enjoys the everyday interaction with patients and family members that my job entails. This is a big reason why Jessica started working in the medical field.
She is married and has three sons. When is is not at work she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, riding her motorcycle and being outside.
