Meet Dr. Peter Swiatek, Indiana Spine Group
Meet Peter Swiatek, MD, a fellowship-trained spine surgeon who is excited to bring his expertise and patient-centered care to the world-class Indiana Spine Group.
“I’ve trained all over the country,” Dr. Swiatek says. “I was in Chicago, Michigan and Philadelphia, and there is no place like Indiana Spine Group. Indiana Spine Group has more than 20 physicians focused solely on the treatment of patients with spine-related conditions. When you have that many people who focus on the spine, you will have the latest thinking on how to treat patients. And having worked around the country, no place has the facilities that we have at Indiana Spine Group. We do some of the most procedures of any place in the region — not just the Midwest, but the country. When you’re doing a relatively high volume of procedures and surgeries, everything is very streamlined and focused on the patient, and that ultimately translates to better outcomes for patients.”
Dr. Swiatek has an impressive résumé filled with prestige and accomplishments that showcase his passion for medicine and patient care. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology, where he also played collegiate basketball for the men’s Division I team.
His own experience as an athlete influenced his decision to pursue orthopedic care.
“It’s personal for me why I went into orthopedics. I have a background in sports. I played college basketball, and I had my own orthopedic injuries,” he says.
Dr. Swiatek graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and earned the dean’s commendation for excellence in clinical skills. From there, he completed his orthopedic surgery training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which is renowned as one of the country’s top orthopedic and neurosurgical spine centers. Following his training in Chicago, Dr. Swiatek completed his spine surgery fellowship at the internationally acclaimed Rothman Institute and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Dr. Swiatek wants to fix people by addressing the root cause of the problem using the least invasive approach possible.
“In orthopedics, you can essentially fix people. I enjoy thinking about what’s the best way to treat a patient, and oftentimes that ends up being what is the most minimally invasive way that I can do something to help them feel better and get them back to living the life they want to lead,” he says.
Dr. Swiatek specializes in a wide range of spine conditions, including disc herniations, degenerative disease of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, trauma, tumors and spinal deformities. Most commonly, he sees patients experiencing shooting arm or leg pain, often accompanied by neck or low back pain caused by pinched nerves and disc herniations.
“The number one time to see a spine surgeon is when you have symptoms of neck or back problems that are not getting better with treatment options like physical therapy, medications and steroid injections,” says Dr. Swiatek.
Dr. Swiatek takes a hands-on approach to patient care. From the moment he sees a patient in the office, he is dedicated to providing personalized attention.
“The spine is very challenging. There are many ways to treat patients with spine-related conditions, and I enjoy the academic part of figuring out and diagnosing what’s wrong with the patient. My goal is to be a diagnostician and determine what’s causing their pain. The first visit includes an exam, but there is also a lot of discussion and listening. I think the art of the physical exam has been lost a little bit, as there are pressures in medicine to see more patients faster, but I take time to do a full, complete examination of my patient,” says Dr. Swiatek.
He is purposeful with his diagnoses and uses imaging to help formulate conservative care plans.
“My goal is to make people better without surgery. I’m interested in helping people understand their non-surgical options, and if they do need surgery, helping them choose the least invasive option,” he says.
Dr. Swiatek offers a high level of expertise in the latest technology and techniques in spine surgery, including motion-preservation (non-fusion) procedures and the use of robotics to enhance surgical precision. Looking ahead, he is excited about upcoming advancements in the field.
“I think the biggest advances in the future of orthopedics will be made in spine surgery. I’m excited about how technology will be integrated. We already integrate technology into the surgeries we do, but in the next 10 to 15 years, we’ll see big advancements in motion-preservation spine surgery, and I think AI will really help us predict who will do well with different surgical options,” he says.
Dr. Swiatek recommends maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes general physical activity and core strengthening to protect spine health.
“If you can maintain a healthy, quote-unquote normal body weight, that can significantly increase the longevity of your spine and decrease your risk of injury,” he says.
As a new specialist in the area, Dr. Swiatek is focused on integrating himself into the community. Currently living on the border of Westfield and Carmel, he views his patients as neighbors.
“You’re taking care of your neighbors, and that’s sort of your family,” he says.
To learn more about Indiana Spine Group or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Swiatek, visit swiatekmd.com or call 317-428-5040.
