River City Sports & Spine – Regenexx Partner
Our compassionate care approach changes lives and improves function. Schedule your appointment today!
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About Us
Maximize your physical ability and enjoy life again.
River City Sports & Spine Specialists, PC offers the greater Columbus, GA, and surrounding areas well trained, board-certified medical staff specializing in advanced treatment techniques for non-surgical sports and spine care. Our compassionate care approach changes lives and improves function.
The best approach to non-surgical sports and spine care is through an evaluation that allows your Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician (Physiatrist), to provide you with a complete array of treatment options to maximize your physical ability and enjoy life again.
Meet The Team
Dr. Dawson is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician with subspecialty training in Pain Medicine and Electrodiagnostics. Dr. Dawson attended Tulane University for his undergraduate training as well as Medical School Doctorate. While at Tulane, he was a member of track team, the Student Athlete Academic Club, and local community activities. He went on to complete his residency and fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he was also selected to be the chief resident.
Dr. Dawson founded the River City Rehabilitation and Spine Specialists practice in 2004 (now River City Sports and Spine Specialists) and has served as the President and CEO since then. In his practice, he focuses on evidence-based and holistic treatment of pain conditions including low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, sciatica, and many more. He performs ultrasound and x-ray guided pain procedures and when appropriate, he offers Regenerative Interventional Orthopedic Medicine options using your body’s own growth factors and bone marrow concentrate to help restore function and relieve pain as a Certified Regenexx provider.
Dr. Dawson has been the principal investigator in over 20 high-level multicenter, randomized, double-blind research studies. His areas of interest involve ultrasound-guided procedures and the use of regenerative orthopedic medicine in osteoarthritis and pain. He is a member of multiple professional organizations and in his free time, he loves fishing and spending time with family.
Dr. Dawson is Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine.
*Regenexx Physicians represent a very selective, highly-skilled, interventional orthopedics network that is 100% focused on musculoskeletal / orthopedic conditions. All Regenexx physicians are musculoskeletal experts with extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, as well as complex, image-guided injections of your body’s own healing agents to treat orthopedic issues.
Dr. Buzanowska is a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, with subspecialty training in Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine. Dr. Buzanowska completed her residency training at the University of Pittsburgh and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She graduated from residency with an Excellence in Pain Medicine Award. She then went on to spend four years working at the Cleveland Clinic before joining River City Sports and Spine Specialists. While at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Buzanowska served as the Medical Director of Continuous Improvement at the Center for Spine Health as well as the Director of Interventional Spine Medicine elective at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. As Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Buzanowska has educated many students and trained fellows as well as gave lectures at the School of Medicine.
Dr. Buzanowska is an active member of multiple professional organizations and is involved with health policy, advocacy and diversity committees at North American Spine Society, Spine Intervention Society and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has been a speaker in national meetings and has published multiple articles, abstracts and book chapters on the topics of regenerative medicine, sciatica and radiculopathy, low back and neck pain and treatment of osteoarthritis.
Dr. Buzanowska serves as the Medical Director of Clinical Spine Operations and Continuous Improvement at River City Sports and Spine Specialists. She is interested in developing novel techniques for the treatment of chronic pain, sciatica, and sacroiliac joint pain. In her practice, she performs x-ray guided pain procedures and focuses on developing a holistic and individualized treatment plan for the relief of pain. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and spending time with family.
Dr. Buzanowska is a certified Regenexx Physician* and offers Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine procedures to address pain and lack of function.
*Regenexx Physicians represent a very selective, highly-skilled, interventional orthopedics network that is 100% focused on orthopedic conditions. All Regenexx physicians are musculoskeletal experts with extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, as well as complex, image-guided injections of your body’s own healing agents to treat orthopedic issues.
Dr. Casey Leong is a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician with subspecialty training in Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine. Dr. Leong graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Wayne State University School of Medicine. After graduating residency from Emory University, he was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Emory University School of Medicine.
Prior to joining River City Sports & Spine Specialists, he was the attending physician at Spine Center and Orthopedics of Savannah and at Saint Francis – Emory Healthcare where he was the Physician Champion for the St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Opioid Stewardship Committee as well as the 2024 Recognition Award Winner at the St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Directors Meeting.
Dr. Leong has been an active member of the Attorney General Statewide Opioid Task Force since 2019.
When not working, Dr. Leong enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He is a competitive powerlifter and Muay Thai enthusiast.
Kimberly A. Hill, FNP-C.
Kimberly A. Hill, FNP-C is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began her nursing career in 2001 as a Registered Nurse, by obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from Georgia Southern University. She worked as Registered Nurse for over 15 years, before obtaining her Master of Science in Nursing, from South University, in Savannah, Georgia. Her passion for the profession first led her to Cardiology prior to joining River City Sports and Spine Specialists. Ms. Hill is committed to providing quality care to her patients. She stays active in her community, by serving as a member of the United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia, is the President of The Columbus Metro Black Nurses Association and serves as a mentor for Young Lives. She holds a national certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Kimberly is a native of Georgia and enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, traveling, and attending sports events.
Audrey M. Mitchell-Carpenter, FNP-C
Audrey M. Mitchell-Carpenter FNP-BC is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, with River City Sports & Spine Specialists. Mrs. Carpenter began engaging with her calling in medicine in 1997 by earning her license as an (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician from Lawson State College. After years of working as EMT, she then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from Armstrong Atlantic State University in 2003. She subsequently obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Troy State University in Alabama and then Master of Science in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner at Auburn University School of Nursing in Auburn, Alabama to add to her list of accolades. Mrs. Carpenter most recently received a national certification with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Prior to joining River City Sports and Spine Specialists, she worked as registered nurse for ten years in medical-surgical floor, the step-down unit, and the cardiac unit. Six of the ten years, she worked as a traveling nurse in the states of both Alabama and Georgia. Mrs. Carpenter is committed to providing quality care with the utmost diligence, and compassionate care to her patient, while simultaneously helping them regain control of their life, reducing their pain and improving their overall well-being. Audrey is an Alabama native who loves spending time with family, taking long walks on the beach, and working-out to promote self-care.
Maria Rodriquez, FNP-C
Maria Rodriguez, FNP-C is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began her nursing career in 2007 as an LPN and then obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from Excelsior College in 2011. She graduated with honors with her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama. Prior to joining River City Sports and Spine Specialists, she worked as a Registered Nurse and has over 10 years of clinical experience in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Immunology. She is interested in chronic pain, osteoarthritis conditions, opioid management, and delivering health education to all her patients. Ms. Rodriguez is compassionate, dedicated, and is committed to providing quality care to help improve the quality of life of her patients. She holds a national certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Technologists.
Maria is a native of Puerto Rico and she is fluent in both English and Spanish. In her free time, Ms. Rodriguez loves spending time with her family and reading
Dustin Brown, FNP-C
Dustin Brown, FNP-C is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and joined River City Sports and Spine Specialists in September 2022. He received his degree in Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner at South University in Savannah, Georgia and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from Columbus State University. Prior to joining River City Sports and Spine Specialists, he worked as registered nurse for 12 years in acute care. Seven of the twelve years, he worked as a traveling nurse in multiple states across the southeast. He is interested in chronic pain and strives to provide compassionate care to the surrounding community. He holds a national certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and specialized training in Botox.
Dustin is an Alabama native, married his high school sweetheart and they have a son together. In his free time, he loves outdoor cooking activities and spending time with family.