Awards & Accolades
For over 50 years, Coastal Orthopedics has been providing comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care to the residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties. By providing quality care from diagnosis to treatment to rehabilitation, our ultimate goal is to improve your quality of life so you can return to your regular activities with minimal pain. Our physicians are committed to providing personalized and patient-centered care, so you can rest assured that you are receiving quality care, tailored just for you. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed by the community and when you choose Coastal Orthopedics, you’ll experience the Coastal difference too.
The Coastal Orthopedics team has been recognized both nationally and locally as a leading authority in orthopedic surgical procedures, as well as sports medicine and spine care. Read more about our recent local awards below!
A few of our most recent awards and accolades include the following:
Newsweek: America’s Leading Doctors 2025
Coastal Orthopedics is proud to announce that three of our physicians have been recognized by Newsweek as America’s Leading Doctors for 2025. This prestigious national list identifies the top 2,800 doctors across 15 specialties based on physician performance, professional certifications, quality scores, and a nationwide peer survey. We are honored to have the following doctors recognized for their excellence in orthopedic surgery:
- Dr. Alan Valadie: Leading Doctor in Hip Surgery
- Dr. David Cashen: Leading Doctor in Hip Surgery
- Dr. Avi Kumar: Leading Doctor in Shoulder Surgery
US News & World Report – Top Ambulatory Surgery Center in Orthopedics and Spine
For the second year in a row, Coastal Orthopedics has been honored as one of the top Orthopedic and Spine Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in their list of top ASCs. This prestigious recognition highlights Coastal Orthopedics’ commitment to excellence in providing superior surgical care and patient outcomes. Listed under The Surgery Center at Pointe West – East Center per our license, Coastal Orthopedics stands out as one of only 19 surgery centers in Florida to receive this distinction in the orthopedics and spine category. This accolade is a testament to the exceptional skill and dedication of our medical team, the state-of-the-art technology we employ, and our unwavering focus on patient safety and satisfaction. We are proud to be recognized at a national level and remain dedicated to advancing the standards of orthopedic and spine care for our patients.
Bradenton Herald 2014-2025 – Bradenton’s Best Awards Winner
For over a century, the Bradenton Herald has been the trusted local newspaper for Manatee County. Each year, the community is invited to vote for their favorite local businesses, who are then honored in the annual “Bradenton’s Best” Awards. The Coastal Orthopedics team is incredibly proud to have been consistently nominated and voted for over the last decade by the people of Manatee County.
In 2025, Coastal Orthopedics won the following awards:
- [2025 Gold Badge]: Best Surgery Center
- [2025 Gold Badge]: Best Physical Therapist
- [2025 Silver Badge]: Best Orthopedic Surgeon
Sarasota Herald Tribune 2019-2025 – Community Choice Award
Coastal Orthopedics is a proud winner in this year’s Community Choice Awards. In 2025, Coastal Orthopedics won first place for Sports Medicine/Orthopedic Clinic and Foot Care Clinic. In 2024, Coastal Orthopedics won for best Foot Care Clinic as well as Physical Therapy.
Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors Awards
Through the annual Top Doctors Awards, Castle Connolly aims to inform the community about the quality of their physicians and highlight those who provide exceptional care. With a mission to help consumers find the best healthcare available, Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors Award is only awarded to those doctors who are among the very best in their specialties.
The Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors Award for 2025 was recently published and we are thrilled to announce that the following physicians have been recognized as the top physicians within their specialties.
- David V. Cashen, M.D., Total Joint Specialist
- Avinash G. Kumar, M.D., Shoulder and Elbow Specialist
- Laura B. Ottaviani, D.O., Rehabilitation Specialist
- Steven J. Schafer, M.D., Sports Medicine Specialist
- Alan L. Valadie, M.D., Total Joint Specialist
- Sara Simmons, M.D., Hand and Wrist Specialist
Manatee Chamber of Commerce Champions of Healthcare Awards
The Champions of Healthcare Awards honor the individuals, institutions and programs that make an impact in the community. The Chamber of Commerce looks to highlight those whose actions reflect a dedication to excellence in their area of expertise beyond their profession. The Coastal Orthopedics team was proudly awarded this honor for their dedication to serving both patients and the community in 2014. In 2019 pain management physician Dr. David Cashen and Marne Salinas, PT were nominated. Our team strives to make a positive, lasting impact in the Manatee County healthcare community and will continue to do so.
Keiser University, 2018 Employer of the Year Award
“This partnership continues to help maximize students’ success by providing excellent hands-on training, clinical experience and the ability to follow their passion and obtain their degree,” said Dr. Michele Morgan, campus president. Jeff French, director of operations at Coastal Orthopedics and a trusted advisory board member for the medical assisting and physical therapy assisting programs, and Ron Lane, Coastal Orthopedics’ clinical supervisor and a former advisory board member, were instrumental in maintaining the strong ties and partnership between Coastal Orthopedics and Keiser University. “It’s a huge honor to be recognized by Keiser University for the services that we are offering to their students,” said French. “We appreciate the opportunity to share our staff’s knowledge with their students, give back to the profession and help to grow the health care community.”
2016-2017 Clinical Teaching Faculty
We are proud to announce that our physicians are Clinical Teaching Faculty for the residency training programs at Blake Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital. The primary purpose of these programs are to train and retain highly qualified primary care physicians within our region. Our 17 physicians are thrilled to be part of a program investing in the future of medicine right here in our community!
Keep Manatee Beautiful 2014 Awards – Recycling Award in Large Business Category
Each year, Keep Manatee Beautiful honors the outstanding efforts of citizens who are involved in enhancing the communities of Manatee County. By demonstrating leadership and an interest in helping the environment, the Coastal Orthopedics team was awarded the Recycling Award in the large business category. The Coastal Orthopedics team continues to go above and beyond to recycle goods used in the workplace that would otherwise be thrown away.
Coastal Orthopedics Physicians Named to Compass Healthcare’s Compass Premier Provider Program
Compass Professional Health Services helps employers achieve sustainable savings, while activating employees with the information they need to make better healthcare decisions. By combining powerful support technology with personal healthcare consultants, Compass guides employees through healthcare’s complexities, saving time, money and frustration. That’s why Dr. David Cashen, Dr. Avi Kumar, Dr. Daniel Lamar, Dr. Steven Schafer, Dr. Alan Valadie and Dr. Arthur Valadie are proud to have each been selected as a Compass Premier Provider based on an analysis of their claims data and other measures.
Coastal Orthopedics’ Surgeons, Renowned Presenters, Speakers & Authors
Coastal Orthopedics’ physicians and surgeons are known not only for the quality care that they provide to patients on a daily basis but are also recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in their fields. Our physicians frequently speak at conferences, forums, and panels, author scientific journal publications, and teach courses and techniques to medical students and fellow practitioners. For more information about each individual physician’s experience and involvement, please review their individual biographies.
