About
Interventional Spine Care for Back and Neck Pain
I have always been interested in musculoskeletal medicine. Before going to medical school, I was an athletic trainer, working with a university women’s volleyball team. There, I saw a lot of injuries and back pain and understood how debilitating pain can be — not only in the context of sports but also in everyday life. That inspired me to go to medical school and continue to pursue musculoskeletal medicine, in particular interventional spine.
I really love the hands-on aspect of my practice and enjoy doing procedures. It’s also important to me to involve the patient in the whole spectrum of care. This includes having a thorough discussion, performing an extensive physical exam as well as going through their imaging with them, helping them understand their condition, and working with the patient to establish a good treatment plan.
A Patient-Centered Approach to Spine Care
My biggest goal for any of my patients is to get them back doing the activities they want to do. I like to partner with my patients in figuring out what those activities are, so we know what a successful outcome looks like. From there, my job is to help alleviate their pain and then guide them in the direction they need to go to be able to avoid reinjury.
At the end of the day, I want to equip my patients with the ability to be able to treat the root cause of their pain. I am a big proponent of physical therapy and general physical activity as a critical part of the overall treatment plan. My ultimate goal with any of my patients is for them to be as independent as they can be over the long term. The more I can connect with a patient on a personal level, the easier it is for us to forge a trusted relationship, which can lead to positive outcomes.
Get to Know Dr. Seth Bires
My wife, who is also a physician, is originally from Minnesota. We’re thrilled that we’re able to practice in the Twin Cities, an area we both love. We also like to travel, and we enjoy the great outdoors. I like to snowboard, and I have recently gotten back into skateboarding. I’m also interested in photography, and I play guitar.
Specialties
Locations
My Team
Additional Information About Dr. Kersten LW Schwanz
Education, Memberships, & Awards
Education
Fellowship
University of Utah 7/2024-6/2025
NASS Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship.
Completed over 1600 procedures targeting the cervical/thoracic/lumbar/sacral regions, including epidural/joint injections, medial branch blocks/ablations, intracept, kyphoplasty (balloon and spinejack), spinal cord stimulator trials, endoscopic neurectomy.
Residency
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University/Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: 7/2020-6/2023
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency
McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University: 7/2019-07/2020
Internal Medicine Internship
Medical School
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine: 8/2014-5/2019
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU)
Kansas City, MO
Undergraduate Studies
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 6/2012-5/2013
Post baccalaureate
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 8/2010-5/2012
Masters of Science, Sports Medicine with Emphasis in Athletic Training
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA 8/2006-12/2009
Bachelor of Science, Athletic Training
Professional Memberships
- American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR)
- Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP)
- North American Spine Society (NASS)
- Spine Intervention Society (IPSIS)
- American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM)
Awards & Honors
- Psi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, KCU 2016-2019
- Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society, KCU 2015-2019
- Global Health Honors Track, KCU 2015-2019
- COM COMLEX 2 Excellence Scholarship, KCU 2018
- Dean’s List, KCU 2015-2017
- COM COMLEX I Excellence Scholarship, KCU 2017
- Robert G. Ricci Scholarship, KCU 2016
- Bruce B. Peters DO Diversity Scholarship, KCU 2015
- Diversity Scholarship, KCU 2014- 2019
- Dean’s Scholarship, KCU 2014
- National Athletic Trainers Association: Graduate Scholarship 2011
- National Athletic Trainers Association: Undergraduate Scholarship 2009
Certifications
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- Basic Life Support
Research & Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
- Bires S, McMurray M, Coffin J. Clinically Integrated Networks: Guidelines and Common Barriers for Establishment. Medical Economics. March 2019.
- McMurray M, Armstrong M, Bires S, Coffin J. Medicare abuse and home healthcare. Medical Economics. April 2018;95(7):28-29:
- Sen H, Kanjanapanang N, Cooper AN, Bires S, Adler A, Nabi A, Dickenson B, Tang W, Young C, Burnham T, Glinka Przybysz A, Conger A, McCormick ZL. The Effectiveness of Cervical Medial Branch Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Three-Tined Electrode: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study. Submitted for publication to Pain Medicine. June 202
Poster Presentations:
- Bires S, Brown E, Harvey R. The Imperfect Storm: Infection of an Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage Misdiagnosed as Central Storming: A Case Report. AAPM&R Virtual Conference 2021. Nov 2021.
- McMurray M, Bires S, Desai G, Bonyo B. Attitudes and perceptions affecting condom use in sexually active Kenyans. Abstract/poster presented by colleague at: Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine (BIOM) International Seminar; Philadelphia, PA. Oct 2017.
- McMurray M, Bires S. Relationship between preferred study resources and student performance on COMLEX-USA Levels 1 and 2-CE. Abstract/poster presented by colleague at: American Osteopathic Association Osteopathic Medical Conference; San Diego, CA. Oct 2018.
- Armstrong M, Coffin J, Gregory P, Paulson J, Bires S, McMurray M. Incorporating Patient Centered Medical Home Concepts in the Osteopathic Curriculum. Oral presentation by colleague at: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Conference; Washington, DC. Apr 2018.
Book Chapters:
Bires SM. I Go on This Golf Trip Every Year, but It Hurts to Swing a Club. In: Standaert CJ, Friedly J, eds. Low Back Pain. What Do I Do Now?: Pain Medicine. 1st ed. Oxford University Press; 2024:221-228.
Graduate Research Project:
- Joint Moments at the Ankle and Knee During Barefoot and Shod Running Sports Medicine Research Lab, Exercise and Sport Science Department, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
Lectures
- “Spasticity, Diagnosis and Management.” Northwestern Medical/Visiting Student Lecture Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
- “Radial Neuropathies.” VA Neurology EMG Didactics series. Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
- “Treatment Recommendations for Phantom Limb Pain in People with Amputations: An Expert Consensus Delphi Study by Limakatso et al.” VA PM&R Department Journal Club. Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
- “Post ICU syndrome- Critical Illness Myopathy, Neuropathy, and Cognitive Impairment.” Medical Student Extern Lecture Series 2021. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Lower Extremity Injuries.” Medical Student Extern Lecture Series 2021. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Management.” MSK Foundations Lecture Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “The Aging Spine: Spinal Stenosis, Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis.” MSK Foundations Lecture Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy for a Degenerative Meniscus Tear: a 5 Year Follow-up of the Placebo-Surgery Controlled FIDELITY (Finnish Degenerative Meniscus Lesion Study) Trial by Sihvonen et al.” MSK Sports Medicine Journal Club. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Oral Steroids for Acute Radiculopathy Due to a Herniated Lumbar Disk: A Randomized Clinical Trial by Goldberg et al.” MSK Sports Medicine Journal Club. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Neuromuscular Case Presentation: Dysarthria and Upper Extremity Weakness.” Complex Case Presentation Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Musculoskeletal Case Presentation: Bilateral Groin Pain in a Runner.” Complex Case Presentation Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- “Radiology for the lumbar spine.” MSK Foundation Lecture Series. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Volunteer Service
Medical
- Independence Cup and U.S. Parasailing Championship, Volunteer 08/2022
Provided medical coverage and care for participants and spectators of the sailing/parasailing event in Chicago IL - Chicago Marathon, Volunteer 10/2021
Provided medical coverage and care for participants and spectators of the Chicago Marathon - Guatemala Medical Mission Trip 02/2019
Provided medical care at multiple villages surrounding Antigua. Had the opportunity to work in multiple settings including wound care, triage, primary patient care. - Kenya Medical Mission Trip 12/2016
Provided medical care at Mama Pilista Memorial Health Centre in rural Kenya. Had the opportunity to work in multiple settings of the clinic including wound care, diagnostic lab, triage, and primary patient care. - Score 1 for Health, Kansas City, MO 2014-2016
Participated in health screening and preventative health education days at Kansas City elementary schools as a first and second year medical students’ gained clinical experience and healthcare assessment knowledge - Boy Scouts of America, Kansas City, MO 2015-2016
Performed pre-camp physicals for boy scouts and troop leaders
Community
- Adopt a Third Grader, Joplin, MO 2018
Matched with a third grade student to introduce them to medical school - Ronald McDonald House, Joplin, MO 2017-2018
Assisted families of hospitalized children in the Ronald McDonald family room - Project Uplift, Kansas City, MO 2016
Sorted donations for homeless outreach program - Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City 2015
Volunteered at holiday dance for teenagers with Down Syndrome - Higher M-Pact, Kansas City, MO 2015
Volunteered at Halloween activity for at risk youth
Collected and distributed thanksgiving dinner supplies to underserved communities
