Proliance Orthopedic Associates Celebrates Physicians Named 2026 Seattle Met Top Doctors

RENTON, Wash. — 2026 — Proliance Orthopedic Associates (POA) is proud to announce that 12 of its physicians have been recognized among Seattle Met magazine's 2026 Top Doctors, an annual distinction honoring highly regarded medical professionals throughout the Puget Sound region.

The 2026 Proliance Orthopedic Associates honorees are:

• Timothy B. Alton, M.D. — Hip and Knee Replacement
• Craig T. Arntz, M.D. — Shoulder and Upper Extremity
• Prash Bremjit, M.D. — Hip and Knee Replacement
• Sean Haloman, M.D. — Shoulder and Sports Medicine
• Christopher R. Howe, M.D. — Neck, Back and Spine
• John P. Howlett, M.D. — Hand, Wrist and Elbow
• Fredrick S. Huang, M.D. — Hip and Knee Replacement and Sports Medicine
• Matthew Lyons, M.D. — Shoulder and Sports Medicine
• Andrew L. Merritt, M.D. — Sports Medicine and Hip and Knee Care
• Erik J. Novak, M.D., Ph.D. — Foot and Ankle, Trauma and Fracture Surgery
• Niket Shrivastava, M.D. — Hand, Wrist, Elbow and Shoulder
• Jason H. Thompson, M.D. — Neck, Back and Spine

The Seattle Met Top Doctors recognition is particularly meaningful because honorees are selected through peer nominations. Working with Professional Research Services, Seattle Met surveys healthcare practitioners licensed by the Washington State Department of Health across King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Pierce counties. Medical professionals are asked whom they would choose if they or a loved one needed care.

Nominees are considered based on factors including clinical experience, competency, patient rapport and satisfaction, and their ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across specialties. Top vote recipients are then vetted through the Washington State Department of Health to confirm they are in good standing before being included on the final list.

The 2026 honorees represent a broad range of orthopedic specialties, including joint replacement, sports medicine, spine care, shoulder surgery, hand and upper-extremity care, and foot and ankle surgery. Together, they reflect POA's multidisciplinary approach to helping patients reduce pain, restore function and return to the activities that matter most to them.

The recognition continues a strong tradition for Proliance Orthopedic Associates. In 2025, 17 POA physicians were recognized as Seattle Met Top Doctors, highlighting the depth of orthopedic expertise across the practice.

Proliance Orthopedic Associates congratulates its 2026 Top Doctors and thanks the healthcare professionals throughout the region whose nominations made this recognition possible.

About Proliance Orthopedic Associates

Proliance Orthopedic Associates provides comprehensive orthopedic and musculoskeletal care to communities throughout the greater Seattle area. Its physicians and care teams specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, with expertise spanning joint replacement, sports medicine, spine, shoulder, hand and upper extremity, foot and ankle, trauma and other orthopedic specialties.

As a division of Proliance Surgeons, Proliance Orthopedic Associates combines specialized orthopedic expertise with a commitment to accessible, patient-centered care.

For more information about Proliance Orthopedic Associates or to find a physician, visit ProlianceOrthopedicAssociates.com.

About Seattle Met Top Doctors

Seattle Met partners with Professional Research Services to survey licensed healthcare practitioners throughout King, Snohomish, Kitsap and Pierce counties. Participants nominate medical professionals they would choose to care for themselves or a loved one, considering factors such as experience, competency, patient relationships and interdisciplinary collaboration. Top vote recipients are vetted through the Washington State Department of Health before being included on the annual Top Doctors list.