Here are 20 spine surgeons who have focused their care on trauma cases.
To recommend a surgeon for the list, contact Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com.
Christopher P. Ames, MD (University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco). Dr. Ames is director of spinal tumor and spinal deformity surgery at UCSF Medical Center and co-director of the neurospinal disorders program and UCSF Spine Center. He has a professional interest in spinal reconstructive surgery for trauma, tumors and degenerative disease. Dr. Ames is credited with developing the transpedicular approach to removing cervical and cervical thoracic tumors, which he successfully employed in 2009. He directs the neurosurgical spinal deformity service, which treats more than 200 patients annually for correction of a variety of spinal deformities. His research interests include spinal biomechanics and the use of resorbable polymers for spinal reconstruction. Dr. Ames received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, completed his residency at UCSD Medical Center in San Diego and a fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Neel Anand, MD (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles). Dr. Anand is an orthopedic spine surgeon and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive surgical techniques for spinal disorders and trauma in adults and children. He is also actively involved in the development of emerging technologies involving non-fusion spinal surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He has been published extensively published in peer-reviewed publications, such as the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Journal of Orthopedic Trauma. Dr. Anand earned his medical degree at the University of Bombay in India and completed residencies at University of Bombay as well as the Royal College of Surgeons of England in London, Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. He has also completed a fellowship in reconstructive spine surgery at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Nitin N. Bhatia, MD (University of California Irvine, Orange, Calif.). Dr. Bhatia serves as chief of the spine service and associate professor of clinical orthopedics at UC Irvine as well as co-director of the UC Irvine Spine Center and residency program director. He has a professional interest in spine trauma, as well as spinal stenosis, disc herniations, scoliosis and complex cervical and lumbar reconstruction. He performs percutaneous fusions, X-Stop lumbar stenosis treatment and kyphoplasty and has an active interest in research. He is currently evaluating new techniques for the treatment of cervical spinal stenosis. Dr. Bhatia earned his medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency at the University of California Los Angeles. He has also completed two spine surgery fellowships at the University of Miami and Miami Children's Hospital.
Scott L. Blumenthal, MD (Texas Back Institute, Plano). Dr. Blumenthal is a partner with Texas Back Institute. He has a professional interest in treating spinal conditions, including spinal trauma. During his career, Dr. Blumenthal has served as a principle investigator for SB III Charite Artificial Disc and clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He is a member of several professional organizations, including North American Spine Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has authored numerous articles about spinal surgery that are published in professional journals. Dr. Blumenthal earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal trauma at Midwestern Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Charles L. Branch Jr., MD (Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C.). Dr. Branch is a professor and chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Wake Forest's School of Medicine. His clinical specialties include spinal disorders, stenosis and spinal tumors, among others. He has published 20 book chapters, holds 13 patents for spine technology and has served on the editorial boards of many medical publications, including the Journal of Radiosurgery and The Spine Journal. In 2003, Dr. Branch co-founded the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence at Wake Forest to devote research to finding a cure for brain cancer. Four years later, he developed the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma Research, which is dedicated to the treatment of serious spine injuries in children. A former president of the North American Spine Society, Dr. Branch has extended his care beyond American borders on mission programs to Haiti, Nigeria and Guatemala, among other locations. He earned his medical degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed residencies at North Carolina Baptist Hospital and University of California, San Francisco.
Jeffrey Crecelius, MD (Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indianapolis.). Dr. Crecelius is a neurosurgeon focusing on degenerative, traumatic and neoplastic disorders of the spine, adult brain injury, normal pressure hydrocephalus and carpal tunnel. He practices at Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine and his hospital affiliations include IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Ind. He is board-certified and is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Association for Ethics in Spine Surgery. Dr. Crecelius earned his medical degree at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Egon Doppenberg, MD (Northshore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Ill.). Dr. Doppenberg specializes in the treatment of brain and spine tumors and complex degenerative and traumatic spinal disorders at Northshore University HealthSystem. He also serves as clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He has participated in surgical missions to Central and South America to treat tumors and congenital abnormalities in children. Dr. Doppenberg earned his medical degree from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, completed his neurosurgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and received neurosurgical oncology fellowship training in and brain and spine tumors at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston.
George A. Frey, MD (Colorado Comprehensive Spine Institute, Englewood). Dr. Frey is founder of Colorado Comprehensive Spine Institute and has a professional interest in complex spinal disorders. Throughout his career, Dr. Frey has focused on the development of new surgical techniques, spinal systems and implants. He holds dozens of patents in the United States and worldwide. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Frey has co-authored several articles on spine surgery. He earned his medical degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency and spine surgery fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. His additional training includes a fellowship in reconstructive and traumatic spine surgery.
Ziya Gokaslan, MD (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore). Dr. Gokaslan is the vice-chairman of neurosurgery and director of the Neurosurgical Spine Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He completed his neuro residency at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He is also a professor of neurological surgery and orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Medical School. He is a member of Cervical Spine Research Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology and America Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is board-certified, and he focuses on the surgical treatment of both primary and metastatic spinal tumors, sacral neoplasms and spinal cord tumors. His research interests include devising novel therapeutic approaches to spinal tumors. He earned his medical degree at the University of Istanbul in Turkey. He completed a spine surgery fellowship at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.
Purnendu Gupta, MD (Chicago Center for Orthopedics at Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago). Dr. Gupta is an orthopedic surgeon and the director of the University of Chicago Spine Center. He treats many different types of cervical and spinal conditions, such as degenerative disorders, tumors, deformities and trauma-related injuries. His current research focuses on the application of cell-based gene therapy for spinal regeneration and fusion, and he is also involved in clinical studies evaluating treatment techniques for scoliosis and other conditions. Dr. Gupta is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Scoliosis Research Society. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, both in Chicago. He received fellowship training in spine surgery at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.
Mitchel B. Harris, MD (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston). Dr. Harris is the chief of the Brigham and Women's Hospital Orthopedic Trauma Service. He has a professional interest in treating orthopedic trauma injuries and traumatic spine-related conditions, including peri-articular injuries and non-unions. He also performs spinal surgery for non-traumatic conditions. During his career, Dr. Harris has authored several articles based on his research into spinal conditions and injuries published in professional journals. His research interests include the outcomes of geriatric spinal fracture management and stem cell augmentation of fracture healing. Dr. Harris earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. His additional training includes fellowships in orthopedic spine and trauma surgery at the University of Toronto, Sunny Brook Health Science Center and in trauma and adult spine surgery at Queen's Medical Centre in the United Kingdom.
Isador Lieberman, MD (Texas Back Institute, Plano). Dr. Lieberman is a partner at Texas Back Institute and has a professional interest in treating spinal deformity, tumors and trauma. He is on the medical advisory board for Mazor Robotics and has been involved in the research and development of SpineAssist. Throughout his career, Dr. Lieberman has received several awards for his research, including the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Innovations Award. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Scoliosis Research Society. Throughout his career, he has been committed to providing charitable spine care in Uganda. Dr. Lieberman earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto in Canada and completed his residency at several hospitals in Toronto. His additional training includes a spine and trauma fellowship at Toronto Hospital and spine surgery at The Queen's Medical Center in England.
David O. Okonkwo, MD (University of Pittsburg Medical Center). Dr. Okonkwo is the director of neurotrauma and spinal deformity at UPMC Presbyterian and clinical director of the Brain Trauma Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Hew was also recently named the associate director for the Center for Injury Research and Control. He has a professional interest in traumatic spine and brain injuries and scoliosis surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Okonkwo is the principle investigator for a study of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons as well as national and international neurotrauma societies. Dr. Okonkwo earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency at the University of Virginia. His additional training includes a fellowship at Auckland Public Hospital in New Zealand.
Sheeraz A. Qureshi, MD (Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City). Dr. Qureshi is an assistant professor of spinal surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital and chief of spinal trauma at Elmhurst Hospital Center. He has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive spinal surgery and caring for patients with spinal tumors or trauma. Throughout his career, Dr. Qureshi has authored articles and contributed to spine-related textbooks. His research interests include the biological and biomechanical effects of motion sparing spinal technology. Dr. Qureshi earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and was a Cervical Spine Research Society Training Fellow.
Raj D. Rao, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). Dr. Rao is a professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin with fellowship training in spine surgery. He treats patients through the college's clinics at hospitals in the Milwaukee area. Dr. Rao's special interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal tumors, spine trauma and spinal deformities. Dr. Rao is an associate editor of The Spine Journal and has served as the chair of the North American Spine Society's advocacy committee and on the board of directors. He was recently appointed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel on orthopedic and rehabilitation devices. Dr. Rao earned his medical degree from University of Bombay (India), completed his residency at University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles and received fellowship training in spine surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
J. Rafe Sales, MD (Summit Orthopaedics, Portland). Dr. Sales is founder and director of spine surgery at Summit Orthopaedics' Summit Spine Institute. He is also the medical director of spinal trauma at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Sales has authored several articles on spine surgery published in professional orthopedic and trauma journals. Dr. Sales earned his medical degree from Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at San Francisco Spine Institute.
Scott Spann, MD (The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center, Austin, Texas.). Dr. Spann is the chairman of spine surgery at The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center. He is also the founder of Westlake Orthopaedics Spine & Sports and founder of Pantheon Spinal in Austin, a medical device company that manufactures advanced lumbar spine surgery products and implants. Having suffered a major spinal cord injury himself, Dr. Spann presents to healthcare practitioner audiences nationwide on numerous topics, including his personal journey with traumatic spine injury. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. Dr. Spann earned his medical degree at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and completed his orthopedic residency at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans. He has completed fellowship training at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta.
Mark J. Spoonamore, MD (University of Southern California University Hospital, Los Angeles). Dr. Spoonamore is the medical director of the USC Center for Spinal Surgery at University Hospital. He also serves as chief of the spine surgery service at Los Angeles County Hospital and has special interest in spine tumors, spine trauma and spinal deformities along with pediatric spinal disorders. Dr. Spoonamore has researched spinal cord injuries and bone biology, and his scoliosis research has been awarded by the Scoliosis Research Society. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and serves as a reviewer for Spine. Dr. Spoonamore earned his medical degree from University of Illinois at Chicago, completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City and received fellowship training in spinal surgery at USC Medical Center.
Philip F. Stahel, MD (Denver Health). Dr. Stahel is the director of the department of orthopedics at Denver Health. He has a professional interest in orthopedic and spine surgery and trauma care. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stahel conducts research in spinal cord injury, management of complex peri-articular fractures and the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury. He is a member of several professional societies, including the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and American Spinal Injury Association. During his career, Dr. Stahel served in editorial positions of the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and the European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology. Dr. Stahel earned his medical degree at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and completed his residency in the department of trauma surgery at the University Hospital in Zurich. His additional training includes a trauma fellowship at Charite University Medical Center in Berlin and a research fellowship at the University of Alabama.
John Steinmann, DO (Arrowhead Orthopaedics, Redlands, Calif.). Dr. Steinmann is a partner with Arrowhead Orthopaedics and director of spine trauma at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. He also serves as an assistant clinical physician at Western University in Pomona, Calif. He has a professional interest in traumatic and spinal injuries as well as degenerative conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine. He is a member of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Steinmann completed his DO at Western University of Health Sciences and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Mich. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Washington/Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Alex Vaccaro, MD (Rothman Institute, Philadelphia). Dr. Vaccaro is vice chairman of the department of orthopedics and co-director of the Spine Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson Hospital. He is also co-director of the Regional Spinal cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley and a partner with Rothman Institute. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Vaccaro is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He has published several articles about spinal conditions in peer-review journals throughout his career and presented findings based on his research at professional meetings across the country. Dr. Vaccaro earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed a PhD in spinal trauma. His additional training includes an orthopedic residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and spinal fellowship at the University of San Diego.
Douglas Wong, MD (Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, Denver, Colo.). Dr. Wong, an orthopedic spine surgeon, serves as the spine fellowship director at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center where he treats adult and pediatric spine and trauma. He also serves as the team physician for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Cervical Spine Research Society. He focuses on spinal disorders, such as scoliosis, spine fractures, minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques and disc replacement surgery. He earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, Va., where he also completed his orthopedic surgery residency. He has also completed a spine fellowship at Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic in Denver.