Here are 31 spine surgeons who are focused on trauma care.
If you would like to recommend another surgeon for inclusion on this list, please contact Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com.
Neel Anand, MD (Cedars Sinai Spine Center, Los Angeles). Dr. Anand is a clinical professor of surgery and director of spine trauma Cedars-Sinai Spine Center. Throughout his career, he has engaged in research for minimally invasive surgical technique for spinal disorders and trauma. He is also involved with emerging technologies involving non-fusion surgery and is a principle investigator for many FDA investigational device exemption studies. Dr. Anand is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He has published several articles based on his research in professional journals, such as the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma and Spine. Dr. Anand earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay in India and completed orthopedic residencies at the University of Bombay, the Royal College of Surgeons of England in London, the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Orthopedic Program at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in New York City. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Florida Spinal Health Centers in Gainesville and a scoliosis and trauma fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Scott L. Blumenthal, MD (Texas Back Institute, Plano). Dr. Blumenthal is a spine consultant for the Dallas Mavericks and 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, Spine Arthroplasty Society 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.
Robert S. Bray Jr., MD (DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Bray is a neurological spine surgeon and founder of DISC. He began treating spinal cord injuries during his time in the Air Force. He has also won multiple medals and commendations for his work developing medical protocols and teaching wartime trauma techniques. He founded The Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He also has multiple patents on a wide-array of spinal implants and surgical instruments and has consulted on the development of the Zeiss Microscope. Dr. Bray earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals.
Malcolm R. Bullock, MD (University of Miami Health System). Dr. Bullock is the medical director of the neurotrauma program at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a professor of neurological surgery with the University of Miami Health System. He is the only physician to have served as both president of the U.S. National Neurotrauma Society and chairman of the trauma section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. During his career, he has generated more than $11 million in previous research to support TBI and his current funding includes a department of defense-funded trial of Oxycyte perfluorocarban to severe human TBI. His additional research interests include pathomechanisms of TBI, neuroprotection trials, neuromonitoring and the role of stem cells in regeneration and repair. Dr. Bullock earned his medical degree at Birmingham University in the United Kingdom and completed his neurological surgery residency at the Institute of Neurological Sciences at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His additional training includes time spent at Wentworth Hospital and the University of Natal Teaching Hospital System in South Africa.
Christopher Chaput, MD (Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas). Dr. Chaput is the director orthopedic research at Scott & White Hospital and an assistant professor of surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and Texas Medical Association. His practice focuses on treating patients with degenerative disc disorders, minimally invasive procedures in the cervical spine, disc replacement and lumbar trauma. Dr. Chaput earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Scott & White Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in scoliosis and spinal reconstruction surgery.
Patricio Grob, DO (Atlantic Orthopaedic Associates, Whippany, N.J.). Dr. Grob is an orthopedic spine surgeon at Atlantic Orthopaedic Associates. He focuses on trauma and complex fractures as well as ruptured discs, spinal arthritis, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. He is affiliated with Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center. He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Grob has completed two fellowships — one in orthopedic trauma at University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic in Memphis and another in acute spine trauma at Northwestern University in Chicago.
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.
Roger Hartl, MD (NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York). Dr. Hartl is Co-Director of the Weill Cornell Spine Center and chief of spinal surgery at NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He focuses on traumatic brain and spinal cord injury as well as neurotrauma, scoliosis, spinal abscess and herniated discs. Dr. Hartl is a professor of neurological surgery Weill Cornell Medical College and serves as neurosurgeon for the New York Giants. He earned his medical degree at the Ludwig-Maximillians University in Munich, Germany. He completed his neurosurgery residency at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He has completed a fellowship in neurocritical care at the Charite Hospital of the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany as well as a complex spine surgery fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Robert F. Heary, MD (Spine Center of New Jersey, Newark). Dr. Heary is director of the Spine Center of New Jersey and is actively involved in spinal cord injury research. He founded the Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory in Newark in 2006. He is a member of American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerves and the Lumbar Spine Research Society. He has authored 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and 42 book chapters. His research interests also include minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal cord tumors and spinal deformity. Dr. Heary earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine and completed his residency in neurological surgery at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He has also completed a spine fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Edward Horn, MD (Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Indianapolis). Dr. Horn is a neurosurgeon focused on spine trauma as well as complex spine conditions, spine tumors and degenerative spine disorders. He is director of spinal neurosurgery and an assistant professor of neurological surgery at Indiana University's department of neurological surgery. He is a member of the AOSpine, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. During his career he has won the Lloyd Nyhus Award for Surgical Research and the Arizona Neurosurgical Society's John R. Green Award. He earned his medical degree at University of Illinois Medical Scholars Program in Urbana-Champaign and completed his residency at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, where he also completed a spine trauma fellowship.
Richard B. Kim, MD (DISC Sports and Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Kim is a neurosurgeon at DISC as well as program director of Hoag Epilepsy Center, a part of Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach, Calif. He is an active researcher and has published numerous scientific articles and chapters in neurosurgical textbooks. He focuses his practice on complex spinal cases, including cervical, thoracic and lumbar surgeries, and also incorporates minimally invasive techniques. He is a member of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Kim earned his medical degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at New York University Langone Medical Center and a fellowship in epilepsy surgery at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Charles Kuntz, MD (University of Cincinnati). Dr. Kuntz is the director of the spine and peripheral nerve division and a member of the Neurotrauma Center at the University of Cincinnati. He has experience as director of spine and peripheral nerve surgery and research, as well as director of the spine fellowship program, at Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati. Dr. Kuntz has a professional interest in neurosurgery, spine surgery, tumors, scoliosis and kyphosis. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Kuntz earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and completed his residency and fellowships at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Alexander Lenard, MD (St. Mary's Medical Center, West Palm Beach, Fla.). Dr. Lenard is the section chief of spine surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center and on staff at Orthopaedic Care Specialists in North Palm Beach. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal fractures, stenosis and trauma. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Palm Beach County Medical Society. Dr. Lenard earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California San Francisco.
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.
Geoffrey T. Manley, MD (University of California, San Francisco). Dr. Manley is a trauma-focused neurosurgeon with clinical interests in brain injury, spinal cord injury and neurocritical critical care. He is the chief of neurosurgery at San Francisco General Hospital as well as co-director and principal investigator at UCSF's Brain and Spinal Injury Center. During his career, he has received the General Motors Trauma Research Award and the Trauma Research Award from the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Neurotrauma Society. He earned his medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. He completed his residency in neurological surgery at UCSF, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biophysics.
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.
Mark Prasarn, MD (University of Texas, Houston). Dr. Prasarn is the chief of spine trauma and an associate professor in the department of orthopedics at the University of Texas in Houston. He is also the team spine surgeon for the Houston Texans. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Prasarn is a scientific journal reviewer for Spine and the Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care. He has also published his own research in professional journals such as the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Prasarn has given presentations at professional meetings. He earned his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. His additional training includes fellowships in orthopedic trauma at Hospital for Special Surgery and in spine surgery at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and MD Anderson Cancer Institute in Houston.
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.
Craig H. Rabb, MD (University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City). Dr. Rabb is the director of the neurotrauma program and a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma. He has a special interest in traumatic brain injury, spine trauma, spine surgery and deep brain stimulation. He previously served as director of neurovascular surgery at the Colorado Neurological Institute in Englewood and chief of neurosurgery at Denver Health Medical Center. During his career, Dr. Rabb has authored more than 50 professional publications and has had editorial responsibilities with The Spine Journal. Dr. Rabb is also on the ethics committees of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and completed his residency in neurological surgery at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Lund in Sweden.
Zachary Ray, MD (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis). Dr. Ray is an assistant professor of neurosurgery and focuses on spine trauma, nerve transfers, brachial plexus tumors, spinal cord injury and spinal cord tumors. During his career, he has won AANS/CNS Spine & Peripheral Nerve Section Mayfield Basic Science Award and Neurosurgery Research Symposium Basic Science Award. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Neurosurgical Focus. He earned his medical degree at University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City and completed his residency Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis, where he also completed a peripheral nerve fellowship. He has completed additional fellowship training in spine surgery at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
John Regan, MD (St. Vincent Spine Institute, Los Angeles). Dr. Regan is medical director of Spine Group Beverly Hills (Calif.) and the co-director of St. Vincent Spine Institute. He is fellowship-trained in spine trauma and his clinical interests include cervical herniated discs, degenerative spinal disorders, lumbar degenerative disc disease and scoliosis. Dr. Regan has written a book on minimally invasive spine surgery techniques called "The Atlas of Endoscopic Spinal Surgery." He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. Dr. Regan earned his medical degree at the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Raleigh-based University of North Carolina. He has also completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore as well as his spine trauma fellowship at A.O. International in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
J. Rafe Sales, MD (Summit Spine Institute, 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 (Westlake Orthopaedics Spine & Sports, Austin, Texas). Dr. Spann is the founder of Westlake Orthopaedics Spine & Sports as well as chairman of spine surgery at The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center in Austin and founder of Pantheon Spinal, a medical device company. Having suffered a major spinal cord injury himself in 2005, Dr. Spann presents to healthcare practitioner audiences nationwide on numerous topics, including his personal journey with traumatic spine injury. He focuses his clinical practice on cervical spine disorders and lumbar degenerative disc disease. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He 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.
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. HI additional raining 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.
Lee Eric Tessler, MD (Neurological Surgery, Great Neck, N.Y.). Dr. Tessler is the chief of neurotrauma and chairman of the neurosurgery quality improvement committee at Winthrop Hospital and a physician with Neurological Surgery PC. He has a professional interest in brain tumors, meningiomas, stereotactic surgery and radio surgery. Dr. Tessler is the treasurer of the medical staff for Mercy medical Center and the Nassau County Medical Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Tessler is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, New York Neurosurgical Society and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Tessler earned his medical degree at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health in Columbus and completed his residency at New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital Center.
John D. Tydings, MD (Central Jersey Spine Associates, Lawrenceville, N.J.). Dr. Tydings is the director of spinal trauma at Capital Health Systems in Trenton, a position he has held since 2003. He founded Central Jersey Spine Associates in 1995 and has focused his practice on treating patients with a variety of conditions. During his career, Dr. Tydings has worked to stay on the cutting edge of spinal technology and has been the medical director for Compsource Inc. He performs minimally invasive surgical technique and is a fellow of several professional organizations, including American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine society. He has also participated in research published in professional journals. Dr. Tydings earned his medical degree at Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albany Medical Center Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at K.D. Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, Ky.
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.
A. Gianni Vishteh, MD (John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, Phoenix). Dr. Vishteh is the director of neurosurgery trauma and spinal trauma at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, which has a Level 1 Trauma Center. The center includes all private rooms, two rooftop helipads and four dedicated trauma bays for critically injured patients. Dr. Vishteh earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh and completed his residency at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He also completed a fellowship at Barrow.
Amir Vokshoor, MD (DISC Sports and Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Vokshoor is a neurological spine surgeon practicing at DISC Sports and Spine Center. He focuses on minimally invasive microsurgical techniques in treating adult spinal and cranial disorders and injuries. He has made numerous contributions to peer-reviewed journals, and his submissions include topics such as the surgical treatment algorithms for cervical spondylotic myelopathy, spinal stenosis and lumbar degenerative disease. He has also launched his own nonprofit foundation for researching brain performance. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, North America Spine Society. Dr. Vokshoor earned his medical degree at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond. He has completed his neurosurgery residency training at Ohio State University in Columbus and a complex spine fellowship at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Douglas C. Wong, MD (Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, Golden, Colo.). Dr. Wong is the chief of orthopedic spinal trauma at St. Anthony Central Level 1 Trauma Center in Denver and spine fellowship director for Panorama Orthopedic Clinic and Spine Center. He also serves as team physician for the United States Disabled Ski Team. Dr. Wong's practice focuses on artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive surgery, scoliosis surgery, spinal fusion and trauma cases. He has been a principle investigator for three artificial disc replacement studies and is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia Health Science Center. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic.
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