Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health named Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, chief of the Duke Spine Division, effective Sept. 1.
Dr. Shaffrey is currently the John A. Jane Professor of Neurological Surgery and adjunct professor of orthopedics surgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville. In his new role at Duke, he will lead the spine division, which is newly created as a collaboration between the neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery departments.
Since the division's inception last year, William J. Richardson, MD, has served as the interim chief and presided over strategic planning and patient satisfaction for the division. He also was instrumental in creating the Combined Spine Scheduling Hub.
Dr. Shaffrey has a special interest in researching pediatric and adult scoliosis, spinal cord injury, spinal trauma and tumors. He serves as the deputy editor for Spine and Spine Deformity, and he has more than 400 publications to his credit. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Shaffrey has experience as chair of the International Meeting of Advanced Spine Techniques, and he is president-elect of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Prior to joining the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Shaffrey practiced in the department of neurological surgery and orthopedic surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit before joining Seattle-based University of Washington in 2004.