Clinical Specialty
Scoliosis and complex spinal surgery (pediatric and adult)
Clinical Interests
Pediatric and adult spinal deformities; revision spinal surgeries; complex spinal disorders; cervical, thoracic and lumbar pathology; tumor; fractures; degeneration; deformity; scoliosis; kyphosis; spondylolisthesis
Research Interests
Center on treatment of complex spinal deformities, in particular idiopathic adolescent scoliosis and adult idiopathic scoliosis with superimposed degenerative changes, fixed sagittal and coronal imbalance syndromes, high-grade spondylolisthesis, and clinical outcomes in idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis and adult spinal deformity. Use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) to achieve spinal fusion more readily, reduce need for iliac bone graft harvesting and substantially reduce the invasiveness and morbidity of surgical spinal fusions.
Background
Scoliosis Research Society: Membership Chairman (1991-1992), Program Chairman (1995), Board of Directors (1995-1997; 2000-2004; 2005-2006), First Vice President (2000-2001), President-Elect (2001-2002), President (2002-2003). Local host Scoliosis Research Society meeting St. Louis, MO in 1997. The Scoliosis Research Society is the leading international society for the study of spinal deformity and the oldest orthopaedic specialty society in North America. Washington University Spine Fellowship Program – Director and Founder (trains three spinal fellows per year) initiated in 1991 to present. To-date has trained 36 fellows, with 3 currently in training. Author of over 212 manuscripts and 56 chapters in the field of spinal surgery, including editor-in-chief of The Textbook of Spinal Surgery, 1st, 2nd and 3rd (in progress) editions. Deputy Editor of SPINE for spinal deformity. Co-founder with Randy Betz, MD of the Spinal Deformity Study Group (SDSG) in 2000 to study clinical outcomes in patients with adult deformity, pediatric deformity and spondylolisthesis. SDSG Adult Deformity Outcomes (ADO) Section Leader - 2000 to present. Have trained several of my current spine practice partners.
Awards
President of the Scoliosis Research Society (2002-2003). Scientific recognition: Russell L. Hibbs Award, 1987, Best Basic Science Paper, Scoliosis Research Society Meeting; Walter P. Blount Award, 1987, Best Poster, Scoliosis Research Society Meeting; Russell L. Hibbs Award, 1991, Best Clinical Paper, Scoliosis Research Society Meeting; John H. Moe Award, 1995, Best Poster Exhibit, Scoliosis Research Society Meeting; Outstanding Paper Award, 1999, North American Spine Society Meeting; Russell L. Hibbs Award, 2002, Best Basic Science Paper, Scoliosis Research Society; Louis A. Goldstein Award, 2005, Best Clinical Poster, Scoliosis Research Society. The Best Doctors in America 1999 to present and listed in 2007-2008 database. Lifetime member of Marquis Who's Who in America.
Board Certifications
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1985; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 1987
Residency
Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine
Fellowship
Spine/Scoliosis Research, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital / University of Illinois Hospital / Chicago Shriners Hospital