Randall F. Dryer, MD, practices with Central Texas Spine Institute in Austin. is a past chief of orthopedics at Seton Medical Center as well as the past medical director of Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital, also in Austin. He has previously served as chief of spinal surgery and chief of orthopedic surgery services at the U.S. Air Force Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio. He has also previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Society of Lateral Access Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Society, and Cervical Spine Research Society.
Dr. Dryer has won numerous awards during his career, including the outstanding research award from the Cervical Spine Society. He has also served as the editor of the Iowa Orthopaedic Journal. His research work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Spine and Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques. He has served as the principal investigator in numerous trials. He is involved in several ongoing motion-preserving studies as well as stem cell studies.
"The most important clinical developments in spine surgery in the last few years has been the improvements in biological treatments, including osteoinductive materials and stem cell therapies," says Dr. Dryer. "The improvement of the delivery of interbody devices from anterior, posterior and lateral approaches has also helped improve surgical care. However, the most troubling trend is the loss of physician autonomy and increasing regulatory interference from the government and insurance companies."
Dr. Dryer earned his medical degree at University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he also completed his orthopedic surgery residency. He has completed a fellowship in hand and spine surgery at New Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England.
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