10 Spine Surgeons Focusing on Pediatrics

Spine
Laura Dyrda -

Here are 10 spine surgeons who have focused their practice on treating pediatric spinal cases. This list is not an endorsement of any organizaiton's or surgeon's clinical abilities. Randal R. Betz, MD (Shriners Children's Hospital, Philadelphia). Dr. Betz is the chief of staff and medical director of the spinal cord injury unit at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. He also serves as a professor of orthopedic surgery at Temple University School of Medicine and clinical assistant professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, both in Philadelphia.  Throughout his career, Dr. Betz has received several research grants, and he holds six patents mainly focusing on new methods and treatments for spinal deformities.  He is also the co-author of The Child with a Spinal Cord Injury and author of several peer-review articles on pediatric spine surgery. He serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics and is an associate editor of Spinal Frontiers. Dr. Betz is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Scoliosis Research Society, for which he has served as president. Dr. Betz earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Temple University Hospital and Shriners Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at the Alfred I. duPont Institute in Wilmington, Del., and three traveling fellowships.

Jonathan Camp, MD (Children's Bone & Spine Surgery).
Dr. Camp established the Children's Bone & Spine Surgery to serve patients in southern Nevada in need of pediatric orthopedic and scoliosis care. He has a professional interest in operative and non-operative care for spinal disorders, with an emphasis on examining alternative treatment methods to surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Camp is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. He earned his medical degree at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California in San Francisco. His additional training includes a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic and scoliosis surgery at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas.  

Alvin H. Crawford, MD (Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center). Dr. Crawford is the co-director of the Crawford Spine Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and a professor of pediatric orthopedic surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Crawford is among the leaders of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and neurofibromatosis. Throughout his career, Dr. Crawford has authored several publications that are used widely for instructing new physicians today, as well as more than 200 articles in professional publications. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Crawford has served as vice president of the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society and received the Diversity Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Scoliosis Research Society.  Dr. Crawford earned his medical degree at the University of Tennessee in Memphis and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the US Naval Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, all in Boston. He also completed fellowships at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and the Alfred I. duPont Institute in Wilmington, Del.

Howard King, MD (St. Luke's Clinic-Intermountain Orthopaedics, Boise).
Dr. King has a professional interest in pediatric spinal deformity, scoliosis and reconstructive spine surgery. Throughout his career, he has participated as a guest lecturer and surgeon at several spine centers around the world. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. King is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society, Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and American Orthopaedic Association. He was previously on the academic and clinical faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. King earned his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. His additional training includes a fellowship in scoliosis and spinal deformity surgery at Twin Cities Scoliosis Center in Minneapolis.

George D. Picetti, III, MD (Sutter Medical Group, Sacramento).
Dr. Picetti is the medical director of pediatric spine surgery at Sutter Medical Group and the Children's Center at Sutter Medical Center. He has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive surgical approaches for scoliosis treatment and has participated in the development of new treatment options for pediatric patients with scoliosis and degenerative disorders. During his career, Dr. Picetti has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and traveled internationally to address modern advancement in spine surgery. Dr. Picetti earned his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at San Francisco Orthopedic Resident Training Program at St. Mary's Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Texas Back Institute in Plano.

Harry L. Shufflebarger, MD (Miami Children's Hospital). Dr. Shufflebarger is the director of the division of pediatric spine surgery at Miami Children's Hospital. He previously served as a professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. During his career, Dr. Shufflebarger has authored several publications on topics such as spinal deformity and spine degeneration and chaired several scientific courses focused on these topics around the world. He is a member of many professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Academy of Pediatrics. He has also served as president of the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Shufflebarger earned his medical degree at Emory University in Atlanta, where he also completed his residency.

David Skaggs, MD (Children's Hospital Los Angeles). Dr. Skaggs is the endowed chair of pediatric spinal disorders and director of the Children's Orthopedic Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Throughout his career, he has published more than 80 papers and delivered in excess of 500 lectures in his subspecialty. He has also spent time working on minimally invasive techniques for surgery and developing the next generation of spinal implants to work with those procedures. The implants he is working on for the future are in contrast to the traditional fusion because they will straighten the spine while permitting motion between segments. Dr. Skaggs earned his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, both in New York City. His additional training includes fellowships in orthopedic research at Columbia and in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Daniel J. Sucato, MD (Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas). Dr. Sucato is the director of the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay/Martha and Pat Beard Center for Excellence in Spine Research at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. During his career, he has served three International Traveling Fellows for the Scoliosis Research Society where he delivers research presentations, discusses landmark cases and observes surgery throughout Europe. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Sucato has authored several articles on spinal deformity for professional publications and is a reviewer from the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. He is a member of several professional societies, including the North American Spine Society and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. Dr. Sucato earned his medical degree from State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Rudolph Taddonio, MD (Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Conn.).
Dr. Taddonio is the chief of orthopedics and a pediatric spine surgeon at Stamford Hospital. He is also the director of scoliosis and spine surgery at New York Medical College and founder of his practice, Scoliosis and Spinal Surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Taddonio has focused on staying at the cutting edge of pediatric spine surgery and was one of 40 spine surgeons who participated in the refinement of ScoliScore, a genetic test to predict the risk of progression of scoliosis in adolescents. Dr. Taddonio is a member of several professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society, American Spinal Injury Association, Spine Arthroplasty Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He completed his medical degree and residency at New York Medical College in New York City and his fellowship at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago.

Stuart Weinstein, MD (University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City).
Dr. Weinstein focuses on pediatric orthopedic surgery and spinal deformity at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. He also serves as a professor of orthopedic surgery and is a past president of several professional societies, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. Throughout his career, Dr. Weinstein has held leadership positions with several other groups, including the board of directors for the Scoliosis Research Society and associate editor of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has received several awards and recognitions from these groups and serves as an honorary member and corresponding member of at least 13 international orthopedic and spine organizations. Dr. Weinstein earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa, where he also completed his residency.

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