Here are 12 spine surgeons and neurosurgeons who also have law degrees.
If you would like to recommend additional surgeons for this list, contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.
Daryll C. Dykes, MD, JD, PhD, is the president and CEO of Medical and Surgical Spine Consultants of Minnesota. He previously practiced at Twin Cities Spine Center in Minnesota and was the managing director of DCD Creative Enterprises. Dr. Dykes earned his medical degree at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University and his doctor of law at William Mitchell College of Law, Health Law & Policy.
Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, MD, JD, is an orthopedic spine surgeon and fellowship-trained spine surgeon. She is also a medical-legal consultant. She completed her fellowship training in Long Beach, Calif., and practiced orthopedic spine surgery for around 10 years in Phoenix. She became a member of the Arizona Bar in 2001 and serves as an instructor for the American Medical Association. She is on the board of directors for the North American Spine Society and her practice focuses on medical-legal consultations, independent medical evaluations and case review in workers compensation and personal injury.
Stan Fronczak, MD, JD, is a neurosurgeon at West Suburban Neurosurgical Associates in Hinsdale, Ill., and chairman of the board for Doctor's Direct Insurance. He limits his practice to complex surgery of the cervical and lumbar spine. Dr. Fronczak is also chairman of the bylaws committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He earned his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and completed his JD at The John Marshall Law School.
Leigh H. Hopkins, MD, JD, is an orthopedic surgeon with experience in spine surgery, sports medicine and joint replacements with Lourdes Medical Associates Professional Orthopedics. He performs surgeries at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. Dr. Hopkins earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is a graduate of the Wharton School Physicians Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He has practiced general orthopedics for around 20 years.
Leonard Kranzler, MD, JD, is a neurosurgical trauma surgeon at the University of Chicago Medicine. He is dedicated to neurosurgical education and performs microsurgical lumbar and cervical spine surgery. Dr. Kranzler earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School and completed his fellowship in Switzerland. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Illinois Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Timothy R. Kuklo, MD, JD, is a spine surgeon at Colorado Comprehensive Spine Institute. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army. He earned his medical degree from the University of Connecticut and his law degree from Georgetown University in 1995. Dr. Kuklo served as chief of spine surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center and has held various academic positions throughout his career. His focus is on minimally invasive spine surgery.
Rebecca Kuo, MD, JD, CIME, is a board-certified spine surgeon with MK Orthopaedics Surgery & Rehabilitation in Joliet, Ill. She has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, scoliosis and spinal deformity surgery and decompression and fusions. Dr. Kuo earned her medical degree at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She has honors in medical ethics and law and earned a highest grade award in comparative law.
Nizam Razack, MD, JD, FAANS, FACS, is founder and president of Spine & Brain Neurosurgery Center in Orlando. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in reconstructive and complex spine surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and a neurosurgical oncology training at MD Anderson Cancer in Houston. His additional training includes orthopedic spine deformities at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is a former chairman of the department of neurological surgery for Orlando Health and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Alan Scarrow, MD, JD, is president of Mercy Hospital Springfield and Mercy Clinic Springfield. He has held various leadership positions throughout his career, including director of the Mercy Spine Center. He is a neurosurgeon and completed his medical degree and law degree at Case Western University in Cleveland. He is also the owner of Ozarks Natural Beef.
Howard L. Smith, MD, JD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon at South Texas Brain & Spine Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City and completed his law degree at Loyola University School of Law. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and American College of Legal Medicine. He has also served as neurosurgical director for spine fellowship training.
James T. Tran, MD, JD, is a neurosurgeon in Covington, La. He completed his medical degree at Loyola University in Chicago and his neurosurgical residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. In 2008, Dr. Tran earned his JD from Brigham Young University and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar the following year. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and provides transactional and litigation services to individuals, business owners and healthcare providers. Dr. Tran is also an adjunct lecturer in law at Tulane University Law School.
Richard Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, is founder and president of NeoSpine in Puyallup, Wash. He received his JD from Seattle University School of Law in May 2011 after earning his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and MBA from the University of Washington. He is a pioneer and innovator in outpatient spine surgery and founder of a national network of outpatient spine surgery centers, which was acquired by national ASC chain Symbion. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Wohns has been President of the Western Neurosurgical Society, President of the Washington State Association of Neurological Surgeons, chairman of the Northwest Quadrant of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies and health policy consultant and device developer/consultant to medical device companies.