Here are 10 spine surgeons associated with professional basketball teams and players.
Scott L. Blumenthal, MD (Texas Back Institute, Plano). Dr. Blumenthal is a spine consultant for the Dallas Mavericks and a partner with Texas Back Institute. During his career, Dr. Blumenthal has served as a principle investigator for SB III Charite Artificial Disc and clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He is a member of several professional organizations, including North American Spine Society, Spine Arthroplasty Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has authored numerous articles about spinal surgery that are published in professional journals. Dr. Blumenthal earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal trauma at Midwestern Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Robert S. Bray, Jr., MD (DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina Del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Bray is the founding director and CEO of DISC and spine consultant to the Los Angeles Clippers. DISC is the official medical center for the Los Angeles Kings professional hockey team and the U.S. Olympic Team. Prior to founding DISC, Dr. Bray helped found the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and spent time in active and reserve duty with the United States Air Force. He was one of the first neurosurgeons in California to devote his practice to minimally invasive spine surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bray has been involved in spinal implant development and holds multiple patents for his innovations. Dr. Bray earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine and completed his neurosurgery residency at Baylor affiliated hospitals in Houston.
Frank P. Cammisa, Jr., MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Cammissa is the chief of spine service at Hospital for Special Surgery and has treated professional athletes from the New York Knicks, New York Giants and New York Jets. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, computer assistance and microsurgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Camissa is an associate professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. During his career, he has published more than 100 research articles and manuscripts in professional journals and created The National Spinal Research Foundation, which is affiliated with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Dr. Camissa earned his medical degree at College of Physicians & Surgeons on New York City and completed his residency at Hospital for Special Surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Miami.
Michael F. Coscia, MD (OrthoIndy, Indianapolis). Dr. Coscia is the spinal consultant for the Indiana Pacers and has served as a physician at numerous Olympic trials and the Indy 500. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal trauma, scoliosis, infections, tumors and spinal arthritis. During his career, Dr. Coscia has served as a primary investigator for multiple research studies involving the spine. He is a member of many professional organizations, including American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society and North American Spine Society. Dr. Coscia earned his medical degree at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee/Campbell Foundation in Memphis. His additional training includes a fellowship at Minnesota Spine Center and Twin Cities Spine Center at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He also completed the AO Spine Fellowship in St. Gallen and Bern, Switzerland, and has experience studying in France, Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Dennis Crandall, MD (Sonoran Spine Center, Phoenix). Dr. Crandall is the medical director of Sonoran Spine Center and a consultant to the Phoenix Suns. He also serves as spine chief of the Banner Orthopaedic Residency Program and chairman of the Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Crandall has developed a new spinal instrumentation system to solve difficult spinal deformity problems. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Crandall earned his medical degree at St. Louis University, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Maryland in College Park.
William H. Dillin, MD (Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles). Dr. Dillin is co-founder of the Kerlan-Jobe Spine Center and spine consultant to the Los Angeles Lakers. He also serves as a spine consultant for other Los Angeles teams, including the Dodgers, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, Sparks and Angels. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, AO Spine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spinal surgery. Dr. Dillin earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California in San Francisco. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
Edward J. Goldberg, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Goldberg is a spine consultant for the Chicago Bulls and team physician for the Chicago White Sox. He is a partner with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and serves as an assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center. He has a professional interest in treating patients with herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Goldberg is a member of North American Spine Society and a fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois Medical Center. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Rush University Medical Center as well as cervical spine fellowships at the University of Miami and University of Marseilles in France.
Bernard Rawlins, MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Rawlins is a spine consultant for the New York Knicks and New York Mets professional sports teams. He serves as an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. During his career, he has donated his time to teaching West Africans about spine surgery. He has a professional interest in complex spine surgery and has developed several patents pertaining to surgical implants and techniques. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rawlins is interested in researching spine biomechanics, gene-mediated spine fusion and new surgical techniques. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Cervical Spine Research Society and Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Rawlins earned his medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Minnesota Spine Center in Minneapolis.
Hal Silcox, III, MD (Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic, Atlanta). Dr. Silcox is the official provider of spinal care for the Atlanta Hawks. Before joining Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic, he practiced with The Emory Spine Center in Atlanta and served as chief of spine surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During his career, he has authored several peer-review research articles on spinal surgery and served as principle investigator in Georgia for two FDA investigational device exemption studies. He has also participated in numerous other FDA and National Institutes of Health studies. In addition to his work with the Hawks, Dr. Silcox served as a physician for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and volunteers for local college sports. He has a professional interest in both cervical and lumbar spine surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive surgical technique. Dr. Silcox earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship in spine surgery at Emory University affiliated hospitals.
Allen Kent Sills, Jr. MD (Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute, Memphis, Tenn.). Dr. Sills is the founder and executive director of the Memphis Regional Brain Tumor Center and medical director of the Methodist Neuroscience Institute at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. He also serves as the consulting team neurosurgeon for the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis River Kings professional hockey team. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Sills is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Neuro-Oncology and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. During his career, Dr. Sills has published several articles in professional journals, such as the Journal of Neurosurgery and Journal of Spinal Disorders. Dr. Sills earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he also completed his residency in neurological surgery. His additional training includes a neuro-oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Related Articles on Spine Surgery:
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Scott L. Blumenthal, MD (Texas Back Institute, Plano). Dr. Blumenthal is a spine consultant for the Dallas Mavericks and a partner with Texas Back Institute. During his career, Dr. Blumenthal has served as a principle investigator for SB III Charite Artificial Disc and clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He is a member of several professional organizations, including North American Spine Society, Spine Arthroplasty Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has authored numerous articles about spinal surgery that are published in professional journals. Dr. Blumenthal earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal trauma at Midwestern Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Robert S. Bray, Jr., MD (DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina Del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Bray is the founding director and CEO of DISC and spine consultant to the Los Angeles Clippers. DISC is the official medical center for the Los Angeles Kings professional hockey team and the U.S. Olympic Team. Prior to founding DISC, Dr. Bray helped found the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and spent time in active and reserve duty with the United States Air Force. He was one of the first neurosurgeons in California to devote his practice to minimally invasive spine surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bray has been involved in spinal implant development and holds multiple patents for his innovations. Dr. Bray earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine and completed his neurosurgery residency at Baylor affiliated hospitals in Houston.
Frank P. Cammisa, Jr., MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Cammissa is the chief of spine service at Hospital for Special Surgery and has treated professional athletes from the New York Knicks, New York Giants and New York Jets. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, computer assistance and microsurgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Camissa is an associate professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. During his career, he has published more than 100 research articles and manuscripts in professional journals and created The National Spinal Research Foundation, which is affiliated with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Dr. Camissa earned his medical degree at College of Physicians & Surgeons on New York City and completed his residency at Hospital for Special Surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Miami.
Michael F. Coscia, MD (OrthoIndy, Indianapolis). Dr. Coscia is the spinal consultant for the Indiana Pacers and has served as a physician at numerous Olympic trials and the Indy 500. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal trauma, scoliosis, infections, tumors and spinal arthritis. During his career, Dr. Coscia has served as a primary investigator for multiple research studies involving the spine. He is a member of many professional organizations, including American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society and North American Spine Society. Dr. Coscia earned his medical degree at Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee/Campbell Foundation in Memphis. His additional training includes a fellowship at Minnesota Spine Center and Twin Cities Spine Center at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He also completed the AO Spine Fellowship in St. Gallen and Bern, Switzerland, and has experience studying in France, Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Dennis Crandall, MD (Sonoran Spine Center, Phoenix). Dr. Crandall is the medical director of Sonoran Spine Center and a consultant to the Phoenix Suns. He also serves as spine chief of the Banner Orthopaedic Residency Program and chairman of the Sonoran Spine Research and Education Foundation. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Crandall has developed a new spinal instrumentation system to solve difficult spinal deformity problems. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Crandall earned his medical degree at St. Louis University, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Maryland in College Park.
William H. Dillin, MD (Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles). Dr. Dillin is co-founder of the Kerlan-Jobe Spine Center and spine consultant to the Los Angeles Lakers. He also serves as a spine consultant for other Los Angeles teams, including the Dodgers, Kings, Ducks, Galaxy, Sparks and Angels. He is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society, AO Spine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spinal surgery. Dr. Dillin earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California in San Francisco. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
Edward J. Goldberg, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Goldberg is a spine consultant for the Chicago Bulls and team physician for the Chicago White Sox. He is a partner with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and serves as an assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center. He has a professional interest in treating patients with herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Goldberg is a member of North American Spine Society and a fellow of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois Medical Center. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Rush University Medical Center as well as cervical spine fellowships at the University of Miami and University of Marseilles in France.
Bernard Rawlins, MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Rawlins is a spine consultant for the New York Knicks and New York Mets professional sports teams. He serves as an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. During his career, he has donated his time to teaching West Africans about spine surgery. He has a professional interest in complex spine surgery and has developed several patents pertaining to surgical implants and techniques. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rawlins is interested in researching spine biomechanics, gene-mediated spine fusion and new surgical techniques. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Cervical Spine Research Society and Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Rawlins earned his medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Minnesota Spine Center in Minneapolis.
Hal Silcox, III, MD (Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic, Atlanta). Dr. Silcox is the official provider of spinal care for the Atlanta Hawks. Before joining Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic, he practiced with The Emory Spine Center in Atlanta and served as chief of spine surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During his career, he has authored several peer-review research articles on spinal surgery and served as principle investigator in Georgia for two FDA investigational device exemption studies. He has also participated in numerous other FDA and National Institutes of Health studies. In addition to his work with the Hawks, Dr. Silcox served as a physician for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and volunteers for local college sports. He has a professional interest in both cervical and lumbar spine surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive surgical technique. Dr. Silcox earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship in spine surgery at Emory University affiliated hospitals.
Allen Kent Sills, Jr. MD (Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute, Memphis, Tenn.). Dr. Sills is the founder and executive director of the Memphis Regional Brain Tumor Center and medical director of the Methodist Neuroscience Institute at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. He also serves as the consulting team neurosurgeon for the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis River Kings professional hockey team. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Sills is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Society of Neuro-Oncology and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. During his career, Dr. Sills has published several articles in professional journals, such as the Journal of Neurosurgery and Journal of Spinal Disorders. Dr. Sills earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where he also completed his residency in neurological surgery. His additional training includes a neuro-oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Related Articles on Spine Surgery:
10 Cost Benchmarks for Outpatient Cervical Spine Surgery
Where Spine Research is Headed: 5 Points From Dr. Frank Phillips
Building a Foundation for Scoliosis Treatment: 3 Important Studies