Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis named Munish C. Gupta, MD, the chief of spine surgery in the department of orthopedic surgery.
He will assume his new position on Sept. 1, replacing Lawrence G. Lenke, MD, who plans to join New York-Presbyterian Hospital this summer to establish a comprehensive spine hospital and serve as surgeon-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian/Allen as well as director of spinal deformity at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Here are five things to know about Dr. Gupta:
1. He is currently a professor and vice chair of the department of orthopedic surgery and chief of orthopedic spine surgery and co-director of the spine center at the University of California, Davis. He is also director of spine surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children-Northern California.
2. Dr. Gupta is already working collaboratively with leaders in the department of neurosurgery at Washington University to develop an integrated spine center.
3. Dr. Gupta earned his medical degree at Northwestern University in Chicago and completed a fellowship in spinal surgery at Norton Leatherman Spine Center, affiliated with the University of Louisville (Ky.).
4. Throughout his career, Dr. Gupta has had a special interest in treating adult and pediatric spinal deformities and after his new appointment he will perform surgery on patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis.
5. Dr. Gupta is on the board of directors for the Scoliosis Research Society and treasurer of the Federation of Spine Associations.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Gupta has served on several surgical and teaching missions to places like India, China, Bulgaria, Argentina, Scandinavia, Brazil, Thailand and Ghana.