10 Spine and Neurosurgeons for NFL Teams

Spine

Here are 10 spine surgeons who are official team providers for National Football League teams. Andrew Cappuccino, MD (Buffalo Spine Surgery, Lockport, N.Y.). Dr. Cappuccino is an assistant team orthopedic surgeon with the Buffalo Bills. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the North American Spine Society. During his career, Dr. Cappuccino has authored several textbook chapters and papers on topics such as cervical disc replacement and cervical spine surgery. During his career, he has also lectured across the country on several spine topics, including minimally invasive spine surgery. Dr. Cappuccino earned his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine in New York and completed a fellowship in spine surgery and scoliosis at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Andrew Dossett, MD (The Carrell Clinic, Dallas). Dr. Dossett is a spine consultant to the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars professional hockey team. He also serves as a consultant to several Division I athletic programs. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of the North American Spine Society as well as the National Football League and Major League Baseball Team Physicians Societies. Throughout his career, Dr. Dossett has authored several articles on spinal fusions and neck injuries in athletes. Dr. Dossett earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Anthony Guanciale, MD (Cincinnati Spine Institute).
Dr. Guanciale practices spine surgery with Cincinnati Spine Institute and The Christ Hospital. He is the spine surgeon consultant to the Cincinnati Bengals and the University of Cincinnati. During his career, he spent 16 years as the director of orthopedic spine surgery and an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati and published extensively on spinal conditions. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, adult scoliosis deformity and revision surgery. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Guanciale is a member of North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Guanciale earned his medical degree at Medical College of Ohio in Toledo and completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic. His additional training includes a fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Andrew Hecht, MD (Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City). Dr. Hecht is the co-director of spine surgery at Mount Sinai department of orthopedics in New York City. He is also the spine consultant for the New York Jets, New York Islander professional hockey team and the New York Dragons arena football team. Dr. Hecht also serves as the director of the NFL Spine Center Program for retired football players at Mount Sinai. His clinical interests include the evolution and surgical management of degenerative disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as minimally invasive surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Hecht serves on the editorial review board of a professional spine journal and is a member of the North American Spine Society. He earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in Boston, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Emory Spine Center in Atlanta.

Plas T. James, MD (Atlanta Spine Institute). Dr. James is a back and spine consultant for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Thrashers professional hockey team. He has also served as a team physician for the US Amateur Boxing Association. Throughout his career, Dr. James has published several articles and given lectures on topics such as spinal manipulation, lumbar spine trauma and chronic vertebral osteomyelitis requiring surgical intervention. He earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed his residency at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. His additional training in spine surgery was completed at Harvard Medical School Beth Israel Hospital.

Lawrence Lenke, MD (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis).
Dr. Lenke is the co-chief of adult and pediatric spinal, scoliosis and reconstructive surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and director of spine surgery at the Shriners Hospital for Children, both in St. Louis. Dr. Lenke is a spine consultant for the St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues hockey team. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lenke focuses on research in scoliosis, fusion surgery, acute spinal cord injury and spinal implants. He has authored several articles published in professional journals and is an editor for publications such as Spine, The Spine Journal and Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. During his career, he helped develop Medtronic Sofamor Danek's Legacy Spinal Surgery System and created The Lenke Classification System for scoliosis. Dr. Lenke earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He completed his orthopedic residency and pediatric and adult spine surgery fellowship at Washington University.

Joseph C. Maroon, MD (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center).
Dr. Maroon is vice chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his 30 years with the Steelers, he has performed numerous surgeries on professional football players and elite athletes. He also serves on the National Football League's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and co-developed ImPACT, a neuro-cognitive test for athletes who have suffered concussions. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive procedures and research interests include brain tumors, concussions and spinal diseases. Dr. Maroon earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in neurological surgery. He also received microneurosurgery training at the University of Vermont.

Srdjan Mirkovic, MD (Northwestern Orthopaedic Institute, Chicago).
Dr. Mirkovic is a spine consultant for the Chicago Bears and Chicago Fire professional soccer team. Throughout his career, Dr. Mirkovic has served on committees with the North American Spine Society and the Spine Arthroplasty Society. He has published articles in several issues of Spine, Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. He has a professional interest in spine arthroplasty and operative management of the degenerative spine. Dr. Mirkovic earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.

Anthony P. Moreno, MD (Moreno Joseph Spine & Scoliosis, Tampa, Fla.).
Dr. Moreno is the orthopedic spine surgeon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and director of the Mease Neuro-Ortho Spine Surgery Center at Mease Countryside Hospital. He has a professional interest in lumbar and cervical microsurgeries, complex revision of spinal deformities and scoliosis. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Moreno is an active fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society and has given presentations around the world on spine surgical techniques. Dr. Moreno earned his medical degree at the University of Florida in Gainesville and completed his residency at Jackson (Fla.) Memorial Medical Center/University of Miami. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Thomas Schuler, MD (Virginia Spine Institute, Reston).
Dr. Schuler is the founder and president of the Virginia Spine Institute and a spinal consultant for the Washington Redskins. He also serves as program director for the Virginia Spine Institute Physician Assistant Fellowship Program and is a fellow of the American College of Spine Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Schuler has a professional interest in operative and non-operative interventions for cervical and lumbar spinal disorders. During his career, he has served as president and scientific advisor for the Spinal Research Foundation and a founding member of the Lumbar Spine Study Group. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society. Dr. Schuler earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

If you would like to recommend a spine surgeon leader to highlight in future weekly lists, please e-mail Laura at laura@beckersasc.com.


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