A Seattle Times article described Dr. Vaccaro’s relief when his decision to manipulate the spacer between the nerves and cord paid off. The teenager’s legs were saved, and within five weeks, he was strolling into the surgeon’s office like any other teenager.
Dr. Vaccaro currently serves as president of the American Spinal Injury Association, as well as the co-associate director for acute care at the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley and co-director of reconstruction spine services at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, both in Philadelphia. At Jefferson’s Rothman Institute, he works as an attending orthopedic surgeon.
In a message from the American Spinal Injury Association, Dr. Vaccaro addressed the future of the association, saying that he will concentrate his efforts on making the organization’s website a “go to” location for professional and consumer audience. He called his first six months on the job “very invigorating,” an invitation to see the exciting, dynamic world of ASIA from the inside out.
Dr. Vaccaro is enthusiastic about improving spinal treatments and is currently working on a prospective, randomized study to evaluate the timing of surgery on neurologic recovery following spinal cord injury. He is also currently investigating issues with the cervical spine, specifically spinal trauma and pseudoarthrosis of the lumbar spine.
Dr. Vaccaro has authored over 200 chapters, papers, abstracts and presentations on the adult and pediatric spine and the disorders that afflict them. He has also served as editor of various spine surgery publications. He received his MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
Read more coverage of notable spine industry leaders:
Orthopedic and Spine Industry Leader to Know: Congressman Tom Price
