Orthopedic Spinal Surgeons

Orthopedic spinal surgeons are different from neurosurgeons because they focus on the area of the spine located outside of the spinal cord, whereas neurosurgeons primarily work with the complex network of nerves inside the spinal cord. There are highly qualified orthopedic spinal surgeons located in almost every part of the country in spine centers, university hospitals and medical centers that conduct research on everything involving the spine.

Howard S. An, M.D.

• Dr. An is the director of spine surgery and the spine fellowship program at Rush University Medical Center located in Chicago. He has also been the Morton International Endowed Chair of Orthopedic Surgery professor since 1997. He has authored 15 books on spinal surgery and instrumentation. An received his medical degree and completed his internship and orthopedic residency at the Medical School of Ohio. His current research is focused on spinal biomechanics and tissue engineering.

John Atwater, M.D.

• Dr. Atwater is a surgeon at the Downstate Illinois Spine Center and McLean County Orthopedics in Bloomington. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and completed his internship at Johns Hopkins University and his orthopedic residency at Howard University. He also completed a spine fellowship at the University of Louisville. Outside of the operating room, Atwater is also a consultant for several medical device companies.

Scott Boden, M.D.

• Dr. Boden is the director of the Emory Orthopedics and Spine Center and a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. He received his degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency at George Washington University and completed a training fellowship at Case Western Reserve University hospital. He has a wide range of research interests, including cervical fusion, lumbar disorders and spinal trauma. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society, as well as several other professional associations.

Keith H. Bridwell, M.D.

• Dr. Bridwell is the chief of orthopedic spine surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He received a degree and completed his orthopedic residency at Washington University School of Medicine. He then completed three fellowships at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, the University of Illinois Hospital and the Shriners Hospital. He specializes in both pediatric and adult spinal deformities, spinal tumors and revision spinal surgeries. He is the founder of the university's Spinal Deformity Service and spinal fellowship.

Michael Goldsmith, M.D.

• Dr. Goldsmith is currently at Summit Orthopedics in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and specializes in diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders. He received a degree from New York University School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency at Georgetown University Medical Center and participated in a rotation in pediatric orthopedics at Alfred I. duPont Hospital. He completed his orthopedic spine fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center.