Advances in minimally invasive techniques, robotic technology, motion-preserving procedures and complex spinal reconstruction are transforming spine care. Across the country, orthopedic spine surgeons are driving those advances by improving patient outcomes, advancing clinical research and training the next generation of spine specialists.
The following orthopedic spine surgeons are helping shape the future of spine care through their clinical expertise, scientific contributions and leadership in the field.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a spine surgeon for a future list, please contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- Josephine Coury Whalley, MD. Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston): Dr. Coury Whalley is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in pediatric and adult spinal deformity. She completed consecutive fellowships at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City, becoming the first woman trained as a spine fellow by renowned deformity surgeon Lawrence Lenke, MD.
Dr. Coury Whalley has authored more than 55 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to national consensus guidelines on osteoporosis management in spine surgery. She is also recognized for her research, global surgical outreach and commitment to expanding mentorship and opportunities for women in spine surgery.
- Barrett Boody, MD. Indiana Spine Group (Carmel): Dr. Boody is an orthopedic spine surgeon who provides comprehensive surgical care for adults and adolescents, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to complex revision surgery. He also serves as an assistant professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health and as core faculty for Indiana Spine Group’s spine surgery fellowship.
Dr. Boody is widely respected for his work in spine research, education and technology development. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, books and book chapters, serves on the editorial board of Clinical Spine Surgery and has helped develop surgical instruments and emerging spine technologies. He also serves as a principal investigator for a national FDA trial and is lead editor of The Fellow’s Manual: A Technical Guide for Spine Surgery.
- Francis Lovecchio, MD. Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City): Dr. Lovecchio is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric scoliosis, spinal deformity and complex revision spine surgery. He is recognized for his expertise in both traditional and minimally invasive techniques and for his multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to treating complex spinal conditions.
Dr. Lovecchio is an accomplished spine researcher with more than 115 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on improving outcomes after spine surgery. He has received multiple research grants and national honors for his work, serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Medicine and is an active peer reviewer for several leading spine journals.
- Ilyas Aleem, MD. University of Michigan Health (Ann Arbor): Dr. Aleem is a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery and a spine surgeon specializing in cervical, thoracic and lumbar disorders. He treats complex spinal conditions using both conventional and minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Aleem is also recognized for his work in spine research, education and evidence-based medicine. His research has earned honors from AOSpine, the Lumbar Spine Research Society and the North American Spine Society and he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
- Rachel Bratescu, MD. George Washington University Hospital (Washington, D.C.): Dr. Bratescu is an orthopedic spine surgeon and member of the GW Spine and Pain Center who specializes in minimally invasive surgery, robotic spine surgery and the treatment of complex cervical, thoracic and lumbar disorders. Her clinical expertise includes degenerative spine conditions, trauma, tumors, scoliosis and complex revision surgery.
Dr. Bratescu is among a small group of U.S. surgeons with formal training in both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery. She was the first orthopedic surgeon and first woman to complete the neurosurgery spine fellowship at New York City-based Weill Cornell and NewYork-Presbyterian. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and was named to the North American Spine Society’s ‘SpineLine’ 20 Under 40 list.
- Brian Goh, MD, PhD. Emory Healthcare (Atlanta): Dr. Goh is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. He treats degenerative spine disease, deformity, trauma, tumors and sacroiliac joint disorders using advanced techniques including robotics, navigation, endoscopic surgery and motion-preservation procedures.
Dr. Goh also directs the Whitesides Spine Research Lab, where he leads research focused on musculoskeletal regeneration and novel biologic therapies. A physician-scientist, he has received multiple National Institutes of Health-supported research awards and is recognized for advancing both spine surgery innovation and translational research.
- Daniel Rubio, MD. Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, Conn.): Dr. Rubio is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in spinal deformity, spine tumors, trauma, infections and degenerative conditions in both adult and pediatric patients. He serves as co-medical director of the Spine Center at Yale New Haven Hospital and associate vice chair of clinical affairs for Yale’s Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation.
Dr. Rubio is active in clinical and basic science research focused on improving spine surgery outcomes and holds a patent for a novel diagnostic test for neurodegenerative diseases. He has published extensively in orthopedic and spine research, presents nationally and internationally and is committed to advancing spine education through his work with medical students and residents at Yale.
- Nicole Look, MD. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora): Dr. Look is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in degenerative spine disorders, spinal deformity, trauma, infections and other cervical and lumbar conditions. She treats patients using both surgical and nonsurgical approaches, with a focus on restoring function and improving quality of life.
Dr. Look combines expertise in spine surgery with a strong research background in biomechanics and human movement. She is a member of the North American Spine Society and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is recognized for her evidence-based, patient-centered approach to treating complex spinal conditions.
- Stephen Lockey, MD. University of Virginia Health (Charlottesville): Dr. Lockey is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult spinal surgery, with expertise in minimally invasive techniques, spinal deformity and spinal trauma. He serves as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and fellowship director of spine surgery at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Lockey is recognized for his work in spine research and education, with dozens of peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters. His research focuses on minimally invasive deformity correction, patient-reported outcomes and neuromonitoring and he was awarded the North American Spine Society’s traveling fellowship for advanced training in minimally invasive spine surgery.
- Christine DiPompeo, MD. Premier Bone & Joint Centers (Laramie, Wyo.): Dr. DiPompeo is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult spine surgery, including degenerative conditions, disc herniations, spinal fractures and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. She performs both traditional and minimally invasive procedures, including endoscopic decompression, motion-preserving disc replacement and spinal fusion.
Dr. DiPompeo is recognized for her expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery and advanced spinal navigation technology, helping improve surgical precision while reducing radiation exposure.
- Bryce Basques, MD. University Orthopedics (Providence, R.I.): Dr. Basques is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic surgery, spinal deformity, revision surgery and motion-preservation procedures. He serves as director of minimally invasive spine surgery and treats a broad range of cervical, thoracic and lumbar disorders, with an emphasis on individualized, evidence-based care.
Dr. Basques is an accomplished spine researcher with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple grants and awards from organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the North American Spine Society. He also serves on several NASS committees that help shape spine research funding and clinical practice guidelines while mentoring the next generation of spine surgeons.
- Jamal Shillingford, MD. The Neck & Back Institute of Kentucky (Louisville): Dr. Shillingford is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive, robotic and complex spinal deformity surgery. He treats a broad spectrum of spinal disorders, including scoliosis, trauma, tumors, degenerative conditions and motion-preservation procedures, using advanced navigation and robotic technologies.
Dr. Shillingford is widely recognized for his contributions to spine research and innovation, with more than 55 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book chapters and dozens of presentations at leading international spine meetings. He remains active in clinical research, device development and global spine outreach, helping advance the field through education, innovation and evidence-based care.
- Jacob Babu, MD. Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (Des Plaines, Ill.) : Dr. Babu is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive, endoscopic and complex spine surgery. He treats adult and adolescent patients with degenerative spine conditions, spinal trauma, deformity, infections and motion-preserving procedures, and is among the few surgeons in the state performing endoscopic spine surgery.
Dr. Babu is recognized for his contributions to spine education and research, having authored numerous textbook chapters and peer-reviewed publications and presented nationally on spine and orthopedic surgery. He also teaches medical trainees and surgeons internationally, helping advance spine surgical techniques and evidence-based care.
- Sean Michael Rider, MD. AVALA Spine (Covington, La.): Dr. Rider is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery and complex cervical and lumbar disorders. He treats a wide range of conditions, including spinal deformity, trauma, tumors, degenerative disease and revision spine surgery.
He is recognized for his expertise in cervical spine surgery and advanced minimally invasive techniques that help patients return to active, pain-free lives.
- Hao-Hua Wu, MD. UCI Health (Orange, Calif.): Dr. Wu is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in cervical, thoracic and lumbar disorders, with expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, robotic procedures and motion-preserving techniques such as cervical disc replacement. He is committed to evidence-based care, emphasizing nonsurgical treatment whenever appropriate.
Dr. Wu is an accomplished spine researcher and educator, with more than 50 peer-reviewed publications focused on patient outcomes, global health and medical education. He is also recognized internationally for his leadership in surgical education, including authoring the Gunner Goggles textbook series, and has developed academic partnerships to advance spine care and surgical training worldwide.
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