NEUROSURGEON, FELLOWSHIP IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE, NEUROSCIENTIST WITH FOCUS ON SPINE TISSUE, STEM CELL BIOLOGY, AND CANCER
SUMMARY BIO
Dr. Christopher Duntsch graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of
Memphis, with a Bachelors of Vertebrate Zoology, and a Minor in Biochemistry.
Dr. Duntsch then completed a MD / PhD dual studies program in 2002, receiving
a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
(UTHSC), College of Medicine, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Molecular
Biology and Biochemistry from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the
Laboratory of the Biochemistry’s Department Chairman, Dr. James Ihle. He
graduated from both programs Summa Cum Laude, with High Honors, and was
granted membership to the prestigious Medical Honor Society, Alpha Omega
Alpha. In addition, upon graduating in 2002, he was presented the UTHSC
College of Medicine Award for Excellence in Research. He subsequently
completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Hematology – Oncology with
Dr. James Ihle at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, followed by a second
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Regenerative Neurobiology with Dr. Jon
Robertson at the UTHSC Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. John Robertson is a
recent President of the American Association of Neurosurgeons, and Chairman
of the UTHSC Department of Neurosurgery. In 2009, Dr. Duntsch completed a
Neurosurgical Residency in General Neurological and Spine Disease from the
UTHSC Department of Neurosurgery. In 2010, Dr. Duntsch completed a spine
fellowship focused primarily on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery with Dr. Kevin
Foley, at the Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute. Dr. Duntsch is a
member of the Congress of Neurosurgeons and the American Association of
Neurosurgeons.
TWO DECADES NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
Dr. Christopher Duntsch received a PhD in Molecular Biology in 2001 at St Jude
Children’s Research Hospital. During this time, he trained comprehensively in
cell and molecular biology with a focus on stem cell biology (embryonic and
hematopoietic), Jak-Stat signal transduction, and hematologic cancers in the
laboratory of Dr. James Ihle, the Biochemistry Department Chairman. During this
time, he also collaborated with Dr. Brian Sorentino in the Department
Hematology-Oncology in the areas of JAK3 – / – SCID disease and gene therapy
mediated rescue of the disease with retroviral bone marrow transduction,
followed by bone marrow transplants into prepared host recipients. After two
post-doctoral fellowships, Dr. Duntsch was appointed as an Assistant Professor
in the Department of Neurosurgery, and subsequently became the Program
Director of its Molecular Neurosurgery Research Program which he founded. In
addition to department leadership, Dr. Duntsch has been a group leader and
active scientist in the areas of cancer, stem cell biology, and connective tissue
disease. He has received Scientific Achievement Awards from the Tennessee
Neurosurgical Society, the Southern Neurosurgical Society, The University of
Tennessee College of Medicine, and The North American Spine Society (the
2011 annual meeting in Chicago).
Over the last two decades, Dr. Duntsch has been highly active in academics and
as a consultant for biotechnology and industry. He has presented or published
hundreds of scientific and clinical documents (written and presented
communications such manuscripts, book chapters, patents, scientific abstracts
for posters and presentations, and other related scientific products). Dr. Duntsch
has mentored and trained dozens of scientists in varying stages of their
educational careers during the last decade. In addition, he has taught postgraduate
studies at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in
Neuroscience for the College of Medicine, Molecular Biology for the College of
Graduate Health Sciences, and Neuro-oncology for the College of Pharmacy
since 2004. Over the last 8 years, Dr. Duntsch has founded, launched, and
successively served as the President and Chief Science Officer of two stem cell
based biotechnology companies, and a third company that serves the academic,
medical, and biotechnology sectors as a biosciences and medical consulting firm.
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND POSITIONS
2011 - Present
Texas Neurosurgical Institute, PA
Clinical Director – Neurosurgery
General Cranial Neurosurgery
General and Complex Spine Surgery
Fellowship Trained - Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
2007 – 2011
Discgenics, Inc.
President
Chief Science Officer
Board Member
Founder
2006 – 2010
Novostem Therapeutics, Inc.
President
Chief Science Officer
Board Member
Founder
CONSULTING – INDUSTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
2007 – PRESENT
Hybrid Bioscience, Inc.
President
Chief Science Officer
Bioconsulting in Basic Science, Translational Science, and Clinical Science
2009 – PRESENT
Nuvasive, Inc.
Medical Director / Tissue Bank Director
2012 - Present
Discgenics, Inc.
Connective Tissue
Cell Biology
Stem Cell Biology
Tissue Engineering
EXCELLENT CARE OF MY PATIENTS. UNDERSTANDING, AND PATIENCE. AN APPROACH TO SPINE CARE THAT USES MANY TREATMENT APPROACHES TO AVOID SURGERY IF POSSIBLE. IF SURGERY IS NECESSARY, MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACHES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS USED. THE GOAL IS TO GET THE PATIENT BETTER AMD BACK TO THEIR LIVES, FAMILES, AND JOBS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: TO GET INTO MY CLINIC SCHEDULE QUICKLY. A SHORT WAIT BEFORE SEEING THE DOCTOR. A GOOD LISTENER. AN EXCELLENT HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF THE SPINE AND NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM. A THOROUGH NEUROLOGICAL EXAM AND NEURODIAGNOSTICS REVIEW. A DIAGNOSIS AND PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM AS BEST POSSIBLE. A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT APPROACH. CONSERVATIVE NONSURGICAL CARE ALWAYS THE FIRST APPROACH WITH RARE EXCEPTIONS. SURGERY AS A LAST RESORT WHEN OTHER TREATMENTS FAIL. COMMUNICATION, UNDERSTANDING, EDUCATION, AND FOLLOW UP WITH ASPECTS OF CARE. WHEN SURGERY IS INDICATED, IT WILL ONLY OCCUR IF THE PATIENT AND I BOTH AGREE. NEW PATIENT INTAKE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
