good md website bio

Dr. Christopher Good

FACS
Spine Surgeon
President & CEO

WHY I BECAME A SPINE SURGEON:

The field of spine surgery chose me, shaped by my father’s accident that crushed his spine. Witnessing his struggles and limitations and the impact of traditional treatments, I committed to offering a better way. Now, with minimally invasive procedures and modern technology, I provide patients with a return to normalcy, improving lives at VSI through customized solutions, advanced technology, and genuine care.

Ranked in the upper echelon of physicians nationwide (top 7%), Dr. Christopher Good stands as a distinguished leader in spine surgery. As a pioneer in the field, he has advanced surgical technology and minimally invasive techniques, significantly elevating patient outcomes for patients worldwide and getting them back to their lives faster. Dr. Good approaches each patient with empathy and sincerity, fostering meaningful connections and customizing treatment plans to achieve victories for his patients.

Among his groundbreaking achievements, Dr. Good performed the first two-level disc replacement in Metro DC, Maryland, and Virginia, providing hope to countless individuals in pursuit of relief from back and neck pain. Additionally, he spearheaded the introduction of the Mazor X™ Stealth Edition technology, evolving robotic spine surgery and further underscoring his commitment to innovation and patient safety.

Venturing beyond conventional paradigms, Dr. Good uses natural, non-surgical solutions such as regenerative stem cell therapy as a transformative alternative for common neck and back conditions. This coupled with in-house spine-specialized physical therapy, has empowered his patients to reclaim their active lifestyles without the need for surgery.

Dr. Good’s dedication to research is evident in his ongoing efforts to enhance access to modern treatments, driven by a commitment to get patients out of pain and back to their lives. His contributions have led to the development of surgical techniques that prioritize patient safety, minimize radiation exposure, and expedite recovery. Serving as the principal investigator for an FDA trial on cervical disc replacement surgery, Dr. Good remains at the forefront of innovation, driving transformative advancements. Additionally, his dedication to knowledge dissemination is underscored by his frequent presentations at international forums, ensuring that his invaluable expertise reaches far and wide.

While Dr. Good is reshaping the landscape of spine surgery his expertise extends far beyond technical skill. It encompasses a commitment to understanding each patient’s story, and creating a path toward recovery, even when patients are discouraged by ineffective previous medical experiences.

College

  • University of Rochester

Medical School

  • University of Rochester School of Medicine

Residency

  • Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery (New York)

Fellowship

  • Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery
  • Washington University School of Medicine
  • Barnes Jewish Hospital St. Louis Children’s Hospital
  • Shriners Hospital for Children

Double-Board Certified

  • American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
  • American Board of Spine Surgery

Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  • North American Spine Surgery
  • Scoliosis Research Society
  • National Spine Health Foundation

Dr. Good’s Surgical Highlights

  • World’s First Combined Endoscopic & Robot-Guided Surgery
  • First Two-Level Lumbar Disc Replacement in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Region
  • First Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Performed at Reston Hospital Center
  • First Robotic Spine Surgery in the World Using the Mazor X™ Stealth Edition
  • First Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Utilizing Augmented Reality in Virginia-DC Region
  • First Augmented Reality Guided Personalized Spine Implant Surgery Delivered Using Artificial Intelligence
  • First in the Mid-Atlantic region to utilize the Mazor X™ System for robotic spine surgery

Recent Research

Cervical Hybrid Constructs Reduce Superior Adjacent Segment Burden Compared to Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Journal of Spine Surgery (2024)


Augmented Reality-Assisted Spine Surgery: An Early Experience Demonstrating Safety and Accuracy with 218 Screws.

Best Paper 2022 – Global Spine Journal, June 1, 2023.
Global Spine Journal. January 2022. 


90-Day Complication and Revision Surgery Rates Using Navigated Robotics in Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery

Best Paper 2023. “90-Day Complication and Revision Surgery Rates Using Navigated Robotics in Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery” Podium Presentation at the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, San Francisco, California, June 1-3, 2023


Which is Better: Percutaneous or Open Robot-Assisted Spine Surgery?

Prospective, Multicenter Study of 2,524 Screws in 336 Patients. Podium Presentation at the Spine Summit Meeting, Miami, Florida, March 16-19, 2023.


Enhanced Surgical Recovery for Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery is Associated with Decreased Opioid Consumption, Length of Hospital Stay, and Hospital Readmissions

“Enhanced Surgical Recovery for Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery is Associated with Decreased Opioid Consumption, Length of Hospital Stay, and Hospital Readmissions: Evaluation of 51,236 Cases” Poster Presentation at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Las Vegas, NV, March 7-11, 2023.

What Patients Are Saying

Google
5.0/5
Mar 13, 2024
Google - SpineMD
I am so grateful to Dr. Good, Dr. Bharara, and the VSI team for giving me my life back. VSI provides an outstanding team of experts in an environment unmatched in my experience! Before discovering VSI, my quality of life was significantly diminished. I struggled with daily tasks--working a full day, maintaining my healthy lifestyle, and doing the activities I enjoyed. My first visit with Dr. Good provided my husband and me with the comfort that we would find a way forward and my quality of life could be restored. He focused not only on the reason for my visit, my hip and back pain but also my neck pain, which other doctors could only treat with medication. Dr. Good engaged with Dr. Bharara and their teams to determine a comprehensive approach toward a pain-free future. The plan was thorough, utilizing the VSI's fantastic support staff, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, and Doctors--Dr. Good and Dr. Bharara administered stem-cell injections, and Dr. Good performed multiple disc replacements and a fusion. Within minimal time, our end goals were reached, and I am pain/medication-free. This was more than my husband and I could ever imagine. I cannot thank VSI enough for giving me my life back.
Google
5.0/5
Mar 11, 2024
Google - SpineMD
The absolute best of the best! Dr Good and the entire VSI staff are extremely caring and compassionate and I couldn’t be happier with my surgical results! Highly recommend!
Google
5.0/5
Mar 6, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Good @ Virginia Spine was fantastic. Couldn’t have been better. Very happy with results!
Google
5.0/5
Mar 5, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Good truly changed my life. I had a ACDF surgery. I felt immediate relief. I truly was shocked from the result and I'm very grateful for Dr.Good and his whole team.
Google
5.0/5
Feb 17, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Review of Dr. Good: I had the pleasure of being under the care of Dr. Good in 2013 when I underwent a spinal surgery for a disabling pain in my dominant hand. Dr. Good performed an artificial disk replacement with titanium implements, and I couldn't have been more satisfied with the outcome. Following the surgery, I experienced a remarkable relief from pain and was able to swiftly resume normal activities. Dr. Good's expertise and precision in performing the procedure were evident, and his attentive care throughout the process reassured me every step of the way. His professionalism, coupled with his genuine concern for his patients' well-being, truly set him apart. Recently, I sought Dr. Good's consultation again for a similar pain that had resurfaced. Despite the potential for surgical intervention, Dr. Good took a holistic approach to my condition. He recommended a course of medication and physical therapy to address the pain, demonstrating his commitment to exploring all avenues of treatment before considering invasive measures. Dr. Good's dedication to his patients' overall health and his willingness to exhaust non-surgical treatment options before resorting to surgery highlight his integrity and ethical approach to medicine. His depth of knowledge, coupled with his compassion, instills trust and confidence in me. I highly recommend Dr. Good to anyone seeking spine or back pain care. His exceptional skill, unwavering dedication, and patient-centered approach make him a standout physician in his field. I am grateful for his continued guidance and support in managing my health.
Google
5.0/5
Feb 16, 2024
Google - SpineMD
I have been seeing Dr. Good and Dr. Bharara for almost 2 years because I was injured in a car accident. Recently, Dr. Good just operated on my cervical spine and has literally given me a new neck! The headaches, numbness going down my arms and neck pain is all gone!! This surgery was LIFE-CHANGING and there is NO ONE else that I would have ever trusted to do it. Dr. Good was so detail-oriented that he addressed multiple debilitating issues with my cervical spine and fixed all of them!! I couldn’t be more grateful for being treated with the utmost professional care, not only by Dr. Good, but by everyone at Virginia Spine Institute—the front desk employees, the MAs and PAs, as well as, the physical therapy department! Unfortunately, I have to have lumber surgery as well because of the accident. I would not even consider back surgery if it weren’t with Dr. Good! I am confident I will have an excellent outcome!
Google
5.0/5
Feb 12, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Good was the third orthopedist I visited for my symptoms. His honesty and care made him my choice for addressing my issues. He and his staff spent time with me, clearly explained what was going on with my spine, answered all our questions, set very clear expectations for surgery/recovery, and just provided overall excellent care. I just completed my three-month surgical follow-up and am very pleased with the results of the surgery and the progress of my recovery. I highly recommend Dr. Good and VSI
Google
5.0/5
Jan 29, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Fantastic diagnosis and treatment! Dr. Good has a great “bedside” manner. My surgery went exactly as expected, and I am thrilled to begin rehabilitation with his specific provider.
Google
5.0/5
Jan 15, 2024
Google - SpineMD
When I came in to see Dr. good, I was walking with a cane and could barely feel my right leg and had extreme lower back pain. I have been dealing with this pain for over about six years with a gradually getting worse to the point where I have basically in the last year been close to being bed-bound due to the pain. I had gone to see a local surgeon, and they were unable to do the surgery that was required so they recommended me to the Virginia spine Institute to see Dr. good. I do have to say one thing that I absolutely love about Dr. good is that he has absolutely amazing bedside manner, especially for being a surgeon and when I say this I work in the healthcare field and a lot of surgeons could really work on their bedside manner. When you have an appointment with him you Don’t feel rushed out of the room. He takes his time. He answers every question that you have. His staff is amazing they always help me in anyway that I needed never took very long for them to respond back to me. And now, after my surgery, I am amazed at how much of my life I am starting to get back, not having any more lower back pain and starting to get the feeling in my leg. I am very grateful to Dr. Good and all of his staff for what they have done. I would highly recommend the Virginia spine Institute.
Google
5.0/5
Jan 10, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Hi is great doctor

Dr. Good’s Resources

Empowering Patients Through Shared Knowledge

Podcasts

Celebrating the Next Chapter of VSI

Patient Victories

How To Find A Surgeon Who Does More Than Surgery

Videos

As Seen on NBC4 Washington: Tips for Pet Owners to Prevent Back Issues

Join the Patients We’ve Helped on the Road to Recovery