Meet Dr. Thomas Schuler

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Thomas Schuler, MD, FACS, FAAOS

Spine Surgeon
Founder

Dr. Schuler is named one of America’s Top 50 Spine Surgeons and serves as the Chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board.

Dr. Schuler’s passion for his patients’ recovery is fueled by his experience as a patient. Watch Dr. Schuler’s journey as he personally went from debilitating neck and arm symptoms back to an active life and physically demanding career thanks to the modern marvels of hybrid spine surgery.

As a spine surgeon, one of Dr. Schuler’s greatest passions is improving lives. In 1992 he founded Virginia Spine Institute to create a center of exceptional healthcare to achieve his vision. This was necessary since the field of spine surgery was in its infancy. Today, his powerful vision has resulted in an internationally renowned institute. Through his leadership and medical innovations, Dr. Schuler and his interdisciplinary team have revolutionized spinal healthcare, thus transforming the lives of millions worldwide.

Dr. Schuler is double-board certified and trained in neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery of the spine. He is a recognized international leader in the treatment of neck and lower back conditions. Dr. Schuler is noted among the 100 best spine surgeons and specialists in America. US News and World Report named him among the top 1% of physicians in his specialty nationwide. He serves as President of the National Spine Health Foundation, and Chairman of its Medical and Scientific Board. His work with this national non-profit organization enables him to collaborate with his peers, the top spinal surgeons in the nation, to educate the world as to the most effective treatments in modern spinal healthcare.

Dr. Schuler is named among America’s Top 50 Spine Surgeons and serves as the Chairman of the National Spine Health Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Board.

Dr. Schuler’s passion for his patients’ recovery is fueled by his experience as a patient. Watch Dr. Schuler’s journey as he went from debilitating neck and arm symptoms back to an active life and physically demanding career thanks to the modern marvels of hybrid spine surgery.

One of Dr. Schuler’s greatest passions is improving lives! In 1992 he founded Virginia Spine Institute to create a center of exceptional healthcare. This was necessary since the field of spine surgery was in its infancy. Today, his powerful vision has resulted in an internationally renowned institute. Through his leadership and medical innovations, Dr. Schuler and his interdisciplinary team have revolutionized spinal healthcare, thus transforming the lives of millions worldwide.

Not only is he a world-class surgeon, but Dr. Schuler has also been on the receiving end of spinal surgery. He suffered from severe neck pain, three-disc herniations, and nerve compression which resulted in him undergoing a cervical hybrid surgery. Interestingly, Dr. Schuler performed the first hybrid multilevel cervical artificial disc replacement and spinal fusion in the Nation only a few months prior to his own surgery. His recovery further instilled in him greater empathy for his patients’ emotional and physical needs.

Dr. Schuler’s Surgical Highlights

First Three-Level Cervical Disc Replacement in the Mid-Atlantic Region
First M6-C™ Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement In DC-Metro Region
First in the Mid-Atlantic region to utilize the Mazor X™ System for transformative robotic spine surgery
Nation’s first combined multi-level hybrid cervical disc replacement and fusion surgery
Introduced robotic spine surgery to the mid-Atlantic region
Introduced endoscopic and minimally invasive (micro) tubular fusions to the region
Developed minimally invasive fusion technology; meaning less trauma to the patients
Introduced Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement surgery to the Washington DC region
Introduced Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement surgery to the Washington DC area
Initiated the first use of synthetic bioabsorbable implants in fusion technology
Obtained FDA approval for genetic engineering of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). This has revolutionized spinal fusions – it has made them more successful and less painful, and has eradicated decades of failed surgeries
Developed genetic engineering of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to improve spine surgery
Introduced the use of laser in spine surgery to the DC region
Developed single incision, minimally invasive lumbar spine fusion (TLIFs)
Established anterior and posterior combined spinal fusion procedures to treat disabling degenerative disc pain as a standard of care
1992: Dr. Schuler is recognized as the first fellowship-trained spine surgeon in the region (trained in both orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery)