kemp md website bio

Dr. William Kemp

Neurosurgeon

WHY I BECAME A NEUROSURGEON

Fueled by a deep desire to make a difference in others’ lives since my teenage years, choosing the path of neurosurgeon was a natural fit. Guided by remarkable mentors who epitomized the essence of healing and compassion, I gained insight into the true essence of healing and caring for others. I found myself consistently drawn to the intricacies of the human spine and nervous system. Using this knowledge to help my patients toward the finish line of recovery feels like fulfilling a promise to my younger self—to help others regain their quality of life.

Dr. William Kemp is a fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon skilled in treating spinal conditions ranging from common back and neck conditions to scoliosis reconstruction and complex removal of spinal cysts. With 16 years of education and training at world-class academic medical centers, he completed his neurosurgery residency at Cleveland Clinic and spine fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. 

Excelling in the technical aspects of spine neurosurgery, Dr. Kemp has a reputation for solving medical mysteries and providing patients with new solutions they have not been offered. This unique skill provides hope to patients who have lost hope. Additionally, for those who have experienced the frustration of ineffective treatments, Dr. Kemp offers a fresh perspective and innovative approaches, guiding them toward effective solutions and renewed optimism on their journey to recovery.

Hailing from the heart of the Midwest, and embodying the wisdom of his mentors, Dr. Kemp understands that being a great doctor goes beyond treating the problem – it involves caring for the patient. This philosophy ensures that each patient is treated as a whole person, optimizing their opportunity for a meaningful recovery. Dr. Kemp exhibits exceptional listening skills and treats each patient with the same level of compassion as he would his family members. He prioritizes building rapport with patients by understanding their symptoms and medical history and collaborates with them to establish a customized treatment plan.

As a skilled and compassionate expert, Dr. Kemp takes joy in being a small but crucial part of his patients’ victories over neck and back conditions. He is a unique neurosurgeon who takes pride in offering both surgical and non-surgical options that enable his patients to get back to their lives.

Outside the realm of medicine, Dr. Kemp is a self-proclaimed history buff and likes to hit the gym or go for a run in the nation’s capital. And during football season, you’ll find him passionately cheering on his alma mater, Notre Dame. Go Irish!

College

  • University of Notre Dame

Medical School

  • Indiana University School of Medicine

Internship

  • William Beaumont Hospital

Residency

  • Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Fellowship

  • Neurocritical Care and Acute Care Neurosurgery, MetroHealth System (Cleveland, Ohio)
  • Spine Surgery Fellowship, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (Madison, WI)

Board Eligible

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery

Dr. William Kemp’s Highlights

  • Cleveland Clinic Neurosurgery Residency Program Director Award (June 2020)
  • Cleveland Clinic Neurosurgery Resident Teacher of the Year Award (June 2020)
  • President of the Medical Explorers Program- University of Notre Dame (April 2009- May 2010)
  • Braco Award for Research Excellence

Recent Research


Posterior Transdural Approach for Thoracic Disc Herniation


Surgical Management of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Accepted to Neurosurgery Clinics of North America (July 2019)


Minimal Invasive Technique for TLIF/PLIF Valuable?

Evidence Within Neurosurgery


Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease and Spinal Stenosis in Athletes

In: Hecht AC. Spine Injuries in Athletes. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer; 2017: 172-180


What Patients Are Saying

Google
5.0/5
Apr 24, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Excellent personal care and surgical expertise! So good that I’ve referred a family member to Dr Kemp.
Google
5.0/5
Apr 11, 2024
Google - SpineMD
I was a very active person until a year ago when sciatica-related symptoms in my right leg made walking painful. I met with Dr. Kemp on several occasions and he ultimately performed minimally invasive surgery on my lower back. Post surgery I am symptom free. Dr. Kemp is an extremely gifted neurosurgeon and I’m very grateful for his expertise. I would recommend him to anyone having spine-related pain.
Google
5.0/5
Apr 11, 2024
Google - SpineMD
My wife, Dorothy Joye, met with Dr. Kemp at The Virginia Spine Institute in early February concerning her existing spinal stenosis condition. She was experiencing severe pain in her left arm and reduced steadiness in her legs. After a thorough review of her xrays, Dr Kemp suggested she undergo a cervical myelopathy procedure. She concurred and Dr Kemp performed the minimally invasive anterior neck procedure in late February. Today, April 10th, she is without any pain in her arm and has recoverd full use of her legs. In essence, the surgery was a major success. Obviously Dr. Kemp's surgical expertise was precise in rendering such positive results. Moreover his professional yet personable demeanor allowed for a comforting and reassuring experience before and after the surgery. We would highly recommend Dr. Kemp to anyone needing the attention of a highly accomplished spinal surgeon.
Google
5.0/5
Mar 17, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Kemp and VSI are an amazing medical group. From my initial call to schedule my first evaluation, to my initial consultation with Dr. Kemp, the entire staff have always been considerate and very helpful. Dr. Kemp and his professional assistants were compassionate and thorough in explaining my test results, diagnosis and treatment plan. My surgery by Dr. Kemp went smoothly and recovery was uneventful. I am so thankful for VSI and Dr.Kemp's surgical expertise and compassion.
Google
5.0/5
Feb 28, 2024
Google - SpineMD
I was treated by Dr Kemp and his team at Virginia Spine Institute. From my initial consult to diagnosis to surgical correction of my lumbar spine issues, I was thoroughly pleased with his professional approach to my problem. Dr Kemp takes his time to explain in simple terms his findings from all of the diagnostic procedures. He listens to his patient and I felt very involved in the decision making process on the best course of action. Dr Kemp earned my trust and when we reached the point where surgery was needed, I had every confidence that his knowledge and surgical skill, along with taking the most conservative approach would resolve my back issues. The survey was a complete success and two weeks post surgery, I am now starting the physical therapy process to regain the strength and range of motion to reach a full recovery. If you are experiencing a back problem, I highly recommend you see Dr William Kemp and his team at Virginia Spine Institute!
Google
5.0/5
Feb 6, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr Kemp is a great surgeon with a wonderful and caring attitude.
Google
5.0/5
Feb 1, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Kemp has a warm and direct manner. He was very helpful to me - without surgery. He listened to my concerns, gave thoughtful advice and reduced my lower back pain. And he even got on the table to show me what exercises to do! See photo below. After 11 years of back pain, I’m happy to have found Dr. Kemp.
Google
5.0/5
Jan 27, 2024
Google - SpineMD
My husband and I were very impressed with Virginia Spine Institute from our first interaction over the phone to set up his initial appointment, and even though the practice is 3.5 hours from our home, we felt it was worth the trip. And this excellent impression has continued throughout our experience, from meeting Dr. Kemp and his talented team, to surgery and post-op care. We felt Dr. Kemp was realistic in his approach to my husband’s spinal stenosis and that he was thorough and thoughtful in his plan of care. My husband has noticed significant improvement in the past few weeks since his surgery. We have already recommended him to a friend, and will continue to do so.
Google
5.0/5
Jan 23, 2024
Google - SpineMD
I was referred to Dr. Kemp -of the Virginia Spine Institute- by my sister, who had successful neck surgery 6 months before. He went over and above on her surgery to ensure she would have greater mobility in her neck than traditional neck surgery. She had such wonderful things to say, that I was convinced he would be the right choice for me. My issue was low back pain- I was diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy in 2019, and it had now progressed to the point where I was experiencing symptoms down the front of my leg and starting to reach my foot. I was afraid I’d have to have a fusion of multiple vertebrae, but that was not the case. After looking at my X-rays and MRI imaging, Dr Kemp chose am approach that did not include fusion but decompression only, saving my mobility and cutting down on recovery time, enabling me to get back to work much sooner than I would have expected. I now have none of the symptoms I had prior to surgery and I have no low back pain. I highly recommend Dr. Kemp for anyone with neck and/or back issues. He will speak to you, and not at you; he will explain what he thinks would be the best approach, and he will explain why. He will choose surgery only if he thinks it is necessary. He also has great P.A’s on his team as well, and they are all wonderful. I’m extremely grateful to Dr Kemp and his team.
Google
5.0/5
Jan 10, 2024
Google - SpineMD
Dr. Kemp and the Team at Virginia Spine Institute (VSI) are absolutely top notch, extremely pleased wth the entire journey. VSI was very highly recommended by several trusted associates. I was impressed with how extremely thorough the Team was during the diagnostic phase. The comprehensive package developed was then patiently reviewed by Dr. Kemp, who not only explained the reasoning behind determining that cervical laminoplasty surgery (c4-c7) with left-sided cervical foraminotomy was the appropriate solution for my specific situation; Dr. Kemp showed and articulated the criteria on the images to my satisfaction. Dr. Kemp's confidence and expertise convinced me to go forward with this delicate surgery. Surgery and post-surgery expectations were carefully explained by Dr. Kemp and Edda Wong (PA-C). The surgery went very well. Dr Kemp and his PAs checked on me regularly during recovery. Every step in the process was outstanding and professional. I am pain free, retained range of motion and starting physical therapy. Thank You Dr. Kemp and the Team at VSI and Reston Hospital.

Dr. Kemp’s Resources

Empowering Patients with Knowledge and Hope for a Pain-Free Life

Blog

Quick Daily Tweaks to Ease Back Pain

Blog

Doctor Q&A : Discovering, Diagnosing, and Removing a Spinal Tumor

Blog

Spondylosis vs Spondylolysis vs Spondylolisthesis: What’s the Difference?

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