Christopher J. Dewald, M.D.

Spine, Back and Neck

Assistant Professor, Director, Section of Spinal Deformity, Rush University Medical Center

BIOGRAPHY

A board certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chris DeWald is a member of several professional organizations. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on advanced techniques in spinal surgery. Living and studying abroad has given Dr. DeWald a progressive perspective of this surgical specialty. Moreover, he is admired by his patients for his sensitivity to their needs.

A graduate of Knox College, cum laude, Dr. DeWald lettered in varsity football and played Lacrosse. He went on to medical school at Rush Medical College and fulfilled a five-year orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois Hospital. During this period, Dr. DeWald's experience included training at Cook County Hospital, West Side Veterans Hospital, Shriner's Hospital for Children, Michael Reese Hospital, and the University of Illinois Hospital.

To further enhance his knowledge of spinal surgery, he served as a fellow in the elite Chicago Spine Fellowship with responsibilities to both Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and Shriner's Hospital for Children. Dr. DeWald developed an international understanding of spinal surgery through fellowship training in Germany, France, England, and Japan.

Dr. DeWald has several videos on topics relating to Adult and Pediatric Scoliosis. Please visit our Spinal Deformity and Scoliosis section to view them.

Dr. Christopher DeWald was voted among the top 10-15% of Top Doctors in America ^® by U.S.News & World Report and Castle Connolly. The Top Doctors list is widely regarded as a high-quality reference guide to the medical profession.

Curriculum Vitae

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• Saltzman BM, Levy DM, Vakhshori V, DeWald CJ.Free Vascularized Fibular Strut Autografts to the Lumbar Spine in Complex Revision Surgery: A Report of Two Cases.Korean J Spine. 2015 Sep;12(3):185-9. doi: 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.3.185. Epub 2015 Sep 30. PMID: 26512280
• Cvetanovich GL, Hassanzadeh H, Park K, DeWald CJ.Late Fracture After Long Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Case Report. Spine Deform. 2015 May;3(3):277-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jspd.2014.11.002. Epub 2015 Apr 23. PMID:27927471
• Schwab, Frank MD; Ungar, Benjamin BA; Blondel, Benjamin MD; Buchowski, Jacob MD; Coe, Jeffrey MD; Deinlein, Donald MD; DeWald, Christopher MD; Mehdian, Hossein MD; Shaffrey, Christopher MD; Tribus, Clifford MD; LAfage, Virginie PhD. Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab Adult Spinal Deformity Clasification: A Validation Study. Spine: 20 May 2012 – Volume 37 – Issue 12 – p 1077-1082
• Christopher DeWald, MD; Isaac L. Moss, MDCM, MASc, FRCSC USA “Does the Use of Pelvic Screws Decrease the Revision Rate of Long Spinal Fusions to Sacrum” Abstract accepted for presentation at the International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) July 2012
• Lee J.K., Kurd M., Ahmadinia K., Finneberg S.J., DeWald C.J., “Does Pelvic Fixation Decrease the Incidence of Pseudarthrosis and Sagittal Imbalance in Long Fusion Constructs? Long-term Follow-up of 139 Adult Patients” presented at the International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) July 2013

AWARDS & HONORS

• 2002 Teacher of the Year Award, Rush Spine Fellowship
• 2011 Becker’s Orthopedic and Spine Top 10 Leader in Scoliosis Surgeons in America
• 2012 America’s Most Compassionate Doctor awarded by the “Patients’ Choice”

PRACTICE EMPHASIS

• Spine Surgery
• Scoliosis

SPECIAL PROCEDURES

• Thoroscopic spine surgery
• Adult spinal reconstruction
• Scoliosis surgery

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Fusionless scoliosis surgery

DISCLOSURES

• AAOS Record of Disclosure

CLINICAL SUPPORT STAFF

• Sue Mrow (AA)
• Stephanie Klein (NP)

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS

• Medical School
  Rush Medical College, Rush University, Chicago, IL
• Residency
  University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics-Orthopaedic Surgery Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, Chicago, IL
• Fellowship
  Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center/Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, Chicago, IL - Spinal Surgery and Research University of Hidelberg, Karlsbad-Lagensteinbach, Germany Institut Calot, Berck Plage, France Hokkaido University School of M
• Board Certification
  Orthopaedic Surgery

HOSPITAL / SURGICAL LOCATIONS

PHYSICIAN OFFICE LOCATIONS