Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A.

Richard Menger, M.D., M.P.A., is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon serving as Director of the USA Health Spine Institute and Chief of Complex Spine Surgery at USA Health. He has a specific focus on complex spinal reconstructions for scoliosis/spinal deformity in children and adults. He performs state-of-the-art minimally invasive spinal procedures (MIS) and has a special expertise in the entire spectrum of conservative and surgical management of pediatric scoliosis.

 

Trained in neurological and orthopedic spine surgery, he can assess patients from an interdisciplinary perspective and offer the most appropriate specialized treatment plan for each individual patient. His goal is to find the least-invasive and safest possible option to increase each patient’s quality of life.

 

Dr. Menger formed the USA Health Spine Institute to change the culture around the delivery of spine care. His philosophy focuses on a patient-centered approach that allows him to care for the entire patient and their family, not just their spinal disorder. The surgeon is the “Captain of the Ship” and responsible for providing the best possible patient experience and the best possible surgical outcome in safest possible way.

 

Dr. Menger completed a formal post-graduate spine fellowship in orthopedic pediatric spinal deformity and scoliosis surgery with world-renowned orthopedic surgeons Dr. Michael Vitale and Dr. Lawrence Lenke at Columbia University in New York City. He completed an enfolded adult and pediatric neurosurgery spine fellowship at Louisiana State University/Shriners Children’s Hospital under the tutelage of Dr. Anthony Sin. 

 

He is an honors graduate of Cornell University where he played four years of Division I rugby. He completed medical school with honors at Georgetown University School of Medicine where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and received the Barbara Bregman, Ph.D, award as the top graduate in neuroscience. To further his research mission, he received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he was awarded the Hale Champion Public Service Fellowship.

 

Dr. Menger has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has presented over 80 abstracts at national/international meetings. He is the editor of an academic neurosurgery textbook. His research has been cited over 500 times in the medical community. He has received grants and numerous awards for his research. He was recognized by the North American Spine Society as a “20 under 40” Spine Surgeon in the United States.

 

Dr. Menger was selected for the NASS Spinal Deformity Committee as well as the AANS/CNS Joint Guidelines Committee responsible for reviewing/creating the guidelines used by other neurosurgeons. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Council of State Neurological Societies, North American Spine Society, and a candidate member of the Scoliosis Research Society.

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Dr. Menger was elected for a one-year membership on the Scoliosis Research Society Growing Spine Committee. The Scoliosis Research Society is the premier international society aimed at fostering optimal care for all patients with spinal deformities. The Growing Spine Committee focuses on early onset scoliosis or scoliosis in children under the age of 10 and helps guide and support initiatives aimed to answers questions regarding prevention and treatment of severe deformities in young children with immature spines.

 

He serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

 

He enjoys fitness, being on the water, and spending as much time as possible with his wife, son and three daughters.

 

Dr. Menger's published works are available on PubMed, and you can download his full CV [PDF].

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