Dr. Shawn Best is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon who specializes in the treatment of adult spinal disorders, including cervical and lumbar disc herniations, spinal stenosis, degenerative spine conditions, and spinal fractures.
Dr. Best has a special interest in endoscopic spine surgery, a leading-edge, ultra-minimally invasive technique in which a small camera and specialized instruments are used through an incision often less than one centimeter long to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves. His practice also includes motion-preserving options such as cervical and lumbar disc replacement and laminoplasty, in addition to a variety of fusion options.
Dr. Best graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in chemistry and physics, and he earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, where he received the Raymond F. Kuhlmann Resident Research Award as a graduating chief resident. He then completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
Dr. Best’s research on the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures has been published in Medicine and presented at the North American Spine Society annual meeting. He has also served as a peer reviewer for Global Spine Journal. He is passionate about teaching and mentorship, and he has volunteered extensively to introduce students from underrepresented backgrounds to careers in medicine.
Born in North Carolina and raised in Florida, Dr. Best enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, and playing the saxophone and piano. He is proficient in Mandarin Chinese and French, and he loves spending time with his wife and young daughter.