Academy Council
Edward C. Benzel, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
Aside from his medical degree, Dr. Benzel has a background in engineering. He did his neurosurgical training at the Medical College of Wisconsin and specialized in spinal surgery. He has written many books, including BIOMECHANICS OF SPINE STABILIZATION and co-authored FUNDAMENTALS OF NEUROIMAGING. He is a leader in the development of the Decade of the Spine (2001-2010). Dr. Benzel heads neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic and has numerous publications and presentations to his credit. Dr. Benzel has served as President of the Spine Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is a much respected consultant on spine problems and their conservative or operative treatment. He now serves as editor of the international journal, WORLD NEUROSURGERY. Dr. Benzel is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Donald S. Corenman, M.D., D.C.
Orthopedic Surgeon and Chiropractic Orthopedist
Dr. Corenman started his career as a Doctor of Chiropractic in1978. He completed a residency in chiropractic orthopedics and achieved Diplomate status with the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists. Dr. Corenman received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed a five-year residency program in Orthopedic Surgery at the Detroit Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in spinal disorders and deformity at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Corenman served as co-chief of spinal trauma at Denver General, which is now Denver Health Medical Center. Dr. Corenman has practiced at the Steadman Clinic, a premier sports medicine clinic, in Vail, Colorado, for the past 20 years. Dr. Corenman is affiliated with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and is a U.S. Ski Team physican. Dr. Corenman is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, the American Board of Spine Surgery and the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedics. He is associate editor of the American Journal of Chiropractic Orthopedics.
George J. Dohrmann, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurosurgeon
Dr. Dohrmann is a neurosurgeon on the faculty of the University of Chicago Medical Center. He received his surgical training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. His neurological training was done at the Institute of Neurology, National Hospital, Queen Square, London, England. Neurosurgical training was done at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Dohrmann serves on the editorial boards of various medical journals, both national and international, including SURGICAL NEUROLOGY, (the international neurosurgical journal), MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE, NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH, JOURNAL OF SPINAL SURGERY and, the journal, SPINAL CORD. He has served as guest editor of NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH. Dr. Dohrmann represents the United States on several committees of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (the neurosurgical equivalent of the United Nations). He has published well-over 200 books and articles. In recognition of his teaching, nationally and internationally, Dr. Dohrmann was given the Bucy Award "for outstanding contributions to neurosurgical education." Dr. Dohrmann is a founding member of the American Academy of Spine Physicians and serves on the Academy Council. He has been given the Career Achievement Award of the Chicago Neurological Society “for exceptional expertise, knowledge, dedication, and recognition in the field of neurosurgery and neurological research.” Dr. Dohrmann is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a Fellow of the American College of Spine Physicians.
David H. Durrant, DC, Ph.D.(c)
Chiropractic Neurologist
Dr. Durrant is a chiropractic neurologist at the Chicago Neuroscience Institute (CNI). He currently serves as the Director of the Institute. He received his Doctorate in Chiropractic, cum laude, from Logan College of Chiropractic. He received post-doctoral neurology training with Logan College, Chesterfield, Missouri and with New York Chiropractic College of Seneca Falls, New York. Dr. Durrant went on to complete a three-year neurology residency and achieved board certification in neurology. He was awarded Diplomate Status with the American Board of Chiropractic Neurology, now under the auspices of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. Dr. Durrant has also achieved prestigious Diplomate status with the American Academy of Spine Physicians and Fellow status with the American College of Spine Physicians and Fellow status with the International Academy of Chiropractic Neurology. Dr. Durrant is currently pursuing a Ph.D., in Health Services with emphasis placed on applications of molecular imaging of the spine and spinal cord. Dr. Durrant is an accomplished neuroscience author and editor, having authored numerous articles and textbook chapters in the field of neurology. He is the principal author and co-editor of the textbook titled, MYELOPATHY, RADICULOPATHY AND ENTRAPMENT AND SYNDROMES, a benchmark publication in neurology. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Spine Physicians and serves on the Academy Council. Dr. Durrant represents the United States on the Council of the International Spine Association (ISA)
Barth A. Green, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
While attending medical school at Indiana University, Dr. Green worked in the laboratory of Professor L.W. Freeman, one of the leading spinal cord injury researchers. Then he continued his interest in spinal cord injury with another expert in spinal cord injury, Professor Paul Bucy, at Northwestern University while doing his neurosurgical training. Dr. Green's devotion to spinal cord-injured patients and to spinal cord injury research led to the establishment of the multimillion dollar Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. His publications and presentations number in the hundreds. He is on the editorial board of the JOURNAL OF SPINAL DISORDERS. Dr. Green heads the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami Medical Center. Dr. Green's practice is devoted exclusively to patients with spinal problems. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Vincent P. Lucido, D.C.
Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Vincent Lucido has served as President of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and as a delegate to the ACA. He was honored as ACA's Chiropractor of the Year. Dr. Lucido has also served the chiropractic profession as a trustee of the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER). He has served as President of the FCER. Dr. Lucido has served as an examiner for the Florida Department of Professional Regulation Licensing Exam for Chiropractic Physicians and as a faculty member of National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois.
Stephen L. Ondra, M.D.
Neurosurgeon
After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Dr. Ondra received his medical degree and then did his neurosurgery training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He decided to specialize in spine surgery and joined on the faculty of Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Ondra has been recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions to the understanding of spine function and for his treatment (conservative and operative) of spine malfunction. He has brought a neurosurgical/analytical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis. Dr. Ondra is well known for his thoughtful application of spine instrumentation. He has written many articles and has given numerous presentations about the analysis and treatment of spine problems. He is on the editorial board of the JOURNAL OF SPINAL DISORDERS. Dr. Ondra has had a leadership position in the Department of Veterans Affairs and is currently in a senior leadership position with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Dr. Ondra is a Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons
John V. Prunskis, M.D.
Interventional Pain Management
Dr. Prunskis is one of the nation’s most recognized pain management specialists. He earned his medical degree at Rush University School of Medicine and completed his residency in anesthesiology and fellowship training at the University of Chicago. Dr. Prunskis is board certified in anesthesiology, as well as, board certified in pain management. Dr. Prunskis has achieved the highest distinction for an interventional pain physician as a Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice. Dr. Prunskis has served as a director-at-large of the Illinois Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He is the founder and co-medical director of the Illinois Pain Institute. He also serves as the medical director of the Barrington Pain and Spine Institute, the only state-licensed ambulatory surgery center in Illinois that focuses solely on all pain and spine-related care from injections to spine operations. Dr. Prunskis is a frequent lecturer, has been an officer of the Illinois Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and is an active member of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, the American Pain Society, and the McHenry County Medical Society (past president), the American Academy of Pain Management.
Ruth G. Ramsey, M.D.
Neuroradiologist
Dr. Ruth Ramsey, M.D., is one of the nation's top neuroradiologists. She is board certified in neuroradiology. Dr. Ramsey received her medical degree from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine and completed her residency in radiology at Northwestern University. Her appointments have included that of Professor of Radiology at Rush University Medical Center and Professor of Radiology at the University of Chicago.Dr. Ramsey was the recipient of the prestigious Marie Curie Award, recognition from her peers for her years of work in the field of radiology.Dr. Ramsey has been Chairman and Consultant to the FDA Drugs and Contrast Committee. She has been an examiner for the American Board of Radiology.She is a reviewer for the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEURORADIOLOGY. Dr. Ramsey has given well-over one thousand lectures, written over 60 articles and book chapters and been the author of 5 books in the field of neuroradiology.
Steven Vanni, D.O., D.C.
Neurosurgeon and Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Vanni is both a neurosurgeon and a chiropractor. He received his D.O. and his D.C. in Georgia and Florida respectively. His spinal surgery training was done in New York (Albert Einstein College of Medicine). He has continued his practice as a chiropractic physician in Florida while practicing as a neurosurgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Veteran's Administration Hospital. Dr. Vanni uses his unique perspective, as a neurosurgeon and a chiropractic physician, to lecture about and to participate in studies of patients with spine problems. In his neurosurgical practice, Dr. Vanni specializes in spine surgery.
Welcome to the Inform a Colleague area of the Academy Website. The American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP) strives to implement new and more efficient methods for members to communicate with other healthcare professionals. One of the most effective tools is the online "Inform a Colleague" function. This function can be used to expand and educate your spinecare referral network. It also represents a resource to conveniently inform others about trends in spinecare and about offers of organizations such as the American Academy of Spine Physicians (AASP), the International Spine Association (ISA). The link library also contains an application for membership with the AASP. 
