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    Shay Bess, MD

    Shay Bess, MD, is a spine surgeon in Denver, Colorado, specializing in the treatment of scoliosis, spine deformity, and revision spine for pediatric and adult patients. Dr. Bess received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, his medical doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and completed a fellowship in pediatric and adult spinal surgery at the Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Bess is the president and founder of the International Spine Study Group Foundation which is a multi-center non-for-profit research and education foundation that studies and educates upon clinical and economic outcomes and best practice guidelines for adult patients with spine deformity conditions. Since the inception in 20010, the International Spine Study Group Foundation has presented over 2000 scientific abstracts, has published over 550 peer reviewed manuscripts, and is internationally recognized as the most productive spine research study group in the world. Dr. Bess is the Director and Chairman of the Annual ISSG Resident and Fellows Spine Deformity Symposium which is the world’s largest resident and fellows cadaveric teaching course for residents and fellows hosting >350 attendees annually. In 2025 Dr. Bess was named the Principal Investigator to develop a multicultural and multidimensional outcomes assessment tool for adult spine deformity to be deployed worldwide. Dr. Bess is currently working with investigators in Europe, Japan, Korea, and India to develop and deploy the ASD outcomes assessment tool to improve the lives of ASD patients worldwide. Dr. Bess is the former National Medical Director for Spine Research and Outcomes for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), his responsibilities included coordinating data collection, data utilization, and research for the 185-hospital system that comprises HCA. Dr. Bess has been recognized as Colorado Magazine Best Orthopedic Surgeons from 2018-2021 and serves on the medical and scientific board for the National Spine Health Foundation, and the editorial review board for Spine Deformity Journal, Spine Journal, and Operative Neurosurgery. Dr. Bess has over 550 peer-reviewed manuscript publications and is an internationally recognized leader in spine surgery and research. In addition to his research and clinical efforts, Dr. Bess has participated in medical mission work for charity efforts that provide spine care for children in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Colombia.

    Disclosure(s): Orthofix Spine: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
    VB Spine: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
    Royalty Recipient (Ongoing)

    Presentation(s):