Spinal fusions on the rise

Director of the Western Connecticut Health Network Spine Center since 2005, and with over 16 years in practice as a specialist in complex spinal surgery, Dr. Kramer conducts his spine practice at Connecticut Neck and Back Specialists in Danbury, Connecticut. He has been certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons since 1998.

After earning his bachelors degree from Dartmouth College, and his medical degree with honors from Dartmouth Medical School, Dr. Kramer completed his internship in general surgery at Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital, followed by a residency in orthopedic surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Kramer completed the combined orthopedic and neurosurgical spine fellowship at the nationally recognized Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Upon completing his spine fellowship, he was selected as a member of the prestigious Cervical Spine Research Society after his research in computer-assisted cervical spine surgery won the society’s annual research award.  After returning home to Connecticut in 1996, Dr. Kramer joined the surgical staff at Danbury Hospital where he became chief of the section of spine surgery.

Recognized as a physician leader with an interest in improving regional surgical outcomes, Dr. Kramer ascended to the Board of Directors of several hospitals including Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, and ultimately, Western Connecticut Health Network.  In his role serving on these boards, Dr. Kramer contributed to improving patient safety and surgical outcome with his involvement in several peer-review and physician oversight committees including the board’s Medical Affairs Committee and Quality Committee.

Through these experiences, Dr. Kramer has come to appreciate that, in order to achieve the highest outcomes possible in spine surgery, patients must become well-educated on their specific spinal condition, the available operative and non-operative treatment options as supported by evidence-based medicine, and the ultimate potential impact on their personal lives.  Only then can the patient’s expectations truly be met.

Bragging Rights

Recognized annually in Connecticut Magazine’s Top Doctors issue, along with Castle Connolly’s Award for America’s Top Doctors, and The Patient’s Choice Award, Dr. Kramer has won numerous academic awards including the American Orthopaedic Association Zimmer Award for Orthopaedic Research, the Rothman Institute Award for Outstanding Research, the Dartmouth Medical School Surgical Scholar Award, and Alpha Omega Alpha. He has been widely published in spine peer-reviewed journals and numerous text books.