USA Health’s complex pediatric spine team shines at Scoliosis Research Society’s 60th Annual Meeting
Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, and Tyler McDonald, M.D., showcased USA Health’s growing commitment for innovation and excellence in pediatric and complex spine care.
By Jessica Jones
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USA Health neurosurgeon Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, chief of complex spine surgery, and orthopaedic surgeon Tyler McDonald, M.D., chief of pediatric orthopaedics, represented the health system’s complex pediatric spine program at the Scoliosis Research Society’s (SRS) 60th Annual Meeting, a five-day international gathering held in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The event brought together approximately 1,500 spine specialists from around the world to share the latest advances in treating spinal deformities, including adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult deformity, minimally invasive surgery, and machine learning applications in spine care.
Menger also completed the SRS 2024–2025 L.E.A.D. Program, a prestigious year-long leadership development initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders within SRS. Cohort members gain a deeper understanding of the organization’s mission, governance, and impact on spine care worldwide.
In addition to his participation in the L.E.A.D. cohort, Menger served as a featured speaker for a session titled “Discover the New Standard of Care: Personalized Spine Surgery” alongside experts from the University of California San Diego and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, he shared insights on using AI-enabled technology.
“We are really proud of USA Health’s combined neurosurgery-orthopaedic pediatric complex spine program where our departments work together to offer our patients unique and elevated treatments right here on the Gulf Coast,” said Menger. “Attending and presenting at the SRS meeting allow us to bring the latest techniques and science to our patients.”
The SRS Annual Meeting serves as a premier global forum for advancing spinal deformity research and care. The 2025 program featured 179 abstract papers, 91 E-Point presentations, and five faculty-led instructional courses spanning topics such as neuromuscular scoliosis, kyphosis, and growing spine management.
Through their involvement at this year’s meeting, Menger and McDonald showcased USA Health’s growing commitment for innovation and excellence in pediatric and complex spine care — helping to ensure that patients along the Gulf Coast have access to world-class expertise close to home.
For more information about USA Health’s complex pediatric spine team, visit usahealthsystem.com or southspine.com.
