Colorado's Most Published and Distinguished Spine Surgeon

Dr. Shay Bess strives to restore and preserve spinal function through both non-surgical treatment options and surgical procedures, aiming to alleviate pain and enhance his patients' quality of life. Based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Dr. Shay Bess is a distinguished and renown leader in spine surgery, global spine research, outcomes innovation, and physician education.  Dr. Shay Bess is dedicated to creating and improving the national and international standards for spine care, patient safety, physician education, spine treatment, and surgical outcomes.  

• Dr. Shay Bess has over 20 years of experience in scoliosis treatment, spinal deformity surgery, spine research, and medical leadership.

• Dr. Shay Bess completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia University in NYC, his medical degree at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, his residency in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and his fellowship in adult and pediatric scoliosis and spine surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  

• Dr. Shay Bess has an outstanding local, national, and international reputation for expert, ethical, and compassionate spine care. Many physicians (nationally and internationally) refer their patients to Dr. Shay Bess.

• Dr. Shay Bess founded the International Spine Study Group in 2009 and leads the group as its president.  Since its inception, the International Spine Study Group has presented over 2,000 scientific abstracts, has published over 550 peer reviewed manuscripts, has secured over 15 research and educational grants, and is internationally recognized as the leading global research and education organization dedicated to studying and advancing treatment options for adult spinal deformity and improving patient care and outcomes.  

• Dr. Shay Bess is the Principal Investigator for the prestigious Scoliosis Research Society Directed Research Grant leading a groundbreaking  project to develop a multicultural outcomes assessment tool for adult spinal deformity, coordinating research efforts across Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Latin America, and the Middle East.

• The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Joint Section on Spinal Disorders presented Dr. Shay Bess in February of 2025 with the Orthopedic Meritorious Award for his commitment to excellence, leadership, and substantial contributions to the advancement of spine surgery and spine research. 

• Dr. Shay Bess was the Scoliosis Research Society 2022 Annual Meeting Program Chair, is an active fellow of the Scoliosis Research Society, and from 2014-2023 worked on the SRS Development Committee, Evidence Based Medicine Committee, Coding Committee, Abstract Review Committee, and Grants Committee.

• Dr. Shay Bess is a Member of the Editorial Review Board for Spine Deformity Journal, Spine Journal, and Operative Neurosurgery.

• Dr. Shay Bess is the founder of Pediatric Scoliosis Surgical Services at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

• Dr. Shay Bess is an Active Member of the North American Spine Society with committee memberships in Spine Deformity, Evidence Based Medicine Committee, Section Leader for DVT Prophylaxis and Prevention in Spine Surgery, Lumbar Spondylolisthesis, and Lumbar Disc Degeneration.

• Dr. Shay Bess has written and been awarded over 20 clinical research and educational grants valued over $25M and presented over 500 Scientific Podiums/Presentations.

• Dr. Shay Bess has written 550+ Peer Reviewed Original Manuscripts which can be found on PubMed National Library of Medicine Website at:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=shay+bess

• Dr. Shay Bess is Director of the ISSG Annual Resident and Fellows Spine Course leading the world's most influential research consortium in creating, organizing, and executing the world's largest educational course for spine fellows and residents.  The course is 2 full days and includes a didactic section and 24 cadaver labs, providing dynamic learning where students will gain practical experience with human anatomy through hands-on exploration and guided instruction.  Additionally, the ISSG Fellows and Residents course provides spine fellows and residents a platform for professional development, skills training, employment exploration, and networking with leading experts globally.  For more details about the ISSG's Annual Meeting and Residents' and Fellows' Course and the ISSG's traveling fellowship, please visit www.issgannualmeeting.org

• Dr. Shay Bess has written 20+ Book Chapters and Reviews.

• Colorado Magazine Best Doctors, Colorado Magazine Best Orthopedic Spine Surgeons

• Charity Surgery and Medical Missions:  Global Spine Outreach in Cali, Columbia; Ethiopia Project in Addis Ababa; FOCOS Foundation in Ghana

• National Medical Director for Spine Surgical Services for Hospital Corporation of America

• Medical Advisor for Utilization and Medical Affairs for Health Trust Group Purchasing Corporation

• Diplomat American Board of Orthopedic Surgery

•  H-index: 73 with 23,952 citations (Google Scholar)
•  >$25 million in research and educational grants 
•  2025 Meritorious Award for Excellence in Orthopedic Spine Surgery from the American Academy of Neurosurgery & Congress of Neurosurgery Joint Section
•  2025 Scoliosis Research Society Directed Research Grant Principal Investigator for Creation and Validation of Improved Outcomes Measures for the Assessment of Adult Spinal Deformity Patients
•  2024 Hibbs Award-- Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting Best Clinical Science Abstract
•  2024 Hibbs Award-- Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting Best Basic Science Abstract
• *2021 Hibbs Award-- Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting Best Clinical Science Abstract
•  2020 Whitecloud Award-- International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques/Scoliosis Research Society Best Clinical Abstract
•  2017 Goldstein Award-- International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques/Scoliosis Research Society Best Clinical Poster
• 2014 Goldstein Award-- International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques/Scoliosis Research Society Best Clinical Poster
•  2013 Whitecloud Award-- International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques/ Scoliosis Research Society Best Clinical Abstract
• 2013 Goldstein Award-- International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques/ Scoliosis Research Society Best Clinical Paper
•  2012 Value Award North American Spine Society Best Paper Award-- North American Spine Society Annual Meeting-Dr. Shay Bess has over 20 years of experience in scoliosis treatment, spinal deformity surgery, spine research, and medical leadership.

• 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN Department of Neurosurgery
• 2025 Stein/Finerman Visiting Professor and Meritorious Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• 2025 Distinguished Visiting Professor and Daniel Benson Lectureship-- University of California, Davis, Department of Orthopedic Surgery 
• 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Lennox Hill Hospital Northwell Health Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• 2025 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- University of Arizona- Phoenix Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• 2025 Visiting Professor and Keynote Speaker-- Houston Texas Medical Center
• 2024 Presidential Oration and Keynote Speaker-- Annual Conference of Association of Spine Surgery of India
• 2023 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Brown University Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopedic Surgery
• 2022 Program Chairman-- Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting
• 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Barrow Neurological Institute Department of Neurosurgery
• 2022 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- University of Miami Department of Neurosurgery
• 2019 Visiting Professor and Grand Rounds Lecturer-- Cedars Sinai Departments of Orthopedic and Neurosurgery