Christopher I. Shaffrey, MD, FAANS graduated magna cum laude from The Citadel in 1982 with a B.S. degree in biology. He played varsity basketball and was the co-captain his senior year. In 1986, Shaffrey received his medical degree from the University of Virginia. He completed his general surgical internship at Naval Hospital San Diego in 1987 where he was named the surgical intern of the year.
He then completed both neurosurgical and orthopedics residencies at the University of Virginia, followed by a spine fellowship in pediatric and adult reconstructive spine surgery in 1995. Following completion of his surgical training, he was appointed to the senior staff in the departments of neurological surgery and orthopedic surgery at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital where he was actively involved in treating members of Detroit’s college and professional athletic teams. In 1999, Shaffrey was appointed associate professor of neurological surgery and adjunct associate professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 2003, he returned to the University of Virginia as a professor of neurological surgery and director of the neurosurgery spine division. In 2008, he was named Harrison Distinguished Teaching Professor of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgery. In July of 2018, Dr. Shaffrey was named the chief of the Duke Spine Division for the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurological Surgery and is a tenured professor of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery.