Dr. Doug Blaty is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive techniques. His approach to spine care is based on the philosophy that every patient has a unique problem, and treatment should be focused on each individual’s specific complaints and symptoms. While the treatment for many patients may be non-operative, if surgery is chosen, Dr. Blaty always seeks to provide patients with the most effective and innovative options. Dr. Blaty developed a special interest in anatomy and the spine at a young age through involvement in athletics and his own injuries. Since graduating from Lake City High School in 2001 as a Valedictorian, Dr. Blaty went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. He graduated as a PAC-10 All-Academic athlete in track and field and was also a University of Washington Top-10 record holder in the decathlon and indoor heptathlon. Receiving a Master of Science in biomedical sciences from Barry University, Dr. Blaty further built his knowledge in anatomy through hands-on cadaver work. He later attended medical school at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was a 2-time recipient of the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation Scholarship. Awarded a research fellowship during medical school, Dr. Blaty continued his pursuit of musculoskeletal knowledge, focusing on orthopedic-based basic science research. Dr. Blaty completed his orthopedic surgery residency training at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, OR where he continued to maintain his primary focus on the spine, not only in his clinical training but through multiple clinical research projects and presentations ranging from osteoporosis to degenerative spine conditions. He then completed his spine surgery fellowship at Twin Cities Spine Center, training with world-renowned spine surgeons, while also leading research focused on lateral-access lumbar spine fusions. Through his training experiences, Dr. Blaty has developed a passion for less invasive spine surgery options, and always strives to advance spine care and patient outcomes.