Dr. Theodore Choma is the J. Vernon Luck, Sr. Distinguished Professor and Vice Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery and director of the spine surgery division in the School of Medicine at University of Missouri. Dr. Choma’s research focuses on spinal trauma, degenerative spinal conditions and issues that affect the aging spine, such as osteoporosis. He also has studied procedures aimed at healing spinal injuries faster and more naturally: he investigated use of various bone cements and screw techniques for holding osteoporotic bones together, and has conducted extensive work on large databases to understand the risks of complications in complex spine surgeries. He holds two medical patents. Before joining the University of Missouri faculty, Dr. Choma spent 14 years in the Army, eventually becoming head of spinal surgery at the Dwight Eisenhower Army Medical Center. “I absolutely loved taking care of soldiers,” he says. In addition to conducting research and teaching at MU, Dr. Choma is a practicing spine surgeon at the university’s Missouri Orthopedic Institute. For his many accomplishments, Dr. Choma has been presented with numerous honors including the Scoliosis Research Society’s Louis A. Goldstein Award and two recognitions from Becker’s Orthopaedic and Spine Review.