Eric D. Shirley, MD graduated summa cum laude from Washington & Lee University and with honors from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He served 5 years in the United States Navy, practicing pediatric orthopaedics and young adult sports medicine. He later practiced in Jacksonville, FL before coming to the Atlanta area. Dr. Shirley is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and has a subspecialty certificate in orthopaedic sports medicine. His clinical practice focuses on spinal deformity, sports medicine, developmental hip dysplasia, and fractures. He has served as the team physician for multiple high schools and gymnastics programs, and is currently the team physician for North Paulding High School. He also was a member of the medical board for the National Football League Project 17 Athletic Trainer Program. His interest in sports medicine began with participation in soccer through high school and wrestling through college. On the national level, Dr. Shirley is a Deputy Editor of the educational website Orthobullets.com, teaches the pediatric section of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ review course, teaches a board certification course to other pediatric orthopaedists, and is a consultant reviewer for the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. He is also an active member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) and Scoliosis Research Society and serves on the Sports Medicine Quality, Spine Surgery Quality, and Growing Spine committees. In 2015, he completed a POSNA travelling fellowship to Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. His research interests include shared decision-making, patient education, and outcomes for the treatment of spinal disorders and sports medicine problems. Dr. Shirley grew up in Maryland and remains an avid fan of University of Maryland basketball. He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and Labrador retriever. He stays active with exercise and cycling. He also enjoys reading biographies and listening to podcasts. Finally, he has an interest in international health care and has travelled to 15 countries in Africa, Central America, and South America to provide orthopaedic care.