Dr. Wright is a board-certified Neurosurgeon, fellowship trained in complex spinal Neurosurgery, and both nationally and internationally recognized as a cervical spine expert.  

 

After his undergraduate degree in Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley, he obtained his medical degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  He completed his residency training in Neurological Surgery at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital/St. Louis Children's Hospital.  He then completed a fellowship in complex spinal Neurosurgery at both UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

 

For the past two decades, he was a Professor of Neurosurgery at Washington University in St. Louis.  He was director of the Spine Fellowship there, and held the prestigious Herbert Lourie Professor of Neurosurgery endowed professorship.

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In May 2020, Dr. Wright chose to leave academics and Washington University to focus on delivering high-quality, personalized care of patients with cervical spinal disorders.

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Due to a non-compete contract signed with Washington University when he started his practice there in 2001, he was required to practice outside of St. Louis until 2022. Washington University would not negotiate this provision.  During that period of non-compete, Dr. Wright moved his practice to Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois while his family stayed in St. Louis.  In May of 2022, Dr. Wright returned to St. Louis and joined the newly formed group, Neurosurgery of St Louis.

 

Neurosurgery of St Louis is a group made up of some of the most respected and talented independent neurosurgeons in the region, created to provide top quality neurosurgical care in an efficient, timely, and personal manner, in multiple locations in Missouri and Illinois. 

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Dr. Wright focuses his practice on disorders of the cervical spine, and has performed over 2,500 cervical spine surgeries.

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His practice includes the treatment of craniocervical/craniovertebral junction disorders, atlantoaxial instability, cervical spondylosis, cervical disc herniations, cervical myelopathy, cervical radiculopathy, cervical spondylolithesis, cervical stenosis, cervical deformity, as well as tumors of the spinal cord and spine. He had the largest series of cervical artificial disc surgeries (cervical arthroplasty) at Washington University during his time there, and continues to perform arthroplasty and other leading edge techniques. 

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Dr. Wright is the developer of the C2 laminar fixation technique, now popular worldwide for the treatment of atlantoaxial instability. He is also one of the leading experts on the use of synthetic bone in cervical spine procedures.

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He has several patents related to cervical spine devices and treatments.

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He has hospital privileges at multiple facilities in the bi-state area, including Missouri Baptist, Progress West, Barnes St. Peters, Anderson Hospital, and HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital.  His main clinic location is conveniently located in St. Louis County, with satellite clinics in both Missouri and Illinois.