A Midwest native, Dr. Keagan Gertz received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, followed by fellowship training in spine surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center — one of the busiest spine centers in the nation.

Dr. Gertz provides specialized spine care to patients of all ages, treating the full spectrum of spine conditions — both non-operatively and operatively — from degenerative and traumatic issues to spinal deformity, affecting the spine from the neck down to the tailbone. This includes cervical, thoracic, and lumbar stenosis, disc herniations, spinal fractures, and many other conditions.

Procedures Dr. Gertz performs include:
Cervical (neck): Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion, and laminoplasty — a motion-preserving procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal cord while keeping the neck’s natural movement.

Thoracic (mid-back): Laminectomy, spinal fusion, and more advanced procedures such as costotransversectomy, thoracic discectomy, and deformity correction.

Lumbar (lower back): Laminectomy, microdiscectomy, and fusion procedures including anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), as well as complex deformity surgery.

Dr. Gertz believes surgery is a powerful tool — one that should only be used when it’s truly necessary and likely to help.

Without a doubt, the best part of his job is educating patients. He loves walking people through what’s happening with their spine and explaining their treatment options in detail, so they feel informed and empowered at every step of their care journey. He is committed to being with his patients through every stage of care, for as long as it takes to help them feel like themselves again.

In his free time, Dr. Gertz’s favorite moments are spent with his kids — playing with them, being present, and simply enjoying being their dad. He also enjoys relaxing with friends over dinner and drinks, watching football on the weekends, and spending time on the water fishing. Running has become an important part of his life as well; he has completed several marathons, including the Boston Marathon.

“I’m honored to be my patients’ spine doctor throughout their entire journey — from their first visit, through non-surgical care, and into the operating room if that becomes necessary. Building relationships and earning patients’ trust along the way is what makes this work meaningful to me.”

Languages Spoken: English

Medical School: University of Cincinnati – Cincinnati, Ohio

Residency: University of Nebraska Medical Center – Omaha, Nebraska

Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Memberships:

• Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS)