Betsy Grunch

Last updated
Betsy Grunch
Born(1980-02-27)February 27, 1980
Gainesville, Georgia
Education University of Georgia (B.S.)

Medical College of Georgia (M.D.)

Duke University (Surgical Internship, Neurological Surgery Residency and Fellowship)
OccupationNeurosurgeon
Portrait of Dr. Betsy Grunch BetsyGrunch.png
Portrait of Dr. Betsy Grunch

Betsy Grunch is an American board-certified neurosurgeon from Gainesville, Georgia. Her areas of interest include minimally invasive spine, spinal-cord, and brain surgery, as well as spinal disc disorders, neurotrauma, and deformity correction. [1] Grunch has received multiple awards and successfully performed Georgia's first artificial spinal disc implantation in 2016.

Contents

Early life

Grunch was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia. Before she started high school, her mother was severely injured in the line of duty as a sheriff's deputy, suffering a cervical spinal-cord injury that left her a quadriplegic. Watching this experience unfold at home motivated Grunch to pursue neurosurgery. She first became certified as a nursing assistant to help with her mother's care before attending medical school. [2]

Education

Grunch attended West Hall High School before earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia. She went on to attend medical school at the Medical College of Georgia and completed her surgical internship at Duke University Medical Center in 2008. She later completed the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Synthes Spine Fellowship at Duke from 2010-2011. [3] [4]

Career

Grunch is a practicing neurosurgeon [4] at the Longstreet Clinic Gainesville, Georgia. [5] After completing her initial schooling, she joined the same practice that treated her mother after her accident. [2] She now works at Longstreet Clinic Neurosurgery where she practices as a lead doctor. Some of her professional interests include minimally invasive spine techniques, cervical and lumbar disc replacement, and SI joint fusion. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. [3]

Grunch's clinical career gained early recognition in 2016 when she became one of the first neurosurgeons in Georgia to implant the activL® artificial lumbar disc, a next-generation motion-preserving device designed to offer improved mobility and outcomes compared to traditional spinal fusion procedures. [6] The activL® disc represented a significant advancement in the treatment of chronic lumbar discogenic pain, emphasizing preserved range of motion and reduced recovery time, which positioned her work at the forefront of evolving spine-surgery technology. In later interviews, Grunch described how her broader commitment to minimally invasive spine techniques shaped her approach to patient care and influenced her adoption of innovative procedures such as this early disc replacement. [7] Her prominence in the field has also been reflected in analyses of neurosurgeons' professional influence, where she is identified as a leading digital educator and clinician whose work continues to impact the practice of spine surgery. [8]

Professional Memberships and Interests

Grunch has contributed to multiple areas of neurosurgical practice beyond the operating room, including research, professional education, and organizational leadership. She has co-authored publications addressing workflow improvement in neurosurgical trauma setting [9] , the evaluation of evidence in health-technology assessments [10] , and gender specific safety concerns such as radiation-exposure disparities among women in surgical fields. [11] Some other of her notable publications include "The Distribution of Body Mass as a Significant Risk Factor for Lumbar Spinal Fusion Postoperative Infections", which won the 2021 Young Investigator Award in the Spine Journal. [12] Additionally, she contributed her expertise on neurological and spine related topics in the New York Times article titled "Is It Safe To Get Your Neck Manipulated By A Chiropractor?". [13] Her involvement in these projects reflects a broader commitment to improving patient care and advocating for equitable working conditions within neurosurgery. In addition to her research, Grunch participates in national professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons, the Association of Women Surgeons, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and contributes to ongoing research on ethical and effective social- media use for healthcare providers. [14] Analyses of neurosurgical communication on social media platforms further identify her as a leading figure in public-facing medical education, highlighting her influence as both a clinician and an advocate within the field. [8]

Awards and recognition

These include: [3]

Notable procedures

On July 7 of 2016, Grunch and James Reeves, a vascular surgeon, became the first surgeons in Georgia to successfully implant an artificial spinal disc called the activL Artificial Disc. [15] This surgery represents cutting-edge treatment for chronic lower back pain. [16]

Advocacy and social media

Grunch is well known online for her educational social media platforms. [2] Her content covers case studies, medical demonstrations, and personal experiences as a mother, woman, and doctor. Her TikTok and Instagram pages have over three million combined followers as of 2025. She has stated that her goal is to inspire future surgeons, especially in the field of neurosurgery. [5] Grunch also uses her social media platforms to address sexism, racism, and inequalities within medical culture, as demonstrated on her platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram. In a widely circulated TikTok video posted on November 15, 2025, she called attention to discriminatory treatment in clinical settings, urging viewers to "use your voice. Use your platforms. Use social media to demand better, expose harmful culture, and empower women—especially women of color—to know this treatment is NOT normal and NEVER acceptable". Her public commentary reflects broader patterns documented in her academic work, including research identifying gender-based disparities in radiation- safety practices, where female surgeons face increased exposure due to protective equipment designed around male body proportions. [11] Interviews and analyses of her digital influence similarly describe how she uses her online presence to advocate for representation, equity, and cultural change within neurosurgery. [7] [8]

Personal life

Grunch is married with two children and two dogs. [5] They all currently reside in Gainesville, Georgia. Her family often appears on her social media as she shares her life as a mother, daughter, and wife.

In 2024, Grunch launched LadySpineDoc, a project highlighting themes of strength, compassion, and boldness within the healthcare community. [17]

References

  1. 1 2 Clinic, Longstreet (2024-06-20). "Neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, M.D., honored as one of best in U.S." Longstreet Clinic. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  2. 1 2 3 mollybrown (2023-05-16). "Women Making a Mark: Dr. Betsy Grunch". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  3. 1 2 3 "About". Betsy Grunch, MD. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. 1 2 "Betsy H. Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, Neurosurgeon". Longstreet Clinic. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
  5. 1 2 3 "Association of Women Surgeons » Blog Archive » Representation in social media matters: interview with Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS". 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  6. ↑ Siepe, Christoph J.; Heider, Franziska; Wiechert, Karsten; Hitzl, Wolfgang; Ishak, Basem; Mayer, Michael H. (2014-08-01). "Mid- to long-term results of total lumbar disc replacement: a prospective analysis with 5- to 10-year follow-up". The Spine Journal: Official Journal of the North American Spine Society. 14 (8): 1417–1431. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2013.08.028. ISSN   1878-1632. PMID   24448028.
  7. 1 2 "Representation in social media matters: interview with Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS - Association of Women Surgeons Blog". 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  8. 1 2 3 Raturi, Vid; Delashaw, Johnny; Dumont, Aaron; Wang, Arthur (July 2024). "Most influential women neurosurgeons on Twitter". World Neurosurgery: X. 23 100385. doi:10.1016/j.wnsx.2024.100385. ISSN   2590-1397. PMC   11079525 . PMID   38725977.
  9. ↑ Gibson, Kyle; Whitson, Daniel; Filson, John D.; Grunch, Betsy; Pack, Leigh (2023-08-01). "Streamlining care in two neurosurgical practices in a rural trauma center". JAAPA: Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 36 (8): 1–4. doi:10.1097/01.JAA.0000944640.84958.84. ISSN   1547-1896. PMID   37493996.
  10. ↑ Moore, Frederick; Grunch, Betsy H.; Miller, Larry E.; Musacchio, Michael J. (July 2021). "Towards a More Simplified Approach for Evaluating Strength of Evidence in Health Technology Assessments". Cureus. 13 (7) e16528. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16528 . ISSN   2168-8184. PMC   8378323 . PMID   34430138.
  11. 1 2 Malueg, Megan D.; Greene, Hayden E.; Grunch, Betsy; Spath, Alexandra R.; Reynolds, Renée M. (2025). "Radiation safety practices in neurosurgery: Exploring education gaps and concerns among physicians and trainees". Surgical Neurology International. 16: 207. doi:10.25259/SNI_187_2025 (inactive 22 November 2025). ISSN   2229-5097. PMC   12134788 . PMID   40469373.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2025 (link)
  12. ↑ Mehta, Ankit I.; Babu, Ranjith; Karikari, Isaac O.; Grunch, Betsy; Agarwal, Vijay J.; Owens, Timothy R.; Friedman, Allan H.; Bagley, Carlos A.; Gottfried, Oren N. (September 2012). "2012 Young Investigator Award Winner: The Distribution of Body Mass as a Significant Risk Factor for Lumbar Spinal Fusion Postoperative Infections" . Spine. 37 (19): 1652–1656. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e318241b186. ISSN   0362-2436. PMID   22146285.
  13. ↑ Smith, Dana G. (2023-03-15). "Is It Safe to Get Your Neck Manipulated by a Chiropractor?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  14. ↑ Giuffrida, Anthony; Saia-Owenby, Christy; Andriano, Chris; Beall, Douglas; Bailey-Classen, Ashley; Buchanan, Patrick; Budwany, Ryan; Desai, Mehul J.; Comer, Ashley; Dudas, Andrew; Tieppo Francio, Vinicius; Grace, Warren; Gill, Benjamin; Grunch, Betsy; Goldblum, Andrew (2024). "Social Media Behavior Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals: An American Society of Pain and Neuroscience NEURON Project". Journal of Pain Research. 17: 3587–3599. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S488590 . ISSN   1178-7090. PMC   11551221 . PMID   39529946.
  15. ↑ "Two Gainesville surgeons are first in state to perform new type of surgery". AccessWDUN. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  16. ↑ Miller, Larry E.; Yue, James; Garcia, Rolando (May 2016). "The activL® Artificial Disc: a next-generation motion-preserving implant for chronic lumbar discogenic pain". Medical Devices: Evidence and Research. 9: 75–84. doi: 10.2147/MDER.S102949 . ISSN   1179-1470. PMC   4869850 . PMID   27274317.
  17. ↑ "News". the ladyspinedoc shop. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
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