Our Disc Replacement Team

Dedicated to motion preserving spine surgery

The Center for Disc Replacement at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery is led by internationally-recognized spine surgeons who continue to be leaders in artificial disc replacement. Beginning in 2000 with the first ever ADR surgery performed in the United States, our world-class surgeons have performed more than 4,000 artificial disc replacement procedures with 14 different types of ADR devices. Being world-class leaders of spine care, these surgeons also participate in and are committed to clinical research that allows early access to the latest arthroplasty technologies. If you’re suffering from chronic back or neck pain, consider a consultation with one of the spine specialists on our medical staff. It’s your time to get back to life.

Scott Blumenthal, MD

Artificial Disc Replacement Surgeon

Scott L. Blumenthal, M.D., is a spine surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Heath Center for Diagnostics & Surgery. Dr. Blumenthal is the first and only surgeon in the United States to devote his practice solely to the research and application of artificial disc replacement. Dr. Blumenthal is a leader in spinal arthroplasty working with a large number of discs currently on the market and in trials. He serves as a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas and is an ongoing contributor to the first non-profit foundation created for arthroplasty patients.

Click here to download Dr. Blumenthal's CV.

Richard Guyer, MD

Artificial Disc Replacement Surgeon

Richard Guyer, M.D. is a spine surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Heath Center for Diagnostics & Surgery. Dr. Guyer performed the third artificial disc replacement in the United States. Dr. Guyer earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX and continued with his residency program in Orthopedic Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Guyer then completed two spine fellowships in Ohio and California. He lectures extensively nationally and internationally, teaching surgical techniques and lecturing on the results of lumbar and cervical ADR. He performed the first ADR in Chile and was the first US surgeon to perform ADR in Brazil.

Click here to download Dr. Guyer's CV

Jessica Shellock, M.D.

Artificial Disc Replacement Surgeon

Dr. Jessica Shellock is a board certified spine surgeon. Dr. Shellock received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina, completed both her internship in general surgery and her residency in orthopedic surgery at University of Florida. Dr. Shellock then continued on with an additional year of training, receiving her fellowship from Texas Back Institute in Plano, TX.

Dr. Shellock focuses on the treatment of spinal disorders in the lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) spine. She helps patients with various spinal conditions including herniated discs, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. She performs minimally invasive spinal surgery including artificial disc replacement.

Click here to download Dr. Shellock's CV.

Jack Zigler, M.D.

Artificial Disc Replacement Surgeon

Jack Zigler, M.D. is a spine surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Heath Center for Diagnostics & Surgery. Dr. Zigler holds a board certification from the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. In October 2001, Dr. Zigler performed the first ProDisc-L lumbar ADR in the United States and has been implanting ProDisc-L and ProDisc-C for over 10 years. He lectures regularly on the results of lumbar and cervical ADR in addition to teaching surgical techniques to spine surgeons all over the world. Dr. Zigler earned his Medical Degree from SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. Dr. Zigler was the Arnold Fellow in Spine Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

Click here to download Dr. Zigler's CV.

Donna D. Ohnmeiss, PhD

Researcher, Center for Disc Replacement

Dr. Ohnmeiss is s full-time researcher with more than 30 years’ experience investigating disc-related pain and its treatment. Undergraduate and graduate training in mathematics and education provide a foundation for data analysis and publishing. She went on to earn a doctorate in clinical science from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Her research has led to more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Specializing in outcome assessments and clinical outcome studies, she works closely with the CDR surgeons in designing and interpreting the results of studies involving cervical and lumbar total disc replacements.

Dr. Ohnmeiss has held numerous leadership roles with multiple professional societies and also serves on the editorial boards for several spine-specialty journals.

Click here to download Dr. Ohnmeiss's CV.

Jennifer Tullis, MBA, BSN, RN ONC

Director, Center for Disc Replacement

Jennifer has more than 15 years of healthcare experience, with more than 8 years experience as an orthopedic certificated nurse in orthopedic service line leadership, focused on patient-centric care driven by best practices.

Jessie Wright

Patient Navigator

Jessie comes to us all the way from Michigan with a background of 3+ years in Otolaryngology, 5+ years in surgery scheduling and healthcare experience with a B.A. in Biology. Jessie started her career with Center for Disc Replacement scheduling surgeries for the Center for Disc Replacement surgeons.

She continues her role by bridging the connection between the patient and physician to establish a patient-tailored, efficient process for patients seeking to be evaluated for artificial disc replacement.

Ready to take the first step?

Contact us for additional information

If you have additional questions about artificial disc replacement surgery or would like to schedule a consultation, please call 844-544-9501 or email thcdscdr@texashealth.org