VOS Newsletter Members in the News

2016 Career Award Presented
to J. Abbott Byrd III, MD

J. Abbott Byrd III, MD

Abbott Byrd was born in Roanoke and raised in Norfolk. He received a Bachelor of Chemistry degree from the University of Richmond and attended the Medical College of Virginia receiving an MD degree in 1978. He then completed a surgical internship and one year of surgical residency at Emory University before completing a four year orthopaedic residency at Duke University. In 1985, he completed the John H. Moe Scoliosis Fellowship at the Twin Cities Scoliosis Center in Minneapolis. During that fellowship he became interested in spinal implant development creating the PWB pedicle implant system along with Robert Winter and Rolando Puno. This device is credited as the first variable angle pedicle screw system in the world and was the basis for the famed “555” patent which was the initial variable angle pedicle screw patent awarded by the United States Patent Office. Implant development has continued to be an important part of Dr. Byrd’s career leading to multiple patents and the development of an entire hook/pedicle screw/rod system as well as stand-alone lumbar and cervical fusion cages which have distribution worldwide. More recent interests have included a pedicle-based motion preservation pedicle screw system and an expandable TLIF cage.

For almost 20 years, an important part of Dr. Byrd’s career has been as a member of the Scoliosis Research Society. He has served on multiple committees, including a term as a Board member, and is currently the Treasurer of the SRS. Dr. Byrd is also quite active in the leadership of his group, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, having been President for the last 14 years. During that time the group has expanded to 23 physicians and is the leader in orthopaedic care in south Hampton Roads.

Giving back has also been important to Dr. Byrd and his wife. Throughout his career they have supported multiple efforts both inside and outside of medicine. Most recently they established the Byrd Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the VCU School of Medicine.

While Dr. Byrd’s career as an orthopaedic surgeon has been fulfilling, he is most proud of his family. He met his wife, Allison, who was a medical school classmate, and they have been married 36 years. Together, they have raised three children. Catherine is an attorney in Washington D.C., Will is a third year orthopaedic resident at Duke University and Jennifer is a third year orthopaedic resident at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

2016 Career Award Presented to J. Abbott Byrd III, MD

2016 Career Award Presented
to J. Abbott Byrd III, MD