Eric O. Klineberg, MD, MS

Biography

Eric O. Klineberg, MD, MS, is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at UTHealth Houston. He serves as Chief of Orthopedic Spine Surgery and also holds the Milton “Chip” Routt Endowed Chair of Spinal Surgery.

World-renowned in his field, Dr. Klineberg was a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Orthopedics, at the University of California, Davis, where he has been for the last 16 years. He was also the Chief of the Spine service and the Co-Director of the Spine Center. Board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Klineberg clinically cared for complex adult spinal deformity patients at UC Davis and complex pediatric patients at Shriners Hospital for Northern California.

Dr. Klineberg has been academically productive through collaboration both locally and nationally. He has over 290 publications and 20 book chapters as well as the book editor for “Adult Lumbar Scoliosis, A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Management”. He has developed a national and international reputation in Spinal Deformity surgery through research, teaching, and clinical activity. Dr. Klineberg serves on the executive committee of the International Spine Study Group and collaborates with researchers around the globe. He is a principal or co-principal investigator for more than a half-dozen clinical studies and has received numerous medical and educational grants.

Nationally, Dr. Klineberg is active in the Scoliosis Research Society as a Board Member and is the Chair-Elect for the 31st International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques in San Diego. He is also an active member of AO Spine, he has served as the Chair of the AOSNA spine fellowship committee and is the Chair-elect of AO Spine North America, effective July 2023. He has also been recognized for clinical excellence at UC Davis and in Sacramento as a “Top Doctor” for the past 6 years and has several internal awards. His honors include JOA/AOA traveling fellow, awards for best papers/research, election to AOA and ABJS, as well as multiple keynote lectures and visiting professorships.

Dr. Klineberg’s philosophy is to care for each patient as he would like himself or a family member to be treated. He is committed to excellence in surgical care with an emphasis on communication, compassion, and empathy. Dr. Klineberg attended Rice University and he is thrilled to return to Texas to join our team at UTHealth Houston.