Department of Neurological Surgery

Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery
Director, Neurosurgery Spine Program
Vanderbilt Medical Center

Dr. Cheng’s clinical interest is in all aspects of spinal surgery, with an emphasis on spinal tumors, deformities, and complex spinal reconstructions.

Education:
Dr. Cheng received his M.D. degree in 1994 from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has also received a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering (Spinal Biomechanics) from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2002.

Postgraduate Training:
Dr. Cheng completed his internship and residency training in Neurosurgery between 1994 and 2001 at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Cheng continued on at the Medical College for a one-year Fellowship in Complex Spinal Surgery as well as completing his Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a special emphasis in spinal biomechanics and modeling.

Other Responsibilities:
Joseph S. Cheng, M.D., M.S., is Chairperson of the Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerves of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).  He is also Chairperson of the AANS Education and Practice Management Committee and Director of AANS Coding & Reimbursement Education.  He is on the AANS Board of Directors as an Ex-Officio and had served as an officer for the NeuroPoint Alliance (NPA) as Secretary.  He is also one of the two CPT Advisors for Neurosurgery for the American Medical Association, along with being Chairperson of the North American Spine Education Committee for the AO Foundation.  He had been Chairperson for the Affiliated Liaison Program for the CNS, and is current Chairperson for the Medical Practices Committee of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies (CSNS).  He was also Scientific Program Co-Chair for the North American Spine Society (NASS) in addition to being Chairperson for the Public Affairs Committee.  He has been past-president of the Tennessee Neurosurgical Society and currently serves as the Tennessee State Delegate.

Research Interests:

• Spinal biomechanics
• Modeling of spinal motion
• Properties of bone healing
• Spinal reconstruction and instrumentation
• Minimally invasive spinal techniques

Click here to view Dr. Cheng's full Curriculum Vitae.