Dr. James St. Louis
Founder of Laser Spine Institute and Chairman of Surgery Emeritus
2005 and 2008 Physician of the Year
- Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery by The American Board of Physician Specialists
- Member of the FL Board of Osteopathic Medicine
- 2005 and 2008 Physician of the Year - American Association of Physician Specialists
- Meritorious Service Award - United States Army
As the founder of Laser Spine Institute and the Chairman of Surgery Emeritus, James St. Louis, D.O., has spent his life as a pioneer in the field of orthopedics. His contributions to the advancements in spine surgery throughout his career are internationally esteemed, and his vision for Laser Spine Institute is to offer alternatives to open-back operations – in the form of minimally invasive, outpatient procedures which allow neck and back pain sufferers across the world to find relief.
Dr. James St. Louis was born in Niagara, Wisconsin, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Graduating with Sigma Zeta honors, Dr. St. Louis went on to finish his Master of Science at University of Wisconsin La Crosse before completing medical school at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. St. Louis chose to serve his country in the Medical Service Corp of the U.S. Army before completing his post-graduate training at Eisenhower Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center. Dr. St. Louis completed his orthopedic residency in the U.S. Army, first stationed at Fort Lewis (1988-1992), which was followed by dedicated service at the Kennedy Medical Center (1994-1995).
After years of intensive training in orthopedics, Dr. James St. Louis was named Medical Director of Health South in Pensacola, Florida, where he also established the Pensacola Clinic Bone and Joint Center. He went on to serve as Chief of Surgery at Woodland Medical Center in Cullman, Alabama.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. James St. Louis has brought innovation and unprecedented advancement to the field of orthopedic surgery. As a world-renowned spine surgeon, his quest to develop the latest techniques in minimally invasive spine procedures has never faltered. With a thorough understanding of the toll that back pain and neck pain can take on a person’s life, he felt that traditional open back and open neck procedures should not be the only option available to patients.
With these goals in mind, Dr. St. Louis created Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Florida, which has since branched out to several other locations across the United States. Over the years, Laser Spine Institute has set international orthopedic standards. Thanks to Dr. St. Louis and the surgeons, doctors, anesthesiologists, and medical staff at Laser Spine Institute, tens of thousands of patients have found relief from the pain of herniated discs, spinal stenosis, bone spurs, and many other debilitating spinal conditions.
Although Dr. James St. Louis finds true recognition in the relief and increased quality of life that his patients experience, he has also been lauded with international honors, like the prestigious Physician of the Year Award from the American Association of Physician Specialists in both 2005 and 2008. In addition, he was appointed to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine by the Governor of Florida and is Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery by The American Association of Physician Specialists.