Shay Bess, MD, is a spine surgeon in Denver, Colorado at Denver International Spine Center specializing in scoliosis, cervical and thoracolumbar spine deformity, and revision spine surgery in pediatric and adult patients.

Dr. Bess received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in New York City, his medical doctorate from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and completed a fellowship in pediatric and adult spinal surgery at the Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Bess is the president and founder of the International Spine Study Group Foundation which is a multi-center non-for-profit research foundation that studies clinical and economic outcomes and best practice guidelines for adult patients with spine deformity conditions. Since the inception in 2009, the International Spine Study Group has presented over 2000 scientific abstracts, has published over 300 peer reviewed manuscripts, and is internationally recognized as the most productive spine research study group in the world.

Dr. Bess is the Medical Director for Spine Research and Outcomes for the entire HCA medical corporation. Dr. Bess has been recognized as Colorado Magazine Best Orthopedic Surgeons from 2018-2021 and is engaged in several leadership efforts for multiple societies including the Scoliosis Research Society and North American Spine Society. He serves on the medical and scientific board for the National Spine Health Foundation, and the editorial review board for Spine Deformity Journal, Spine Journal, and Operative Neurosurgery. Dr. Bess has over 400 manuscript publications and is an internationally recognized leader as a spine surgeon and researcher.

In addition to his research and clinic efforts, Dr. Bess has participated in several medical mission work for charity efforts that provide spine care for children in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Colombia.