Dr. David Glassman is a board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Northwest Specialty Hospital. He is an international speaker, published author, professor, and thought leader. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, he has received the highest level of training attainable in spine surgery. Dr. Glassman remains actively engaged in innovative research, embracing the latest innovations in surgical techniques and approaches including the use of augmented reality to provide remote integrated surgery. Over the course of his training and experience, he has developed a balanced approach to the use of surgical intervention and values the importance of non-operative care when customizing a comprehensive treatment plan with his patients designed to improve the quality of their lives.

Dr. Glassman attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, graduating with honors at the top 10% of his class. Following graduation, he served two tours as a Seahawk helicopter pilot and was awarded Pilot of the Year while serving as an Instructor Pilot for the United States Navy.

Dr. Glassman was then accepted into the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, which has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading medical institutions and earned his Doctor of Medicine. He completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Glassman then completed his spine fellowship at Harborview Medical Center at University of Washington in Seattle, where he was trained by world-class orthopedic surgeons on complex and minimally invasive surgical spine interventions.

As the Head of Spine Surgery at Naval Medical Center San Diego, Staff Spine Surgeon at VA Medical Center La Jolla, and Assistant Professor of Surgery, Dr. Glassman used his extensive experience to teach techniques and approaches to orthopedic care while mentoring the full range of students from medical school applicants to residents.

Dr. Glassman created a practice that combined neurosurgery and orthopedic spine surgery to enhance patient care while improving resident physicians’ education. His multidisciplinary treatment involved physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncture providers, pain psychologists, and pain medicine specialists. His skillful surgical care allowed active-duty military members, including Navy special forces, to return to active duty and increased the quality of life and daily function of military retirees, veterans, and their families.

As a part of his humanitarian projects, Dr. Glassman has also been active in global health issues providing his care and expertise to those in underserved communities in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. As part of medical missionary teams serving these areas, he provided care for complex spinal reconstructive procedures and shared his insights and experience as a surgeon while speaking at international symposiums on orthopedic spine surgery.

After more than twenty years of military service, Dr. Glassman is excited to be practicing in Idaho, where he can enjoy hiking and camping in the great outdoors with his wife and children.