Specializes in
- Cervical spine surgery
- Minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery
- Nerve transfers for spinal cord injury
- Non-fusion/motion preservation cervical and lumbar spine surgery
- Peripheral nerve injuries
- Spinal tumors/spinal oncology
Appointments
- Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital – Medical Office Building 41044 North Mason RoadSuite: 110Creve Coeur, MO 63141314-362-3577
- Missouri Baptist Medical Center – Building A3009 North Ballas RoadSuite: 142ASt. Louis, MO 63131314-996-7890
Hospital Affiliations
This provider offers inpatient care at these hospitals.
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
- Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Dr. Ray is dedicated to providing compassionate, patientc-entered care for individuals with complex spinal and peripheral nerve disorders. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon and fellowship-trained spine and peripheral nerve surgeon. He specializes in cervical spine surgery, minimally invasive surgery, motion-preserving and non-fusion techniques, and nerve transfers for spinal cord injury.
He utilizes advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive techniques, motion-preserving cervical and lumbar procedures, nerve transfers for spinal cord injury, and comprehensive approaches to spinal oncology. His work integrates novel imaging and regenerative technologies to enhance nerve recovery and optimize results.
He is committed to advancing the field through clinical research, innovation and education. As a principal investigator of multiple clinical trials in acute spinal cord injury and cervical myelopathy, he works to translate scientific discovery into meaningful improvements in patient care.
His patient care philosophy emphasizes compassion, precision, and individualized treatment plans that prioritize thoughtful decision-making and the least disruptive approach to restore function and recovery.
Experience
Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery
Academic Title(s)
Henry G. & Edith R. Schwartz Professor of Neurological SurgeryProfessor, Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Vice Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
Chief, Division of Spine Surgery
Director, Peripheral Nerve Fellowship
Research Interests
Dr. Ray is interested in strategies to improve nerve regeneration and the development of innovative technology targeting peripheral nerve/neuroprosthetic interfaces. The management of spinal cord injuries utilizing novel imaging modalities and surgical techniques to help predict functional recovery and provide patients with spinal cord injuries improved distal limb function. Dr. Ray is fellowship-trained in both peripheral nerve and spinal oncology. He is the co-director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury and is the principal investigator of multiple clinical trials on acute spinal cord injury and cervical myelopathy.
In The News
Education
1998 - University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts, Iowa City, IA
2004 - University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
2008 - Neurosurgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
2010 - Peripheral Nerve, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
2010 - Neurosurgery, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch Public Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
2011 - Neurosurgery, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
2012 - Spine Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
2023 - Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- Acera Surgical
- Royalties: $40,000 - $59,999
- Equity: Yes
- Reporting Date: 05/01/2026
- DePuy Synthes
- Consulting/Advisory Board: $10,000 - $19,999
- Reporting Date: 05/01/2026
- Globus
- Speaker Fees: $100,000 - $149,999
- Reporting Date: 05/01/2026
- Expanding Innovations
- Equity: Yes
- Consulting/Advisory Board: $10,000 - $19,999
- Reporting Date: 05/01/2026
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