Dr. Scott D. Boden is a tenured Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Emory University School of Medicine, where he serves as Chair Emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He previously served as Director of the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center for 28 years and Chief Strategy Officer for Emory Healthcare. He currently serves as Chief Partnership and Innovation Officer for Emory’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center and Emory Healthcare. He also maintains a Vice-Chair role in Orthopaedics.
Dr. Boden earned his B.A. and M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by an Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at The George Washington University Medical Center and a Spine Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals. His academic contributions include over 200 peer-reviewed publications, 30 chapters, and seven textbooks. He has held prominent editorial roles, including Deputy Editor of SPINE, Associate Editor for Basic Science for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, and founding Editor of Seminars in Spine Surgery.
Dr. Boden’s leadership extends to professional organizations, having served as President of the American Orthopaedic Association (2013), the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine (2009), and the Eastern Orthopaedic Association (2007). Additionally, he served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of The Orthopaedic Research Society and remains actively engaged in advancing orthopaedic education and practice through various committee roles.
A pioneer in spine research, Dr. Boden has focused on understanding spine fusion biology, bone graft substitutes, and the molecular mechanisms of bone formation. His innovative work includes gene therapy applications and the development of small molecules for bone and cartilage regeneration, earning him over 45 issued patents.
Dr. Boden has also been instrumental in shaping Emory Healthcare’s musculoskeletal programs. He spearheaded the creation of several state-of-the-art facilities, including the Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Specialty Hospital (2008), the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in partnership with the Atlanta Hawks (2017), the Emory Sports Performance and Research Center with the Atlanta Falcons (2021), and the Emory Musculoskeletal Institute (2021). These facilities emphasize innovation, sustainability, and patient-centered care, with the Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital consistently ranking among the nation’s leaders in patient satisfaction.
“Dr. Boden has established himself as one of the most respected Orthopaedic Chairs of his generation. He has built a clinical juggernaut at his institution and was way ahead of his time with pioneering scaled, multi-specialty clinical enterprise built on innovative partnerships with community and pro sports teams. He is one of the preeminent business minds in all of Orthopaedics and we originally met over 20 years ago when Duke traveled to Emory to learn about what he was building at Emory. His mentorship to me and leadership across the AOC has been instrumental. His voice as much as anyone’s over the last decade has shaped the role and trajectory of the AOC,” says Michael Gagnon.
Through his visionary leadership, groundbreaking research, and commitment to excellence, Dr. Boden has made a profound impact on the field of orthopaedics and continues to shape its future.