Dennis L. Abernathie, MD, FACS

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Dr. Abernathie completed his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine-Columbia. He completed his internship in general surgery and residency focused in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His fellowship training was done at Southern Illinois University - Springfield with a focus on the spine.

Dr. Abernathie joined Columbia Orthopaedic Group in 1982 as a spine specialist. He believes that recovery is maximized when there is teamwork between the physician and the patient. His goal is to return patients' health to the optimum possible state while expecting them to contribute to their own well-being. He works with his patients to develop a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, smoking cessation, caffeine restriction and general good health habits to complement medical treatments.

Dr. Abernathie is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has multiple patents pending on surgical innovations that will improve upon minimally invasive lumbar surgery, and he is a consultant to numerous companies.

Other individuals working directly on Dr. Abernathie's team are Luis Visot, NREMT-P; Debbie Davis, LPN; and administrative assistant Diane Giessman.

Before returning to Columbia, Dr. Abernathie was a physician in the military stationed at Shepard Air Force Base in Texas. He and his family have lived in Columbia since 1982. In his free time, Dr. Abernathie enjoys wood working, metal working, and machining, as well as computer simulation and refinement of surgical techniques and implants. He is a pilot and an avid history buff.

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