R. Ray Cunningham, MD

Cervical & Lumbar Spine

Dr. Cunningham was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. He attended Drury College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree and subsequently attended Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield to prepare for medical school. He then moved to Columbia, Missouri where he attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Dr. Cunningham completed his internship at the University of Missouri Medical Center. He remained at the University of Missouri Medical Center for a six-year residency program in general surgery and orthopaedics. He then completed a hand surgery fellowship at Porter Memorial Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Cunningham began private practice in orthopaedics at the Western Montana Clinic in Missoula, Montana. He has also practiced at the Snowbird Medical Clinic in Utah, the Gem City Bone & Joint Clinic in Wyoming, and the Jackson Orthopaedic Clinic in Wyoming. During his years in the western United States, he also served on Ski Patrol in both Utah and Wyoming and as a United States Ski Team physician.

After years of treating ski injuries, Dr. Cunningham’s trauma expertise grew, and he became interested in treating diseases of the spine. He enhanced his expertise with additional training related to the spine at the Cleveland Spine and Arthritis Center of Ohio.

Dr. Cunningham joined the Columbia Orthopaedic Group in 1989 and focuses on treatment of spinal conditions in adults, specifically the cervical and lumbar spine. Some of the most common conditions he treats are disc herniations, compression fractures and degenerative conditions of the spine.

He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a member of numerous organizations including the American Medical Association, North American Spine Society, International Society for Minimal Intervention in Spinal Surgery, American Back Society, and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He has presented several lectures relating to surgery and care of the spine and has also been the recipient of the “AMA Physician’s Recognition Award” on numerous occasions.

Other individuals working directly on Dr. Cunningham’s team are Mark Wildman, PA-C, and administrative assistant, Debbie Love.

Dr. Cunningham and his wife, Sue, have seven children. In his free time he enjoys motorcycling and spending time with the grandchildren.

Go back to Meet the Physicians main page