Matthew E. Cunningham MD, PhD

Dr. Matthew E. Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Interim Chief of the Scoliosis Service at Hospital for Special Surgery. He has a clinical interest in thoracic and lumbar spine care, including spinal deformity (scoliosis, flatback, kyphosis, and spondylolisthesis) for adult and pediatric patients, and degenerative problems (stenosis, herniated discs, arthritis, instability) in adults. In consideration of each and every patient, he focuses on the discovery and refinement of less-invasive, less-painful, and less-disruptive ways to correct spinal pathology. This includes surgical solutions for acute spine problems (herniated discs, pinched nerves, radiculopathy) and chronic/degenerative problems (stenosis, spine arthritis, disc herniations, and spinal deformity). Currently, he is a volunteer surgeon for the Foundation for Orthopaedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS), a role which has taken him to countries such as Ghana and Sierra Leone in Africa, and Barbados in the West Indies, to provide surgical and non-surgical care to these underserved peoples.

Dr. Cunningham’s background is studded with academic honors and sports. He studied Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University and was recognized with several academic honors including induction into Phi Beta Kappa and is a Rhodes Scholar regional finalist. Throughout his years at Johns Hopkins, he competed in both varsity wrestling and football and was active on the University’s club rugby team. When not in the classroom or on the athletic field, he worked as a lifeguard captain at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch, NJ.

After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Dr. Cunningham attended Columbia University for both graduate and medical school. While there, he was a student with the National Institute of Health-funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and was recognized with many academic honors including induction into Alpha Omega Alpha and received the Alfred E. Steiner Research Award, the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, and the Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award. Dr. Cunningham was also recognized for his clinical excellence, winning the Virginia P. Apgar and New York Orthopaedic Hospital Awards.