Chester John Donnally III, M.D.Fellowship Trained Spine Surgeon
Chester John Donnally III, M.D.Fellowship Trained Spine Surgeon
As a third-generation Texan, Dr. Donnally is compassionate to the needs of his community and the patients he serves in his native city of Dallas. He prides himself on performing the least invasive amount of surgery to alleviate a patient's spinal pathology while concurrently accelerating their post-operative rehabilitation. Additionally, he stresses surgical techniques that minimize post-operative pain and medication use. While Dr. Donnally is passionate about minimally invasive surgery he is also committed to complex corrective procedures for adult spinal deformities.
Early in his career, Dr. Donnally placed an emphasis on medical research. His contribution of more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and a dozen book chapters has allowed him to be invited to many speaking engagements across the country to present his findings. He is dedicated to advancing the spinal community’s knowledge base through research and education. He continues to work with various scientific and product teams to identify modern techniques that will better diagnose spinal conditions and manage these pathologies.
A true local, Dr. Donnally graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas and then earned Magna Cum Laude honors while at Southern Methodist University. While attending medical school at Texas Tech Health Science Center he graduated top of his class with a Distinction in Research. Dr. Donnally completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training at the University of Miami Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He continued his Spine Surgery training as a fellow at the world-renowned Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha honor societies.
For more information please visit www.donnallyspine.com
- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute July 2019 – July 2020
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Spine Surgery Fellowship - Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami Hospital July 2014 – June 2019
Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency - Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center July 2010 – June 2014
Paul L Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Texas
Doctor of Medicine
National Foster Scholar: Awarded a tuition scholarship prior to enrollment
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society - Southern Methodist University August 2005 – May 2009
Dallas, Texas
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Magna cum laude)
Major: Biological Sciences
Minors: Political Science, Chemistry
- “Best Doctors in Collin County” by D Magazine in 2022
- “Texas Rising Stars” in Texas Monthly 2024
- SpineLine’s 20 Under 40, 2024
Publications
Journal Manuscripts
- Donnally CJ, Henstenburg JM, Pezzulo JD, Farronato D, Patel PD, Sherman M, Canseco JA, Kepler CK, Vaccaro AR. “Increased Surgical Site Subcutaneous Fat Thickness Is Associated with Infection after Posterior Cervical Fusion.” Surgical Infections (Larchmt). 2022 May;23(4):364-371. doi: 10.1089/sur.2021.271. Epub 2022 Mar 8. PMID: 35262398.
- Toci GR, Canseco JA, Patel PD, Divi SN, Goz V, Shenoy K, Sherman MB, Hilibrand AS, Donnally CJ 3rd. “The Incidence of Adjacent Segment Pathology After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Compared with Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.” World Neurosurgery. 2022 Apr;160:e537-e548. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.01.072. Epub 2022 Jan 25. PMID: 35085804.
- Butler AJ, Donnally CJ 3rd, Goz V, Basques BA, Vaccaro AR, Schroeder GD. “Symptomatic Postoperative Epidural Hematoma in the Lumbar Spine.” Clinical Spine Surgery. 2021 Dec 20. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001278. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34923504.
- Viola A 3rd, Appiah J, Donnally CJ 3rd, Kim YH, Shenoy K. “Bone Graft Options in Spinal Fusion: A Review of Current Options and the Use of Mesenchymal Cellular Bone Matrices.” World Neurosurgery. 2022 Feb;158:182-188. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.130. Epub 2021 Dec 4. PMID: 34875392.
- Schiller NC, Spielman AF, Sama AJ, Schachner BI, Donnally CJ 3rd, Dodds SD. “Leadership Trends at Hand Surgery Fellowships.” Hand (N Y). 2022 Feb 8:15589447211073977. doi: 10.1177/15589447211073977. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35130763.
Book Chapters
- Donnally III CJ, DiPompeo CM, Varacallo M. Vertebral Compression Fractures. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2019.
- Chester J Donnally III, Michael Y Wang; Book Review: Pocket Atlas of Spine Surgery, Second Edition, Neurosurgery, Volume 83, Issue 5, 1 November 2018, Pages E214–E215, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyy389
- Donnally, CJ, 3rd, Dulebohn, S, “Cervical Myelopathy” In Surgery- Orthopedics. Petersburg FL, StatPearls Publishing, LLC; February 2018
- Chester Donnally, Tobin Eckels, Ron Lehman, Haines Paik, Jahangir Asghar, “Surgical Treatment for the Pediatric Spondylolisthesis.” Spinal Deformities: The Comprehensive Text. 2nd Edition, Ed. Christopher DeWald and Ronald DeWald. New York City, NY: Thieme. Anticipated early 2019. Print.
- Tawari, Akhil, Donnally III, Chester J, Asghar, Jahangir, “Congenital Scoliosis.” Spine: Principles & Practice. Ed. Muhammad Tariq Sohail, Lawrence G Lenke, Kuniyoshi Abumi. Lahore, Pakistan: Update Book Company. October 2017. Print.
Medical Memberships
- Texas Medical Association 2020 – Current
- North American Spine Society (NASS)- Resident Member 2017 – 2021
- AAOS Political Action Committee (PAC)- Resident Member 2017 – 2021
- Florida Orthopedic Society (FOS)- Resident Member 2017 – 2019
- AAOS-Member 2015 – 2021
Current Employments
- Texas Spine Consultants September 2020 - Present
Dallas, Texas
Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Surgeon
Previous Employments
- Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children May 2011- July 2011
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dallas, Texas- Research focuses: Scoliosis correction; development dysplasia of the hip
- Mentor: Daniel Sucato, MD
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center May 2009 – June 2010
Research Analyst, Department of Urology, Dallas, Texas May 2008 – August 2008- Research focuses: Development of single incision endoscopic nephrectomy technology and minimally invasive surgery techniques; Renal tumor ablation methods; Da Vinci robot surgical system training (50+ hours)
- Mentors: Jeffery Cadeddu, MD; Margaret Pearle, MD
- Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program Summer 2007
Vascular Surgery Department, Houston, Texas - Parkland Collegiate Fellows Program Summer 2006
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Administrative Roles
- Director of Robotic Spine Surgery March 2022 – Present
Baylor Frisco Medical Center, Frisco, Texas - Director of Quality Control January 2022 – Present
Eminent Medical Center, Richardson, Texas - Medical Director May 2020 – Present
Bachik Methods, Addison, Texas
- Spinal cord injury rehabilitation center
- Recruitment Chief Resident May 2017 - March 2019
University of Miami Department of Orthopedics
- Created position with support of program chairman then was elected by peers.
- Emphasis on program promotion and residency applicant recruitment.
- Voting member of the program's selection committee.
Journal Reviewer Memberships
- Clinical Spine Surgery- Invited reviewer 2020 – Current
- Injury- Invited reviewer 2019 – 2021
- World Neurosurgery- Invited reviewer 2019 – Current
- The Spine Journal- Invited reviewer 2020 – 2021
Leadership Experiences
- ACGME Clinical Learning Environment Review March 2017
Orthopedic Surgery Representative- Selected by our program as the representative for routine institutional visits by the ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education).
- Responsible for being available for interview and tours. Led small group meetings.
- Quality Improvement and Safety Committee April 2017 - Current
Jackson Memorial Hospital - Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- President of the “Red College” for Class of 2014 2010- 2015
- Student Curriculum and Evaluation Executive Committee 2010- 2015
- Elected as one of six members that worked with faculty to identify strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum and policies
- Admissions Department Student Liaison 2010- 2011
- Assisted in the selection process of potential medical students
- Creator of the medical school’s Wikipedia page
- Student Affairs Committee Member 2012- 2015
- Assisted the Dean of Student Affairs with policy proposals and implementation
- Oversaw University policies regarding student work hours and attendance
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity 2005-2009
- Vice President (March 2008 – May 2009)
- Head of Chapter Recruitment (May 2006 – March 2008)
- Class Treasurer (January 2006 – May 2006)
- Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America 2001
- Achieved Eagle ranking in 2001; Participated in scouting from 1996 – 2005
- Additionally earned the Bronze, Gold and Silver Palms while an Eagle Scout
Team Coverage
- Dallas Sidekicks- Professional Indoor Soccer Team 2020 - Present
- Miami Marlins Spring Training- MLB Baseball 2019
- University of Miami Hurricanes Football 2015-2017
