Betsy Grunch

Betsy Grunch is an American board-certified neurosurgeon from Gainesville, Georgia. Her areas of interest include the spine, spinal discs, neurotrauma, and deformity correction. In addition to being active on social media as an advocate for women in medicine, Grunch holds multiple awards and successfully completed a cutting edge spinal surgery in 2016.

Early life
Grunch was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia. When she was a teen, her mother was injured in the line of duty as a sheriff's deputy. As a result of the accident, her mother became a quadriplegic. Watching this experience unfold within her personal life inspired Grunch to pursue neurosurgery as a profession. Initially, Grunch became a certified nursing assistant before going to medical school.

Education
Grunch attended West Hall High School before pursuing her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Georgia. After graduating, she attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. Grunch's surgical internship was completed at Duke in 2008.

Career
Grunch is currently active as a surgeon in Gainesville, Georgia. After completing her initial schooling, she joined the same practice that treated her mother after her accident. She now works at Longstreet Clinic Neurosurgery where she practices as a lead doctor.

Some of her professional interests include minimally invasive spine techniques, cervical and lumbar disc replacement, and SI joint fusion. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Grunch has also co-authored multiple academic publications including "The Distribution of Body Mass as a Significant Risk Factor for Lumbar Spinal Fusion Postoperative Infections", which won the 2021 Young Investigator Award in the Spine Journal. Additionally, she contributed her expertise on neurological and spine related topics in the New York Times article titled "Is It Safe To Get Your Neck Manipulated By A Chiropractor?".

Awards and Recognition
These include:
 * Synthes Spine Fellowship in 2010-2011 (Duke)
 * "Top Doctor" in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (Georgia Trend)
 * "Top Doctor" in 2022 and 2023 (Atlanta Magazine)
 * "Top Doctor" in 2023 (Castle Connelly)
 * "Women Making a Mark" in 2023 (Atlanta Magazine)
 * "40 Under 40" in 2018 (UGA Alumni Association)
 * "40 Under 40" in 2018 (Georgia Trend)

Notable procedures
On July 7 of 2016, Grunch and James Reeves, a fellow neurosurgeon, became the first surgeons in Georgia to successfully implant an artificial spinal disc called the activL Artificial Disc. This surgery represents cutting-edge treatment for chronic lower back pain.

Social media
Grunch is well known online for her educational social media platforms. Her content covers case studies, medical demonstrations, and personal experiences as a mother, woman, and doctor. Her TikTok and Instagram pages have over two and a half million combined followers. She has stated that her goal is to inspire future surgeons, especially in the field of neurosurgery.

Personal life
Grunch is married with two children and two dogs. They all currently reside in Gainesville, Georgia. Her family often appears on her social media as she shares her life as a mother, daughter, and wife.