Laser Spine Institute Doctor Profile - Dr. Timothy Luke

•    Internationally acclaimed research on Arthroscopic
     Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine
•    Named America's Top Orthopedist - 2008
•    Licensed physician and surgeon in Florida, Arizona
     and California
•    American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons and
     American Medical Association

Dr. Timothy Luke joined LSI with over a decade of extensive medical research and surgical experience. He attended Colorado State University, where he continued to indulge his passion for sports, receiving top honors two consecutive years with the Downhill ski team. He then focused on playing college football and his academic studies. He was the recipient of the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for two consecutive years for Colorado State Football and Academic All Conference for three consecutive years.

After receiving the National Collegiate Medical Professions Award and completing his B.S. in Microbiology, he entered medical school in 1992 at the University of Colorado, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1996. During his medical training, he received the Merck Award for Scholastic Achievement and then headed to the east coast to train at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he completed his internship, residency, and two fellowships in Orthopedic/General Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Research respectively, and then secured the position of Attending Surgeon in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Upon successful mastery of orthopedic surgical techniques, Dr. Luke entered into private practice. During this time, he focused on his areas of specialty, offering orthopedic and Sports Medicine diagnosis and treatment. While Dr. Luke has made an indelible impact through his practice, his theoretical contributions have also won acclaim, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Luke has authored several journal publications and has given several research presentations. To name a few, Dr. Luke presented his research nationally at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Arthroscopy Association of North America and the Western Orthopedic Association. Internationally, Dr. Luke has presented at the European Society Sports/Trauma Surgery & Arthroscopy in London. Additionally, Dr. Kevin Plancher, Dr. Luke's fellowship director, presented these papers with the International Society of Arthroscopy in New Zealand and Switzerland and the World Congress Orthopedic Sports Trauma Convention in Australia.

Dr. Luke's remarkable work has been acknowledged by several professional entities. In 2003, the paper that he co-authored was the recipient of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine Award for best paper. More recently, in 2008, Dr. Luke was honored as one of "America's Top Orthopedists" by the guide to America's Top Orthopedists Consumer Research Council of America. Despite his outstanding achievements, Dr. Luke maintains admirable humility. This firm sense of humility emerges from Dr. Luke's conviction of providing the highest quality patient care. Having suffered from a broken neck, as a result of a sports injury, and having faced the prospect of not being able to pursue his passion for sports, Dr. Luke has a thorough understanding of the pain and suffering, experienced by his patients. The tenacity and dedication of the medical staff played a vital role in Dr. Luke's recovery and enabled him to continue playing sports, along with indulging in life's other simple pleasures. This first-hand understanding is what has, and continues to fuel Dr. Luke's dedication to his profession.

In addition to being a dedicated professional, Dr. Luke is also a devoted husband and father. He currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife Sonya, daughter Devon, and son Brendon.