Spine Health Researcher, Clinician, and Professor, Dr. Christine Goertz shares her life’s work in her new book Take Your Back Back.

RESEARCH & HEALTH POLICY CAREER

I’m Christine Goertz, D.C., Ph.D. I have spent 35 years working with multi-disciplinary teams to conduct research studies and implement best practices designed to optimize care for patients with low back pain.

CURRENT ROLE

I am a Professor in Musculoskeletal Research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and Vice Chair for the Implementation of Spine Health Innovation in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke University. I am also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health at the University of Iowa. 

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

I received my Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 1991 and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in 1999.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I have extensive experience in the administration of Federal grants, both as a PI and as a program official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have received nearly $45 million in federal funding, as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator, primarily from NIH and the Department of Defense. I have also co-authored more than 135 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT

I am honored to have delivered invited lectures, keynote talks, clinical grand rounds, and plenary presentations worldwide. Topics include “Research, Its Not Just for Scientists Anymore,” “In Search of the Holy Grail in Low Back Pain Treatment or Anything that Works at All,” and ” Nonpharmacological Approaches to Pain Management.” Venues include the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Annual Meeting, Georgetown University, Duke University School of Medicine, the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting, the American Chiropractic Association Summit, the World Federation of Chiropractic Research Congress, and the European Chiropractic Union. 

Resources:

Dr. Goertz’s website

The Back Pain Chronicles

Pain Trainer

Take Your Back Back

The Cox 8 Table by Haven Medical

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