Tom Stanley, M.D.

I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about why I chose to become an orthopedic spine surgeon and my education and training background.

Quite simply, I am intrigued and fascinated by how things are put together and the intricacies of function. The biomechanics of the human body are of special interest and led me to Tulane University School of Engineering in New Orleans, where I earned my undergraduate degree with honors in Biomedical Engineering.

Following my undergraduate degree, I attended the School of Medicine at Tulane, earning my Medical and Master of Public Health degrees. My interest in the biomechanics of the body matched perfectly with the specialty of orthopedics, where I could treat musculoskeletal problems that would help patients return to normal function. I pursued my five years of residency training in orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

It was during one of my residency rotations that I had an opportunity to work with pediatric scoliosis patients and realized I wanted to subspecialize as an orthopedic spine surgeon. Following my residency training, I pursued the advanced specialized training of a Fellowship in Orthopedic Spine Surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases at New York University Medical Center in New York. During this fellowship, I became proficient at minimally invasive neck and low back surgical techniques.

I have been in practice as an orthopedic spine surgeon since 2010, working for a private practice in the Chicago northwest suburbs before joining OrthoIllinois in 2018.

In my practice, I pay close attention to my patients’ symptoms and their desired goals. Then, utilizing state of the art diagnostic tools to accurately identify the source of the injury or condition, implement a treatment plan that will help the patient return to a more active and pain-free lifestyle. When possible, I emphasize conservative treatments such as injection or physical therapies. If surgery is necessary, I specialize in the latest minimally invasive techniques that reduce incision lengths, time in the hospital, and the time needed for recovery.

When I am not practicing medicine, quality time pursuing activities with or just spending time together at home with my wife and children is my greatest pleasure.

Sincerely,
Tom Stanley, MD, MPH


Conditions & Treatments
Cervical Spine Myelopathy
Degenerative Disc Disease
Herniated Disc
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Lumbar and Thoracis Spine Fractures
Numbness and Tingling
Pathological Spine Fracture
Radiculopathy
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Spinal Stenosis
Spine Deformities
Spine Disorders
Spondylolistheses
Thoracic Spine Myelopathy
Traumatic Spine Fractures

Bachelor’s Degree, Tulane University
Medical Degree, Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency, Rush University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopedic Spine Fellowship, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University Medical Center

Membership
Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Hospital Affiliations
Advocate Sherman Hospital
Presence Saint Josephs Hospital
Valley Ambulatory Surgery Center
Good Shepherd Hospital
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
Mercy Health, Rockford
SwedishAmerican Hospital