We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Betsy Grunch, Md a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Betsy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Like many young girls, I looked up to my mom and wanted to be just like her when I grew up. She was blazing a trail, working as a police officer in the 90s, a male-dominated field (it still is), as well as being a member of their dive team. She was the definition of a badass, and even at such a young age I knew she was special.

Two weeks before I was going to start high school, I remember being woken up in the middle of the night. Mom was at work and her patrol car had been shot at and ran off the road where it struck a tree. I vividly remember the neurosurgeon told us she would never walk again. She had broken her neck and was quadriplegic at the young age of 34.

As our family transitioned into a new normal, I became fueled with the desire to become a neurosurgeon. I wanted to help people that would suffer such tragic injuries as my mother did. The goal of becoming a neurosurgeon kept me focused and motivated me to do well in school and to find opportunities to hone my skills. I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Georgia and then went on to the Medical College of Georgia. Next, I matched into neurological surgery at Duke, where I trained until 2013. After my training, I came back to my hometown where I joined the same practice that my mom’s neurosurgeon was at. It has truly been a full circle journey for me.

Betsy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, FCNS

I was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia, and graduated from West Hall High School. For undergraduate school, I went to the University of Georgia where I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. I then attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, and subsequently matched in neurological surgery at Duke University where I completed my internship in 2008. I trained in neurological surgery at Duke University and graduated in 2013. At Duke, I earned the Synthes Spine Fellowship from 2010-2011.

My main interests are minimally invasive spine techniques and advancing the field of neurotrauma. I live with my husband, Ray, our two children, Riley and Beatrice, and our two dogs, Pancake and Butters, in Gainesville, Georgia. I am board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Additionally, I am known online as @ladyspinedoc where I enjoy demystifying the subject of neurosurgery while also showing my audience how I balance work and life as a mother, wife, and friend. I seek to empower the general public with critical medical knowledge, to inspire current and future healthcare professionals, and to add a bit of positivity and humor to your day.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could start all over again, I would pick neurosurgery every single time. Going through medical school and residency was a challenging time of my life, but keeping my head down, soaking in all the knowledge, and learning from my mentors all have led me to where I am today–content with my career and also prepared to take on a second career of content creation. My mother has been my guiding light from the beginning and it is still my mission to help people through similar events that my family went through 20 years ago.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Becoming Ladyspinedoc:

When Covid hit, the whole world changed, especially for those in healthcare. They shut down operating rooms so we weren’t allowed to operate. While we still saw some patients, there was a bit of extra time on our hands. I had always been on social media with random postings here and there, but I decided to start putting out consistent and educational content to the general public.

My content went viral and I quickly gained a following. A sentiment that I frequently encountered was how excited everyone was to see a woman in this specialty, let alone seeing a neurosurgeon on social media at all. This encouraged me to learn more about social media and its algorithms, so I began approaching it as a professional content creator. I was fueled by all the aspiring healthcare professionals and how much they were interested and encouraged by me, my team and neurosurgery in general.

Additionally, I wanted to empower patients with the knowledge they may need one day. For me, providing patient focused, compassionate care is foundational. When patients are in front of their doctors, information can be overwhelming or they may not get all the details they need. This educational platform can help supplement and teach them about neurosurgery. I do my best to explain complicated terminology in easy to understand language. It takes a lot of time, but is something I am very passionate about.

While there are some challenges in balancing life as a surgeon, content creator, mother, wife and friend, I have immensely enjoyed it. On social media, there is a bit of negativity to contend with, but I always want to be the positive light that people can look to. I have grown a lot in the last few years professionally and personally. Social media has enabled me to connect with more people and has opened up so many opportunities that I hadn’t even dreamed of previously. I want everyone to know that you can be both a respectable healthcare provider and a content creator – I absolutely love both jobs and look forward to what the future holds.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drgrunch.com
• Instagram: @ladyspinedoc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladyspinedoc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgrunch?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: @ladyspinedoc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ladyspinedoc
• Other: tiktok @ladyspinedoc threads @ladyspinedoc

Image Credits

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