Cristian Balcescu, MD

Dr. Balcescu was born in Romania and emigrated to the United States in his early teens. He grew up in Southern California and graduated with Honors from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. He then went on to earn his MD degree at the University of California, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program. While in the San Francisco Bay area he served as Chief Resident of Orthopedics during his final year of training. He then received advanced spine surgery training with the Indiana Spine Group fellowship program in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was fortunate at multiple stages in his education to be trained by world-renowned spine surgeons Rick Sasso MD, Paul Kraemer MD, James Zucherman MD, Kenneth Hsu MD and Dimitriy Kondrashov MD. Throughout his training he had the opportunity to be involved in multiple research projects helping advance his field and to present at international spine conferences.

He has special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and motion preservation techniques for both degenerative and complex deformity spinal conditions. Dr. Balcescu specializes in motion-preserving disc replacement surgery and during his time in practice in Wyoming he has also developed a great affinity for the challenges brought on by revision, failed back syndrome and complex spine surgery.

He is passionate about the concepts of patient-centered care and evidence-based treatments to provide the best possible clinical solutions to his patients. He believes in a patient-centered focus which is based on tailored treatment plans and a collaborative approach providing a patient-first experience. Physicians must listen to their patients and when possible, he believes that physicians must do everything to help improve quality of life, be it through non-surgical treatments, or at times complex surgery.

Dr Balcescu is a strong believer that the best spine care begins with targeted non-operative treatments and is focused on providing personalized surgical plans which optimize outcomes and allow his patients the opportunity to return to the activities they love.

Dr. Balcescu enjoys many activities outdoors, is a budding woodworker and most of all enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son. He has recently moved from a spine and orthopedics surgery practice in Sheridan, WY and is excited for the great opportunity that Summit Orthopedics and Spine Institute brings to this next stage of his career.