Dr. Frank H. Valone III, a Bay Area native, first became dedicated to medicine through his work with Operation Smile, a non-profit organization dedicated to the delivery of free pediatric surgery throughout the developing world.
Upon his return from East Africa, Dr. Valone attended medical school at George Washington University, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha and Thalamus Honors Societies, was a recipient of the Paul Dewitt Surgery Award and was selected as a Gill and American Brain Tumor Association Fellow.
Dr. Valone then completed his internship and residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he received the Spine Award in both 2012 and 2013 and was recognized by the American Orthopaedic Association as an “Emerging Leader.”
Dr. Valone completed his spine fellowship in Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgery at Washington University Medical Center and Columbia University Medical Center under the guidance and mentorship of Drs. Keith Bridwell, Daniel Riew and Lawrence Lenke.
Dr. Valone has advanced training in all aspects of spine surgery, but has a special interest and expertise in cervical spine surgery as well as minimally invasive and reconstructive spine surgery. He believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care and works with all members of the medical team to treat spinal problems conservatively before considering an operation. If surgery is necessary, he will perform spine surgery utilizing the safest and most effective techniques in a manner that is tailored for each individual patient.
Dr. Valone has authored more than 10 peer-reviewed research articles, 3 book chapters, and given more than 20 podium and poster presentations at national and international conferences. He has been awarded the Pediatric Brain Tumor association young investigator award and the Inmann-Abbott research award for his original research.
Dr. Valone was formerly a firefighter paramedic. He enjoys alpine mountaineering, endurance running, fly fishing and skiing.
About Dr. Valone
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, Honors, Economics, Hamilton College, New York
- MD, with distinction, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Residency, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCSF
- Fellowship, Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO
- Fellowship, Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York
Special Expertise
- Cervical spine surgery
- Cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy
- Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Reconstructive spine surgery
- Metastatic spinal tumor surgery
- Disc replacement
- Motion preserving spinal surgery
- Spinal fusion
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal trauma and fracture treatment
Professional Affiliations
- North American Spine Society (NASS)
Honors and Awards
- Alpha Omega Alpha, National Honors Medical Society
- Paul L. Dewitt Award in Surgery
- Thalamus Honors Society
- Gill Fellowship Recipient
- American Orthopaedic Association – Emerging Leader
- Inman-Abbott Research Award, Inman-Abbott Society Meeting, San Francisco 2015
- University of California, San Francisco Spine Award 2012 & 2013
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Young Investigator Award
- American Brain Tumor Association – Medical Student Fellowship Award
- Manfred Von Schiller Award – Given to one Hamilton College athlete per year for leadership and integrity
- Omicron Delta Epsilon – Honors Economics Society
Community Service
- Operation Smile, East Africa—non-profit organization that provides free surgical treatment to children throughout the developing world
- Playsafe Physician—non-profit outreach program providing physician coverage for high school athletes