Wilson Zachary Ray, MD, MBA

Wilson Zachary Ray, MD, MBA

Henry G. & Edith R. Schwartz Professor

Executive Vice-Chair, Department of Neurosurgery

Professor of Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering

Chief, Division of Spine Surgery

Director, Peripheral Nerve Fellowship

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Specialties

  • Cervical spine surgery
  • Minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery
  • Nerve transfers for spinal cord injury
  • Non-fusion/motion preservation cervical and lumbar spine surgery
  • Peripheral nerve injuries
  • Spinal tumors/spinal oncology

Call 314-362-3577 for Patient Appointments


My priority is to provide compassionate, patient-centric care for complex spinal and peripheral nerve disorders.

Dr. Ray

Education

BS, Biology, with honors and distinctions
University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts
Iowa City, IA
1995 – 1998

MD with distinction in research
University of Iowa College of Medicine
Iowa City, IA
2000 – 2004

MBA, Washington University,
Olin School of Business
St. Louis, MO
2021 – 2023

Residency

Intern, Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Surgery
St. Louis, MO
2004 – 2005

Resident, Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Neurosurgery
St. Louis, MO
2005 – 2011

Fellowship

Research Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
St. Louis, MO
2008 – 2009

Neurosurgical Fellow, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch Public Hospital
Department of Neurosurgery
Christchurch, New Zealand
2009 – 2010

Peripheral Nerve Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
St. Louis, MO
2009 – 2010

Spine Fellow
University of Utah
Department of Neurosurgery
Salt Lake City, UT
2011 – 2012


Research focus

Strategies to improve nerve regeneration and the development of innovative technology targeting peripheral nerve/neuroprosthetic interfaces. The management of spinal cord injuries utilizing novel imaging modalities and surgical techniques to help predict functional recovery and provide patients with spinal cord injuries improved distal limb function. Dr. Ray is fellowship-trained in both peripheral nerve and spinal oncology. He is the co-director of the Center for Spinal Cord Injury and is the principal investigator of multiple clinical trials on acute spinal cord injury and cervical myelopathy.

Learn more about the Nerve Transfer Surgery Clinical Trials »

View research, publications and collaborations »

The Ray Lab

The Ray Lab

The Ray Lab is interested in the development and validation of electrode/tissue interfaces for regenerative and rehabilitative applications.


Honors and leadership roles

  • Editorial Board – Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine
  • Lead Principal Investigator for Department of Defense multi-institutional clinical trial for tetraplegia
  • Joint Spine Section Executive Committee
  • Operative Neurosurgery – Peripheral Nerve section editor
  • AANS/CNS Spine & Peripheral Nerve Section Clinical Trial Award, 2013
  • Neurosurgery Research Symposium Basic Science Award, 2010
  • AANS/CNS Spine & Peripheral Nerve Section Mayfield Basic Science Award, 2010
  • Tae Sung Park Award for ABNS written board achievement, 2009
  • Tae Sung Park Award for ABNS written board achievement, 2008
  • Robert Grubb Award for Clinical Excellence, 2007

Board certification

American Board of Neurological Surgeons (2015)


Hospital appointments

Barnes-Jewish Hospital 
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St. Louis Children’s Hospital