Anirudh Gowd, MD

Dr. Anirudh Gowd, MD, is a skilled Orthopedic Spine Surgeon based in Sacramento, California, with a particular emphasis on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Motion Preservation. He currently practices at Sutter Health and is affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Known for his precision and patient-centered approach, Dr. Gowd specializes in treating a wide range of spinal conditions, helping patients regain function, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life.

Dr. Gowd completed his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before earning his Doctor of Medicine from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He then completed an intensive Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist from 2019 to 2024, followed by a Neurosurgical Spine Surgery fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This comprehensive training has equipped him with expertise in both traditional and advanced minimally invasive spine procedures.

Throughout his career, Dr. Gowd has focused on emergency spine interventions, degenerative spine conditions, and motion-preserving surgical techniques. His research has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Best in Clinical Research Award and the Sanford and Darlene Anzel Research Award, reflecting his dedication to advancing spine care through innovative and evidence-based approaches. He has published in leading journals such as Clinical Spine Surgery and The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Dr. Gowd attributes his success to dedication, rigorous training, and a deep commitment to patient outcomes. He approaches each case with a combination of surgical expertise, careful planning, and a compassionate bedside manner, ensuring that every patient feels supported and informed throughout their care. He believes in tailoring treatment to each patient’s unique needs, emphasizing function, recovery, and long-term spinal health.

Outside of his professional work, Dr. Gowd enjoys mentoring medical trainees, contributing to research, and engaging in ongoing education to stay at the forefront of spine surgery innovations. His dedication to both patient care and medical advancement highlights his commitment to improving the field of orthopedics while making a meaningful impact on the lives of those he treats.

• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine – M.D., Medicine, 2014–2019
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – B.S., Biochemistry, 2008–2012
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – Fellowship, Neurosurgical Spine Surgery, 2024–2025
• Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center – Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, 2019–2024

• Board Certified, Orthopaedic Surgery (Subspecialty: Spine Surgery)

• Best in Clinical Research Award, Gary Poehling Resident Research Day, 2022
• Best and Most Influential Research Article, 2021
• Sanford and Darlene Anzel Research Award, 2021
• Blue Ribbon Award, 2020
• Virginia Tech Carilion Letter of Distinction in Research Productivity, 2019

• North American Spine Society (NASS)
• Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

• Participated in community spine health awareness programs
• Mentorship for medical students and residents in orthopaedics

Subsidence Following Anterior-Only Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Fusion For Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Clinical Spine Surgery, 2025

Machine Learning Algorithms Exceed Comorbidity Indices in Prediction of Short-Term Complications After Hip Fracture Surgery, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2025

Rates of Achieving Meaningful Outcomes After Undergoing Minimally-Invasive Far Lateral Tubular Decompression, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2025