John K Stokes, MDNeurosurgery in Austin, TX

Dr. John K. Stokes is a board-certified neurosurgeon and fellowship-trained spine specialist who has dedicated his career exclusively to the treatment of spinal disorders. As Director of the Spine Program at Ascension Seton and a leading spine surgeon in Austin, Texas, Dr. Stokes has spent more than 20 years helping patients overcome complex spinal conditions through advanced surgical care and a patient-centered, conservative treatment philosophy. Having performed thousands of spinal procedures, he is widely recognized throughout Central Texas as one of the region's leading spine specialists and serves as a referral resource for a wide array of medical providers seeking expert evaluation and treatment for both routine and complex spinal disorders.

Dr. Stokes provides comprehensive surgical care for patients with a broad spectrum of spinal conditions, ranging from common degenerative disorders to highly complex spinal tumors and deformities. He is highly experienced in all aspects of spine surgery, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, cervical and lumbar disc disease, spinal deformity, spinal tumors, spinal cord and column tumors, artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal reconstruction, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, and complex spinal deformities.

Raised in East Texas and a native Texan, Dr. Stokes earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin before receiving his medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed his neurosurgical residency at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill followed by advanced fellowship training in spinal surgery at the prestigious Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders and UCLA.

Dr. Stokes returned to Austin in 2002 to establish his spine-focused practice and has since become one of the region's most respected spinal surgeons. In 2009, he was named Co-Chief of Texas Spine and Scoliosis and remains committed to delivering the highest level of specialized spinal care. Since returning to Austin in 2002, Dr. Stokes has built a reputation for delivering exceptional outcomes while maintaining a patient-first approach. Despite maintaining one of the busiest surgical practices in the area, he is guided by an ethical "conservative care first" philosophy, recommending surgery only when it is truly the best option for the patient. He is known for his commitment to conservative treatment strategies, carefully exploring non-surgical options whenever appropriate before recommending operative intervention. This philosophy has earned the trust of referring physicians and other healthcare professionals throughout the region.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stokes has made significant contributions to spinal research and innovation. He served as a principal investigator in the landmark Mobi-C cervical artificial disc Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study, helping pave the way for FDA approval of the first artificial disc device designed for two-level cervical implantation. He has also authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and remains actively involved in advancing the field of spine surgery.

Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Stokes is an active member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Through his leadership, expertise, and dedication to patient care, he continues to set the standard for excellence in spinal surgery across Central Texas. His commitment to innovation, clinical excellence, and compassionate patient care have made him one of the most trusted spine surgeons in Texas.