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Joshua Pahys

Joshua M. Pahys, MD

Specialties
  • Orthopaedic Surgery

Joshua Pahys, M.D., was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He was inspired to go into medicine by his grandmother, who was one of only two females in her graduating medical school class in 1944. She was a pediatrician for three generations of children in her hometown and did not retire until she was 78.

Dr. Pahys was first drawn to the field of orthopedics through his own experiences as a patient. He was diagnosed with scoliosis and wore a back brace as a teenager, similar to what he prescribes for his patients today. Dr. Pahys also underwent spine surgery to remove a small tumor in his lower back. The surgeon and his team helped him quickly get back on his feet and start his college basketball career at Johns Hopkins University only a few months later. He then moved to Philadelphia for medical school and residency in orthopedic surgery and has remained here ever since.

Dr. Pahys had the privilege to spend part of his training at Shriners Children's Philadelphia. After seeing the incredible impact Shriners Children's had on the patients and their families, he was hooked. He pursued a fellowship in complex spinal surgery with the goal to return to Philadelphia, where he officially joined the Shriners Children's spine team in 2010.

Dr. Pahys says it has been an incredible honor to be a part of Shriners Children's. It has afforded him the privilege to care for patients locally and from across the globe, with problems both big and small, regardless of their background. Dr. Pahys has used his own past personal experiences to help his patients and families navigate the challenges they are facing today. Dr. Pahys has also enjoyed closely collaborating with other centers including Erie, Pennsylvania and Greenville, South Carolina to help provide the most comprehensive care to patients.

Dr. Pahys spends his free time hiking the national parks with his wife, three kids, and Stella their great dane.

Pediatric Care

Specialties

More About Me

Board Certifications
  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery - General
Education and Training

Medical Education
Jefferson Medical College
Philadelphia, PA
6/4/2004

Internship
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Philadelphia, PA
6/30/2005

Residency
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Philadelphia, PA
6/30/2009

Fellowship
Washington University Ortho Surg Fellowship
St. Louis, MO
United States of America
7/31/2010

Academic Positions and Locations

Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor

Leadership and Memberships
  • 2010-Present: Member, Scoliosis Research Society
  • 2010-Present: Member, Harms Study Group/Setting Scoliosis Straight Foundation
  • 2010-Present: Member, Pediatric Spine Study Group
  • 2016-Present: Board of Directors, Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society; President 2022-2023
  • 2014-Present: Member, Pediatric Cervical Spine Study Group
  • 2013-Present: Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Editorial Positions
  • 2021-Present: New England Journal of Medicine
  • 2013-Present: Reviewer, Spine
  • 2013-Present: Reviewer, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
  • 2012-Present: Reviewer, Orthopaedics
Awards and Honors
  • 2017, Traveling Fellowship, Scoliosis Research Society
  • 2014, Edgar Dawson Traveling Fellowship
  • 2010, Fellow Research Award, Cervical Spine Research Society
Academic Works and Presentations
  • Pahys JM et al: Comparison of trunk range of motion and patient outcomes after anterior vertebral body tethering vs. posterior spinal fusion using computerized 3D motion capture technology. J Bone Joint Surg Am 104(17):1563-72, Sept. 2022.
  • Pahys JM et al: Incidence and predictors of growth modulation and overcorrection after anterior vertebral body tethering. 57th Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting, Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 2022.
  • Pahys JM, Anari J: Pulmonary evaluation of early onset scoliosis, ch. 10. In The Growing Spine; Management of Spinal Disorders in Young Children, 3e. Springer Nature, Feb. 4, 2022
  • Pahys JM et al: Assessment and management of shoulder balance, ch. 17. In The Harms Study Group Treatment Guide, 2e. Thieme Medical Publishers, Nov. 17, 2021.

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