Neurological Surgery/Spine Specialist/Medical Director
Diplomate, American Board of Neurological Surgery

Neurosurgical spine specialist and pioneering leader in the areas of minimally invasive spine surgery, neurosurgical trauma, spinal reconstruction, and FDA-approved stem cell research and application. Believer in adopting a comprehensive approach to patient care, which incorporates a combination of traditional and alternative medical therapies/practices, treating the whole patient as a means to improving overall physical function and quality of life.

Education

Baylor College of Medicine, M.D., 1985
Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX

Internship
General Surgery Internship – Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals, Department of Surgery
Chairman: Michael E. Debakey, M.D., 1986

Neurological Surgery Residency – 1986-1992
Neurosurgical Residency – Baylor College of Medicine Affiliated Hospitals, Department of Neurosurgery
Chairman: Robert Grossman

Primary Teaching Hospital:
Ben Taub General Hospital and Trauma Center
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston Veterans Administration Hospital
The Methodist Hospital
Texas Children’s Hospital

Fellowships
Spine Surgery Fellowship – David Cahill, M.D.; University of South Florida, 1993
Spinal Surgical Fellowship – Rene Louis, M.D.; Marseilles, France, 1992

Professional Awards & Academic Honors
Excellence in Clinical Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1985
National Institutes of Health Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine, 1983

Alpha Chi Sigma
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Beta Kappa

Board Status/License

California Medical License, 1992-present
Board Certified – American Board of Neurological Surgeons, 1998

Appointments: Hospitals/Affiliated Institutions

Medical Director/CEO • Southern California Spine Institute (SCSI), 1995-present
Founded in 1995, comprehensive spinal care and multi-disciplinary private practice. Headquarters located in Los Angeles with satellite offices in Bakersfield, West Lake Village, and Beverly Hills. Established multi-disciplinary teaching fellowships to other practitioners.

Attending Staff Neurosurgeon • Center for Ambulatory Surgery and Treatment (CAST), 2009-present
Westwood, CA
Founding Officer, Owner, and business partner at this free-standing, privately held, state-of-the-art specialty surgical center specializing in spine, orthopedics, and pain management. Strategic and hands-on partner in assessing equipment needs, costs, and ROI.

Attending Staff Neurosurgeon • Cedars Sinai Hospital, 2009-present
Los Angeles, CA

Attending Staff Neurosurgeon • St. Johns Hospital, 2009-present
Santa Monica, CA

Attending Staff Neurosurgeon • Specialty Surgical Center, 2008-2009
Westlake Village, CA

Chief of Neurosurgery & Director of Spinal Surgery • Century City Hospital, 1994-2004
Los Angeles, CA

Director of Neurosurgery Trauma • Century City Hospital, 1993-2004
Los Angeles, CA

Governing Board • Century City Hospital, 1996-2004
Los Angeles, CA
As Board member, actively reviewed business, clinical, financial, and operational efficiency of the hospital.

Director of Neurosurgery Trauma • Midway Hospital, 1996-2003
Los Angeles, CA

Attending Trauma Neurosurgeon & Teaching Staff • Cedars Sinai Hospital, 1993-2000
Los Angeles, CA

Faculty/Academic Appointments

Faculty/Instructor • Nuvasive, Innovative Spinal Surgery, 2005-2009
San Diego, CA

Faculty • Society for Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS), 2007-2009

Teaching Staff • Cedars Sinai Hospital, 1993-2000

Product Development 

More than 10 years of experience in direct consultation, research, and test trial involvement with medical device manufactures and corporations. Established working partnerships and quality control assessments with engineers and technical designers to advance implantation and implants, create new products, and test working prototypes. Upon FDA approval, various products have become integral parts of product implementation, community education, peer education, business development, and curriculum/educational design for national training programs in the field of minimally invasive spinal surgery.

NuVasive – Innovative Spinal Technology, 2007-2009 – consulted in the development, research, FDA-approved use and patient evaluation studies of multiple products for use in minimally disruptive surgical solutions in spinal patients. Products include but are not limited to:

• Osteocel® Plus – an allograft cellular bone matrix containing viable mesenchymal stem cells, Osteocel Plus mimics the biologic profile of autograft by providing all three natural components for bone healing and complete fusion.
• XLIF® – minimally disruptive procedure that allows the spine surgeon to have direct access to the intervertebral disc space and fuse the lumbar spine from the side of the body as opposed to the front or back.
• Halo™ – anterior cervical plate, an integrated screw locking mechanism to provide highly effective, low-profile fixation without requiring.
• Envoy™ – Assisted with the development of this distraction delivery system of the Interior Lumbar Interbody Fusion-Surgical Technique in conjunction with the ALIF portfolio of instruments and implants designed for safe, reproducible single-approach anterior surgery.
• Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization
• Spherex II – Lumbar Stabilization/Pedicle Screw System

CEU Institute Facility, 2007-2009

Consultant • Compass Spine, 2006-2009

Adult Stem Cell Evaluation, Spinal Repair and Bone Growth Evaluation, 2005

• Blackstone Medical Inc. & Osiris Therapeutics Inc. – Actively involved in the pioneering development and breakthrough to spine surgery technology using Trinity™ – a surgery-ready graft product containing viable adult stem cells.

Neurological Consultant • Abbott Spine Inc. (formerly Spinal Concepts), 2004-2006
General product development, consulting, testing, and patient evaluation of neurosurgical/spine surgery device.

Medical Research & Trials

Intraoperative Spinal Cord Monitoring – Motor Evoked Response, 2006-2009
Somatosensory Evoked Response.

Formagraft Study – Biologic Bone Growth – Evaluation Implant, 2007-2009
Radiographic Follow-up

“A New Mechanical Spinal Cord Injury Model: A Biochemical and Histological Study,” 1998
Armstrong, I., Lanman, Subin, B., Marshall, GJ.
Presented at AANS/CNS
14th Annual Joint Section, Rancho Mirage, CA

“Sterotatic Brain Biopsy of Primary Lymphomas in Seventy-Four Patients with AIDS,” 1998
Presented at Congress of Neurological Surgeons
New Orleans, LA 1997 and AANS 66th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

“Protective Mechanisms in Spinal Cord Ischemia – An Animal Model,” 1985
Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Claudia Robertson

“Cervical Spine Instability; Anatomy, Biomechanics, Treatment,” 1990
Seniotdent Seminar, Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine

“Dynamic Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine, A Technological Advance and Outcome with Ten Consecutive Patients,” 2009

“Vestibular Dysfunction” Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 1982 (six-month project)

“Baylor College of Medicine,” Dr. H. Jenkins

“Rate of Uptake of Seotonin in Synaptossomes,” 1980 (one-year project)
Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Kansas
Dr. Grunswald Presented to the Medical Chemistry Dept.
In Competition for award and funding

“Spatial Frequency and its Relationship to Otolongal Inhibition,” 1979 (18-month independent project)
Department of Biology, University of Kansas,
Dr. R. Jander Presented to University of Kansas Honors Dept.

Major Administrative/Leadership Positions

Corporate

• Board of Directors and Editorial Board: Westlake Malibu Lifestyle Magazine, 2009-present
• Medical editor and featured health column writer for bimonthly magazine featuring stories and interests particular to the highly affluent West Lake and Malibu communities.
• CEO and Developing Partner of Nutritional Research & Science (NRS): Developed nutritional products and pioneered the first liquid Creatine products for nutritional supplementation.
• Medical Advisory Board to Relax the Back: Medical advisor to corporate executives for a national retail chain, Relax the Back. Assisted with feasibility studies, product design, marketing, and client education.

Community

• Board of Directors, Training to Win: non-profit organization assisting high school athletes with medical insurance and medical care needs. Emphasized leadership in providing medical care to high school athletes and educating coaches/trainers to prevent and treat injuries.
  Board Member, Living Oaks Middle School Academic Alliance (LOMSAA), 2010-present:
  Founder and developer of a 7th and 8th grade middle school in Newbury Park, CA.
• Medical Mentors Program, Founding Director, 2009: High School student medical mentoring program through Southern California Spine Institute
• Back the Blue Program, Founding Director, 2009: Volunteer Program, for Police/Fire/EMT
• Science Teacher, Bethany Christian Elementary School, 2003-present

International/Humanitarian

Medical Consultant & Advisor

Fightology Inc. • Mixed Martial Arts Association Neurosurgical, 2001-2009

Sports Head Injury Symposium, 1999
Leigh Steinberg/ Senator Barbara Boxer
West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation
Los Angeles, CA

Association of Surfing Professional ASP Pro Surf Tour, 1996-1999
World Tour

Long Beach Ice Dogs, Trauma Consultant, 1996-1999
International Hockey League

Association of Surfing Professionals, Hosseger Rip Curl Pro Tour, Aug. 24-30, 1999
At Hosseger, France Event Physician

Association of Volleyball Professionals, 1996-1998

Association of Surfing Professionals, Rio Surf Pro Tour at Barra Beach, Oct. 15-19, 1997
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Event Physician

Green Bay Packers, Medical Consultant, 1996
Wisconsin

United States Tae Kwon Do Assoc., Junior Olympics, 1995
On-Site Neurosurgeon, Los Angeles, Convention Center

Frequent consultant, resource, and neurosurgical subject matter expert to local and nationally syndicated news/media outlets including print, online, radio, and television.

Movies/Film

• Served as medical advisor and on-site consultant to Hollywood film industry on three major motion picture productions.
• Collaborated and strategized with insurance companies and executives to ensure precautionary elements were in place.
• Reviewed story boards, stunt events, acrobatics, bracing, and harness work to guide stunts and advise actors/principals of acceptable physical activity.
• 2003, Spider-Man 2
• 2003, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle
• 2001, The Matrix – received on-screen credits for medical consulting work

Television

• 2009, The Doctors Show – Nationally syndicated daytime talk show on CBS. Made multiple appearances promoting public awareness and community education on cervical neck pain, minimally invasive spine surgery, and other topics.
• 1989, Rescue 911 – Nationally syndicated prime-time show, on CBS – episode 211, highlighting a neurosurgical trauma and Dr. Armstrong’s involvement in the response, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery of the patient.

News & Radio

Appearances and interviews on local news television and radio shows in the Los Angeles Metropolitan region including ABC, NBC, and FOX radio/television affiliates.

“Rebuilding an Orphanage in Haiti”
KFBX-TV’s morning show
Bakersfield, CA
April 2010

“Rebuilding an Orphanage in Haiti”
KGET-TV’s morning show
Bakersfield, CA
February 2010

“Cervical Neck Pain”
The Doctors Show
National Syndicated CBS program
www.thedoctorstv.com
October 2009

Fox Affiliate
Twenty Nine TV
Bakersfield, CA
May 2009

“New Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery – XLIF”
The Doctors Show
National Syndicated CBS program
www.thedoctorstv.com
April 2009

“X-LIF Back Surgery”
KBFX-TV’s Morning Show
Bakersfield, CA
April 2009

“X-LIF Back Surgery”
KBAK-TV’s Morning Show
Bakersfield, CA
April 2009

“Head Injuries”
KGET-TV’s Morning Show
Bakersfield, CA
March 2009

“The Future of Stem Cell Research and How it Helps Re-Grow Bone and the Possibilities for the Technology”
KNX-AM, Los Angeles
February 2009

“Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery”
KABC-TV
Los Angeles, CA
March 2007

“Back Treatment and Spine Care”
KABC-TV
Los Angeles, CA
February 2007

“Back Pain”
KABC-TV
Los Angeles, CA
January 2007

“Back Treatment”
KNBC – TV
Los Angeles, CA
November 1995

“Back Problems in the Older Patient”
KCAL – TV
Los Angeles, CA
November 1994

Rescue 911
CBS National with William Shatner
Spine Trauma
Houston, Texas
Episode 211
April 1989

Radio Interviews:

“Holiday Travel and Back Pain”
KNX-AM
Los Angeles, CA
November 2010

“Children and Back Pain from Heavy Backpacks”
KFI-AM
Los Angeles, CA
August 2010

“Rebuilding an Orphanage in Haiti and Installing Solar Panels”
KNX-AM
Los Angeles, CA
July 2010

“Children and Back Pain from Heavy Backpacks”
KNX-AM
Los Angeles, CA
September 2008

“Back Packs and Students”
KFWB 980 News Radio
Los Angeles, CA
November 2008

Print and Online Interviews

Bakersfield Californian newspaper columnist Herb Bendheim featured Dr. Armstrong in his column. Story and photos ran in print on May 18, 2009 and online. Link to story

Bakersfield Californian featured Dr. Armstrong in a front-page story about rebuilding the orphanage in Haiti. Story and photos ran in print on February 6, 2010 and online. Link to story

The Acorn Newspaper Group featured Dr. Armstrong about rebuilding the orphanage in Haiti. Story and photos ran in print on July 29, 2010 and online. Link to story

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Learning from Natasha Richardson’s Skiing Tragedy: The Brain Injury Facts,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D., July 2009

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Michael Jackson Gone Too Soon: The Medical Facts,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D. September 2009

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Preventative Healthcare,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D., January 2010.

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Senator Edward Kennedy, The Medical Facts,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D., September, 2010

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Head Injuries in Sport New Legislation on the Way,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D., November, 2010

Malibu/Westlake Magazine article “Wellness Walking,” By Ian Armstrong, M.D., November, 2010

Presentations & Lectures

Peer Lectures/Presentations
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery – A New Technique, April 2008
XLIF Training Course – Principle Faculty – Surgical Peer Education

Lecture and Hands On Course, April 2008, Nuvasive, La Jolla, CA

XLIF Training Course Surgical Peer Education, June 2007
Lecture /Cadaver Lab, Principle Faculty, Nuvasive, La Jolla, CA

Visiting Surgeons Program (VSP) – Faculty
Intraoperative Instruction – Peer Education Program: Surgical Technique- XLIF
Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks, CA, September 2007
Northridge Hospital, Northridge, CA, November 2007
Northridge Hospital, Northridge, CA, December 2007
Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA, March 2008

Medical Legal Consumer Conference, June 2008
Faculty – Continuing Medical Education Units (CMU)
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Marina Del Rey, CA

Cervical Fusion Techniques Training Faculty, October 2004
Intraoperative and Cadaver Course
Spine Center St. John’s Hospital, Santa Monica, CA

Surgical Dynamic Stabilization of the Spine: Technical Advancements in Spine Care, November 2008
Medical Peer Educational Seminar, Westwood, CA

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Surgical Peer Educational Seminar – Keynote Speaker, Santa Ana, CA

Bone Morphogenic Protein and Its Role in Spinal Fusion, April 2002
M.D. Educational Conference – Keynote Speaker, Beverly Hills, CA

Surgical ICU Teaching Program, 1995-1998
Cedars Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, California
Surgical Residents/ICU Fellows: “Spinal Cord Trauma”

“Spine Care For Internist” M.D. Lecture, Century City, CA, May 2002

Spine Care: Physician Educational Seminar, Midway Hospital, January 2001

“Multidisciplinary Spine Conference,” Keynote Speaker, May 2002

“Spine Care Update for Internists,” M.D. Lecture, Beverly Hills, CA, April 2002

“Retrospective Evaluation of Spinal Cord Stimulators and their Role in Management Intractable Pain,” 1992
Southern Neurological Society, Washington D.C.

“Cervical Spine – Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment,” May 22, 2011 and August 23, 2001

“Osteoporosis-Vertebral Compression Fractures,” January 18, 2000
Midway Hospital for Internets

“Orthopedic for the Primary Physician,” March 14, 1998
“Adult Spine-Cervical & Lumbar Spine”
Daniel Freeman Memorial, Inglewood (CEU Credited)

“Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques,” 1993
USC sponsored CME Credit Seminar, Los Angeles, CA

“Surgical Alternative in Refractory Cervical Spine Disorders,” 1993
“Spine Care Practitioner Seminar,” Los Angeles, CA

Presentations/Lectures to Allied Health Professionals, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists
Workers Compensation/Case Managers, February 2007
Spine Care Update (CME), Ontario, CA

Current Concepts In Spinal Surgery, June 2007
Allied Health Care/Chiropractor/Physical Therapy Educational Seminar
Keynote Speaker, Westwood, CA

Investigators Meeting: Neodisk Artificial Cervical Disk, September 2006
Nuvasive Inc., Seattle, WA

Current Concepts In Bone Grafting, September 2005
Think Tank, Osteotech, New York, NY

Head and Spinal Injuries in High School Athletes: Side Line Evaluation
Manhattan Beach, CA

“Spine Care Update for Chiropractors,” May 2002
Educational Seminar, Bakersfield, CA

Visionquest Orthocare Lecture, November 15, 2001
Series for Workers Compensation

Multidisciplinary Spine Care Conference, May 10, 2001
A Symposium for Chiropractors and Physical Therapists

“Chiropractic Spine Care Update,” November 16, 2000
Luncheon in Westlake Village

Multidisciplinary Spine Care Conference, June 15, 2000
A Symposium for Chiropractors and Physical Therapists

“Everything Worker’s Compensation Adjustors Should Know about Back Injuries,” May 25, 2000
Century City Hospital

“Multidisciplinary Spine Care Symposium Update for the Millennium,” November 11, 1999
Century Plaza Hotel, Century City, CA (CEU Credited)

“Sports Head Injury Symposium,” June 12, 1999
Leigh Steinberg, Centinela Hospital and West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation, Los Angeles

“Everything Worker’s Compensation Adjustors Should Know about Back Injuries,” May 26, 1999
Century City Hospital

“Chiropractic Sports Sciences Symposium Cervical Instability and Spinal Cord Compression,” April 9-11, 1999
Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA (CEU Credited)

“Evaluation and Management of Concussions,” 1997
Chiropractic Sports Sciences Symposium, Los Angeles, CA (CEU Credited)

“Back and Neck Pain,” Employer Group Lecture, Los Angeles, CA, December 6, 1995

“Spine Care,” for Chiropractors, Bakersfield, CA, September 16, 1994

“Head and Spine Trauma in Collision Sports: Current Spine Surgical Techniques,” 1993
Advanced Sports Injures Program. Los Angeles, College of Chiropractic, Whittier, CA

“Coach and Trainers Seminar,” Century City Hospital, Century Plaza Hotel
Los Angeles, CA

“Spinal Trauma,” Chiropractic College, Los Angeles, CA, 1993

Community Presentations/Public Educational Seminars
Spine and Sports, Sports Club L.A., Los Angeles, CA, March 2006

Spine Care Symposium,
Redondo Beach, CA , January 2007
Culver City, CA, March, 2007
Westlake Village, CA, April 2007

“Avoiding Back Surgery,”
Bakersfield, CA, April 12, 2001
Westlake Village, March 15, 2001
Torrance, CA, February 8, 2001
Westlake Village, November 16, 2000
Torrance, CA, May 10, 2000
Century City Hospital, March 23, 2000
Westlake Village, November 18, 1999
Torrance, CA, September 23, 1999
Bakersfield, CA, May 20, 1999
Century City Hospital, March 25, 1999
Century City Hospital, June 23, 1998
Los Angeles, CA, March 27, 1996
Bakersfield, CA, December 12, 1995
Woodland Hills, CA, November 14, 1995
Century City Hospital, February 22, 1995
Century City Hospital, October 26, 1994
Torrance Marriott Hotel, August 23, 1994
Century City Hospital, Ontario Airport Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, 1993

“Preventing Spinal Cord Injuries,” Follow Up Lecture at BHS, May 8, 2000
Beverly Hills High School Lecture and Interview for Cable Television, April 3, 2000

“Failed Back Syndrome,” Woodland Hills, CA, December 8, 1994

“Back Symptoms,” Century City Hospital, Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, 1993

Books/Chapters

Armstrong, I.I.T., Head Trauma: Strength, Coordinating and Injury Prevention For Hockey
Edited by Horrigan, J.M. and Kreis, E.J., Taylor Sports Publishing, Nashville, TN. In Press

Professional Societies

Diplomat American Board of Neurological Surgery
Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
American Association of Neurological Surgeon (AANS)
North American Spine Society (NASS)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA)
Kern Medical Association
Society of Lateral Access Surgeons (SOLAS)
Spine Evaluation Nucleus (SEN)
Clinical Education Research Group – Member