Joshua T. Bunch, MD

Associate Professor, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Professional Background
Joshua Bunch, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Health Systems. He received his undergraduate degree from Missouri University of Science andamp; Technology in Rolla, MO and his MD from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in Columbia, MO. He completed his residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center and completed a spine fellowship at Norton Leatherman Spine Center in Louisville, KY.
Dr Bunch’s practices at both the main campus and the Indian Creek Campus seeing both pediatric and adult patients with various spinal disorders. He is active within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and remains involved with medical student and resident education. He serves on the Program Educational Committee for resident education.
Dr Bunch has helped bring robotic assisted spine surgery to The University of Kansas Health System. Dr Bunch and Dr Carlson performed the first robotic assisted spinal surgery in the region in 2019. He continues to utilize robotics when applicable to perform innovative spinal procedures. The new robots assist in improving accuracy and safety when placing spinal implants near important spinal structures like nerves.
Dr Bunch has a comprehensive spine practice specializing in the treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal disorders. He treats both pediatric and adult patients and performs everything from large deformity reconstructions for scoliosis to smaller minimally invasive spine procedures when appropriate. He enjoys the variety of surgical procedures as well as helping patients of all ages.
He enjoys and encourages active participation in all teaching activities and finds it rewarding to witness residents gain increasing levels of knowledge and skill during their time on rotation. This translates into more complex diagnostic as well as treatment skills in the management of spinal disorders.
Education and Training
- MD, Medical Doctorate, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO
- Residency, Orthopedic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
- Clinical Fellowship, Spine Surgery, Norton Leatherman Spine Center, Louisville, KY
Licensure, Accreditations & Certifications
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery - Part 1 (Written Board Exam), American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery - Part 2 (Oral Board Exam), American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professional Affiliations
- Scoliosis Research Society, Adult Deformity Committee, Member, 2022 - Present
- University of Kansas Medical Center, PM&R Chair Search Committee, Member, 2022 - Present
- North American Spine Society, Member, 2019 - Present
- Scoliosis Research Society, Website Committee, Member, 2019 - Present
- Scoliosis Research Society, Member, 2019 - Present
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Member, 2011 - Present
Current Research and Grants
- Impact of Irrisept in Posterior Lumbar Spinal Fusion , Irrimax, PI
Publications
- Meng, B, Bunch, J, Burton, D, Wang, J. 2021. Lumbar interbody fusion: recent advances in surgical techniques and bone healing strategies.. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 30 (1), 22-33
- Erwin, Jace, Carlson, Brandon, Bunch, Joshua, Jackson, Robert, Burton, Douglas. 2020. Impact of unoperated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in adulthood: a 10-year analysis.. Spine Deformity, 8 (5), 1009-1016
- Bunch, J, Dimar, J. 2018. Spinal Trauma in the Pediatric Polytrauma Patient. AAOS Instructional Course Lecture, 67, 299-311
- Vineet, Gupta, Lyne, Dina, Laflin, Amy, Zabel, Taylor, Barragan, Marilyn, Bunch, Joshua, Pacicca, Donna, Detamore, Michael. 2017. Microsphere-Based Osteochondral Scaffolds Carrying Opposing Gradients Of Decellularized Cartilage And Demineralized Bone Matrix. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
- Bunch, Joshua. 2020. Anterior Cervical Corpectomy. Seminars in Spine Surgery, 32 (1)