As the only orthopaedic oncologist practicing in the Central Valley, Dr. Spencer Woolwine incorporates the most advanced reconstructive techniques and technologies to treat children and adults who develop tumors and cancers affecting the bones, cartilage, joints, muscles, and vessels of the pelvis and extremities.
Dr. Woolwine completed his Bachelor of Art in the Department of Diplomacy and World Affairs, with an emphasis on counter-bioterrorism and terrorist methodology at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He then attended the University of California, Irvine, to earn his Doctor of Medicine. After completing his medical degree, Dr. Woolwine spent a year at Geisinger Medical Center as an anesthesia resident and then as an orthopaedic surgery resident at UCSF Fresno. During his time at UCSF Fresno, he was named Resident of the Year in 2018 and was awarded the Resident Scholarly Award in 2021, both for the Orthopaedic Residency Program.
To further his training to help patients, Dr. Woolwine moved to Atlanta, Georiga, to complete the prestigious Emory University Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship, where only one fellow is chosen a year to work with Dr. Shervin Oskouei and Dr. Nickolas Reimer. Here, Dr. Woolwine expanded his knowledge and honed his surgical skills to serve patients needing musculoskeletal oncology care.
Dr. Woolwine has many areas of focus and interest when caring for patients. He primarily treats adults and children with musculoskeletal tumors and metastatic disease. These tumors usually involve the chest wall, pelvis, and extremities, ranging from benign lesions to cancer. Some examples of these lesions include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcomas such as liposarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
Dr. Woolwine’s focus also includes the overall orthopaedic care of those with a cancer diagnosis, including fractures, arthritis, avascular necrosis, and osteoporosis. He also performs primary and revision arthroplasty, fracture care, nonunion and malunion corrective surgery, osseointegration of amputees, and pediatric arthroplasty.
Dr. Woolwine hopes to give his patients an improved quality of life, independence, and decreased pain using advanced reconstructive techniques and technology. His focus also includes the work-up and management of those with metabolic and structural bone disorders such as multiple hereditary exostoses, Paget’s disease of bone, osteogenesis imperfecta, sickle cell anemia, and others.
When Dr. Woolwine is not seeing patients at University Orthopaedic Associates, teaching the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons, or conducting research, you can find him in the gym, brewing beer, and exploring the world with this family.