About our doctor

Specializing in cranial and spine care, Dr. Todd Shanks is a board-certified neurosurgeon who offers functional and reparative neurosurgery for degenerative spine disorders, spine deformity in adults, brain and spine trauma surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and spinal cord neuromodulation therapies. He also provides spinal and cranial oncology treatments for neoplastic lesions of the spine, brain, and spinal cord.

Since 2010, Dr. Shanks has played a vital role in advancing the field of neurosurgical care through his leadership in developing the Cressman Parkinson's program for movement disorders, the craniofacial surgical headache program, and the epilepsy program at the renowned Norton Neuroscience Institute. He has also contributed to the Norton Cancer Institute's neuro-oncology/spinal oncology program in the past and continues to focus on this area.

Dr. Shanks has made significant clinical research contributions to the field of neurosurgery, particularly in novel spinal implants and surface technologies, microneurography for testing limb prosthetics, and stereotactic radiosurgery and neuromodulation for craniofacial pain disorders. He concentrates on treatments for trigeminal neuralgia, atypical face pain, cervicogenic headache, occipital neuralgia, and Chiari malformations in the area of craniofacial pain disorders. Previously, he served on the staff at the Baptist Health Neurological Surgery and Spine Center in Louisville, Ky.

Dr. Shanks earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville and completed his neurological surgery residency at the University of Louisville Department of Neurological Surgery/Leatherman Spine Program, after Hurricane Katrina disrupted his studies during his residency at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. He went on to complete his fellowship training in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, with an emphasis on deep brain stimulation, epilepsy, and craniofacial pain, at the Vanderbilt University Department of Neurological Surgery in Nashville, Tenn.

Dr. Shanks is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, North American Neuromodulation Society, and North American Spine Society.