Dr. Kelly Ryan Wackerle

I was initially drawn to medicine because I wanted to serve my community. From a young age, I was fascinated by the intricacies of the human body. I sought a career that would allow me to help others, build meaningful human connections and learn more about science since my mother was a high school chemistry teacher. \n Based on my grandparents' influence in my life, I especially enjoyed working with elderly patients and thought initially I might become a geriatrician. However, once in the operating room as a medical student, I realized the direct and immediate difference a surgeon can make. I quickly decided that I wanted to help people who were either critically ill or in severe pain, as these focuses gave me a chance to practice not only life sustaining intervention, but also life improving care. This led me to becoming a neurosurgeon. Further specializing in spine surgery allowed me to help people return to active lifestyles with improved quality of life. \n I use both minimally …invasive and more traditional techniques to treat neurological disorders. I work closely with patients before and after surgery to help ensure the best outcomes. Both rehab and pre-hab are integral to success. I am also very invested in patient's pre- and post-op pain control. \n I treat a variety of conditions, including neck and back pain (degenerative disc disease and herniations), spinal cord compression, brain and spinal tumors, brain bleeds and refractory nerve pain. Revision surgery is also an important part of my practice. \n I was born in Denver and grew up in Glendale, Arizona, before moving south to attend Duke University for my undergraduate studies. I stayed in Durham for my medical degree, residency and completed a spine fellowship there in 2024. \n At Duke, I served as editor-in-chief of the Duke Science Review, the first magazine at Duke to connect the undergraduate, graduate and medical communities; and editor-in-chief, managing editor and cofounder of Neurogenesis, the first peer-reviewed Duke neuroscience undergraduate publication. \n I'm active in several professional societies, including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Southern Neurosurgical Society, the North American Spine Society, the American Medical Association and the North Carolina Medical Society. \n I served in leadership positions for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Young Neurosurgeons Committee (I was elected to support the interests of early neurosurgeons and selected as one of two Spine Section Committee liaisons); the Duke Program Evaluation Committee (I was selected to evaluate progress and implement advancements for the residency program); the Duke Resident Education Council (I was selected to develop curriculum and academic initiatives for the neurosurgery department), to name a few. \n I've been honored with awards such as the Wilburt Davison Award from the Duke School of Medicine (for service to the university), the William G. Analyn Senior Merit Scholarship (based on leadership, service to school and academic performance); and the Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship (one of only six academic merit scholarships in the nation). Community service is important to me, and I have volunteered at both the Durham VA Health Care System and as the course director at the North Carolina School for Science and Mathematics. \n I stay active attending barre and Pilates classes, golfing and playing pickleball. My husband is a cardiac anesthesiologist, and we enjoy spending time with our family and making Charlotte our forever home. We especially enjoy walking our sheep doodle together after work around the beautiful neighborhoods of Charlotte (our dog is named Atlas after my favorite bone in the spine). When we are off work, we enjoy going to local sporting events, country music concerts, and our favorite beaches and golf courses in South Carolina and Georgia.