Biography

Dr. Burch received a BSc and MSc from the University of Western Ontario in 1994 before attending medical school at the University of Toronto. Upon completion of undergraduate medical training in 1998 he entered residency in the Division of Orthopedics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Burch completed his residency in Toronto in 2004 and completed a Spine Fellowship at UCSF. During his residency Dr. Burch became interested in the treatment of metastatic spine disease and bone tumors. He identified the difficulty with current management methods of metastatic bone disease and conceived the idea of treating these disorders with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Dr. Burch has active collaborative research with the biophotonics group at the University of Toronto and the Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST) at the University California - Davis. In addition he is actively investigating the role vascular mechanisms play in the etiology of scoliosis. He has been supported in his research by CBST, the Canadian Institute of Health Research Grant and grants from the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.

Career

• 2004-2005 Clinical Instructor, SPine Surgery University of California, San Francisco
• 2005- Present: Assistant Professor in Residence, University of California San Francisco, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
• 2005 - Present: Researcher and Project Leader, Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology University of California Davis

Education

• 1988 - 1992: B.Sc.(Hon), University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
• 1992 - 1994: M.Sc., University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
• 1994 - 1998: M.D., University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 1998 - 2000: L.M.C.C., The Medical Council of Canada
• 1998 - 2004: University of Toronto - Residency Training Program, Toronto, Ontario
• 2002-2003 Research: Application of Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Spinal Metastases, Department of Orthopedics and Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto: Sunnybrook and Womens College Health Science Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
• Jun 2004: FRCS(C), Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Orthopedic Surgery)
• 2004 - 2005: Spinal Surgery Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Research

• Application of Forteo in Spinal Fusions. A double blinded randomized control study (Principal Investigator)
• Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma to the spine: development and validation in a preclinical model. Albert JM Yee (PI), Co-Investigators: Burch,S, Bisland SK, Whyne CM, Finkelstein JA, Wilson BC: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Chapter (2007)
• Photodynamic therapy and the treatment of spinal metastases. Shane Burch, Stuart K Bisland, Co-investigators:Yee, A, Finkelstein, JF, Wilson, B. Canadian Institute of Health Research: Proof of Principle - Phase I. (2005)

Publications

• Fisher, CG; Dipaola, CP; Ryken, TC; Bilsky, MH; Shaffrey, CI; Berven, SH; Harrop, JS; Fehlings, MG; Boriani, S; Chou, D; Schmidt, MH; Polly, DW; Biagini, R; Burch, S; Dekutoski, MB; Ganju, A; Gerszten, PC; Gokaslan, ZL; Groff, MW; Liebsch, NJ; Mendel, E; Okuno, SH; Patel, S; Rhines, LD; Rose, PS; Sciubba, DM; Sundaresan, N; Tomita, K; Varga, PP; Vialle, LR; Vrionis, FD; Yamada, Y; and Fourney, DR. A Novel Classification System for Spinal Instability in Neoplastic Disease: An Evidence-Based Approach and Expert Consensus From the Spine Oncology Study Group. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Jun 18. [Epub ahead of print] 
• Won, E; Akens, MK; Hardisty, MR; Burch, S; Bisland, SK; Yee, AJM; Wilson, BC; and Whyne, CM. Effects of photodynamic therapy on the structural integrity of vertebral bone. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2010 Feb 1;35(3):272-7 
• Won, E; Wise-Milestone, L; Akens, MK; Burch, S; Yee, AJM; Wilson, BC; and Whyne, CM. Beyond bisphosphonates: photodynamic therapy structurally augments metastatically involved vertebrae and destroys tumor tissue. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2010 Jan 12. [Epub ahead of print] 
• Weber, M.; Burch, S; Buckley, J.; Schmidt, M.; Fehlings, M.; Vrionis, F.; and Fisher, C. Instability and impending instability of the thoracolumbar spine in patients with spinal metastases: a systematic review. International Journal of Oncology. (accepted for publication 2010) 
• Burch, S. Lyons, R; Lieberman, J; and Gibson, A. North American Spine Society 26th Annual Meeting Chicago Illinois November 2-5,2011The Effect of Compression and Retraction on Nerve Root function in a porcine model The Spine Journal 2011 11 (10S) page 31S 
• Shen, J.; Weber, M.; Hu, SS.; Burch, S.; Chou, D.; Ames, C.; and Deviren, V North American Spine Society 26th Annual Meeting Chicago Illinois November 2-5,2011 Graft Subsidence Following Anterior Cervical Corpectomy: A Clinical Study Comparing Different Interbody Cases The Spine Journal 2011 11 (10S) page 170S 
• Fourney DR, Frangou EM, Ryken TC, Dipaola CP, Shaffrey CI, Berven SH, Bilsky MH, Harrop JS, Fehlings MG, Boriani S, Chou D, Schmidt MH, Polly DW, Biagini R, Burch S, Dekutoski MB, Ganju A, Gerszten PC, Gokaslan ZL, Groff MW, Liebsch NJ, Mendel E, Okuno SH, Patel S, Rhines LD, Rose PS, Sciubba DM, Sundaresan N, Tomita K, Varga PP, Vialle LR, Vrionis FD, Yamada Y, Fisher CG. Spinal instability neoplastic score: an analysis of reliability and validity from the spine oncology study group. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Aug 1;29(22):3072-7. Epub 2011 Jun 27 
• Abdul-Jabbar A, Takemoto S, Weber MH, Hu SS, Mummaneni PV, Deviren V, Ames CP, Chou D, Weinstein PR, Burch S, Berven SH  Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in Spinal Surgery: Description of Surgical and Patient-Based Risk Factors for Postoperative Infection Using Administrative Claims Data. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Dec
• Napoli N, Jin J, Peters K, Wustrack R, Burch S, Chau A, Cauley J, Ensrud K, Kelly M, Black DM. Are women with thicker cortices in the femoral shaft at higher risk of  subtrochanteric/diaphyseal fractures? The study of osteoporotic fractures.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Jul;97(7):2414-22. Epub 2012Apr 30

Selected References

• Mok, JM; Durrani, SK; Piper, SL; Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Berven, SH; and Burch, S. Extravasation of rhBMP-2 with use of postoperative drains after posterolateral spinal fusion. Spine. 2008 Jul 1; 33(15):1668-74. 
• Mok, JM; Lyon, R; Lieberman; JA; Cloyd, JM; and Burch, S.:   Monitoring of nerve root injury using transcranial motor-evoked potentials in a pig model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).  Jun 15; 2008: 33(14):E465-73 
• Burch, S; London, C; Seguin, B; Rodriguez, C; Wilson, BC; and Bisland, SK.:  Treatment of canine osseous tumors with photodynamic therapy: a pilot study.  Clin Orthop Relat Res. Apr2009; 467(4):1028-34. Epub Jan 22, 2009 
• Lyon, R; Lieberman, JA; Feiner, J; and Burch, S:  Relative efficacy of transcranial motor evoked potentials, mechanically-elicited electromyography, and evoked EMG to assess nerve root function during sustained retraction in a porcine model.  S. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 34(16), E558-64 Jul 15,:2009.
• Akens, M.; and Burch, S.  Defining the Therapeutic Window of Vertebral Photodynamic Therapy in Murine Pre-clinical Model of Breast Cancer Metastasis Using the Photosensitizer BPD-MA (Verteporfin): Breast Cancer Res Treat (2010) 119:325–333, DOI 10.1007/s10549-009-0356-7
• Bilsky, MH; Laufer, I; and Burch, S. Shifting paradigms in the treatment of metastatic spine disease. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Oct 15;34(22 Supplement):S101-7. Review

Presentations

• Burch, S.; Lyons, R.; Lieberman, J.: "Detection of lumbar nerve root injury during retraction using transcranial motor evoked potentionals (TCMEPS) in a procine model." ISSLS Annual Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, April 13-17, 2010.
• Wustrack, R.; Burch, S.; Mesenbrink, P.; Seeman, E.; Bucci-Rechtweg, C.; Palermo, L.; and Black, D.: "Pre-existing, as well as recent, vertebral fractures strongly predict new vertebral fractures: results from a large, international RCT in osteroporotic women." ISSLS Annual Meeting, New Zealand, April 13-17, 2010.
• Lotz, J; O'Neill, CW.; Kopperdahl, D.; Burch, S.; Hambly, M; Keaveny, T.: "Assessment of spinal fusion status using biomechanical computed tomography.” ISSLS Annual Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, April 13-17, 2010.
• Gibson, A.; Karahalios, D.; Mobasser, JP; Potts, E.; Burch, S: "Cone Beam CT Scan vs. fluoroscopy: a cadaveric study comparing accuracy, time and radiation doses.” ISSLS Annual Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, April 13-17, 2010.
• Fisher, CG.; DiPaola, CP; Ryken, TC; Bilsky, MH; Kuklo, TR, Harrop, JS, Fehlings, MG, Boriani, S; Chou, D.; Schmidt, MH; Polly, DW; Berven, SH; Biagini, R; Burch, S., Dekutoski, MB; Ganju, A.; Gerszten, PC.; Gokaslan, ZL.; Groff, MW; Liebsch, NJ; Mendel, E.; Okuno, SH; Patel, S.; Rhines, LD; Rose, PS; Sciubba, DM.; Shaffrey, CD.; Sundaresan, N.; Tomita, K.; Varga, PP.; Vialle, LR; Vrionis, FD; Yamada, Y and Fourney, DR.: "A novel classification system for spinal instability in neoplastic disease: An evidence based approach and expert consensus from the spine oncology study group." ISSLS Annual Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, April 13-17, 2010.
• Tseng, MD; De Giacomo, AF.; Tencza, A; Berven, SH; Burch, S; Ames, CP; Chou, D; Mummaneni, PV; Tay, BK; Rocha, S; Deviren, V; Lane, RK; Takemoto, S; Hu, SS United States AP Spinal Fusion in Adult Deformity Surgery: Length of Staging and Perioperative Complications Scoliosis Research Society International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) Conference Toronto, Canada July 2010
• Wustrack, RL; Rocha, S; Berven, SH; Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Tay, B; Burch, S. Pre-Operative Activity Levels do not Correlate to Self-Reported Scores in Patients with Lumbar Spine Disorders. (Poster) United States Scoliosis Research Society International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) Conference Toronto, Canada July 2010
• Fleischer, GD; Burch, S; and Freeman, LM. Biomechanical Analysis of Transsacral Fixation of the Lumbosacral Junction as a Means to Relieve Strain on Posterior S1 Screws (Poster) United States Scoliosis Research Society International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) Conference Toronto, Canada July 2010
• Wustrack, RL; Rocha, S; Berven, SH; Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Tay, B; and Burch, S. Evaluation of Accelerometry as a Method to Assess Early Post-operative Function Following Spinal Decompression (Poster) United States Scoliosis Research Society International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) Conference Toronto, Canada July 2010
• Wustrack, R; Black, D; Burch, S; Chau; A, Wilt, A; Cauley, J; Jin, J; Ensrud, K; Napoli, N and Kelly, M. Are women with thicker cortices in the femoral shaft at higher risk of subtrochancteric/ diaphyseal fractures? The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) October15-19 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ontario Canada
• Kelly, MP.; Wustrack, R.; Bauer, DC.; Palermo, L,; Burch, S.; Wilt, K.; Cauley, JA.; Ensrud, K..; and Black, DM.; Incidence of Subtrochancteric and Diaphyseal Fractures in Older White Women: Data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) October 15-19 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ontario Canada
• Kelly, MP.; Wustrack, R, Bauer, DC.; Palermo, L,; Burch, S.; Wilt, K.; Cauley, JA.;, Napoli4, N.; Hochberg, MC.; and Black, DM Risk Factors for Subtrochancteric and Diaphyseal Femur Fractures: An Analysis from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) October 15-19 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ontario Canada
• Kelly, MP.; Wustrack, R, Bauer, DC.; Palermo, L,; Burch, S.; Wilt, K.; Cauley, JA.;, Napoli4, N.; Hochberg, MC.; and Black, DM Risk Factors for Subtrochancteric and Diaphyseal Femur Fractures: An Analysis from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) October 15-19 2010 Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ontario Canada
• Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Burch, S; Berven, SH; Takemoto, S; De Giacomo, A and Rocha, S. The Impact of Spinal Disorders on Health-related Quality of Life Paper 748 78th Annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Meeting Feb 2011 Burch, S. "Neural Monitoring in Deformity Surgery" University of California San Francisco 5th Annual Spine Symposium, June 2010
• Mok, JM; Lyon, R; Lieberman; JA; Cloyd, JM; and Burch, S. “Monitoring of Nerve Root Injury Using Transcranial Motor - Evoke Potentials in a Pig Model” Grant Presentation Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting Research Grant Outcomes Symposium New Investigator Recipient Louisville, Kentucky September 14, 2011 through September 16, 2011
• Okada, E; Berven, SH; Hu, SS; Burch, S; Deviren, V; Tay, B. Surgical Treatment for Proximal Junctional Kyphosis After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Minimum Two Year Follow-Up Study USA46th Annual Scoliosis Research Society Meeting Louisville, Kentucky September 14, 2011 through September 16, 2011
• Okada, E; Berven, SH; Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Burch, S; Tay, B. Cases for Discussion: Delayed Quadraparesis After Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis: A Case Series Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: Limited Fusion of the Fractional Curve Technical Note and Preliminary Results 46th Annual Scoliosis Research Society Louisville, Kentucky September 14, 2011 through September 16, 2011
• Burch, S. Founding Conference of the Sacroma Professional Youth Committee Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
• 1st International Symposium on Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors.  Hosted by the Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Sarcoma Professional Committee of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Photodynamic Therapy:  Orthopaedic and Vertebral Metastatic Applications December 16, 2011 Beijing, China
• Wustrack, RL, Rocha, S; and Burch, S. Pre-Operative Activity Levels do not Correlate to Self-Reported Scores in Lumbar Spine Disorders American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons San Diego Feb 2011 Educational Session Paper 266
• Hu, SS; Deviren, V; Burch, S; Berven, SH; Takemoto, S; De Giacomo, A and Rocha, S. The Impact of Spinal Disorders on Health-related Quality of Life 78th Annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Meeting Feb 2011 Educational Session Paper 749
• Burch, S. Lyons, R; Lieberman, J; and Gibson, A. North American Spine Society 26th Annual Meeting Chicago Illinois November 2-5,2011 The Effect of Compression and Retraction on Nerve Root function in a porcine model
• Shen, J.; Weber, M.; Hu, SS.; Burch, S.; Chou, D.; Ames, C.; and Deviren, V North American Spine Society 26th Annual Meeting Chicago Illinois November 2-5,2011 Graft Subsidence Following Anterior Cervical Corpectomy: A Clinical Study Comparing Different Interbody Cases 
• Maruo, K; Berven, SH; Hu, SS; Burch, S; Deviren, V; Tay, B; Ames, CP; Mummaneni, PV; Chou, D; Abdul-Jabbar, A; Takemoto, S Podium Presentation: Outcome and Treatment of Post-Operative Spine Surgical Site Infections: Predictors of Treatment Success and Failure 47th Annual Scoliosis Research Society September 5-8,2012 Chicago.IL 
• Burch, S. “Pain Management For Patients with Spinal Disorders Question and Answer roundtable University of California San Francisco 6th Annual Spine Symposium, June 2011
• Burch, S. “Epidural Injection versus Lamino-foramenotomy Case Presentation” University of California San Francisco 6th Annual Spine Symposium, June 2011
• Burch, S., “The Role of Intra-Operative Neuromonitoring for Spinal Deformity Surgery” University of California San Francisco 6th Annual Spine Symposium, June 2011
• Burch, S. UCSF 2011 Practical Course in Advanced Spinal Techniques Reimbursement August 11, 2011 through August 13, 2011 Las Vegas, Nevada Lecture: Application of Transpsoas Technique for Deformity Surgery and Sacro Pelvic Fixation Techniques
• Burch, S and Wustrack, R. ISSLS Annual Meeting SpineWeek Pre-Operative Activity Levels Do Not Correlate with Self-reported HRQL Scores in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar conditions Amsterdam, The Netherlands on May 28 – June 1, 2012.
• Deviren, V; Modhia, UM; Schairer W; Carrer, A; Prasher, A; Berven, SH; Mummaneni, PV; Burch, S; Hu, SS; Chou, D; Tay, B; Ames, CP. "A Comparison of Fusion to the Upper Thoracic vs. Thoracolumbar Spine in Lumbar Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Cases" 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques IMAST Final Program July 18-21, 2012 Istanbul, TURKEY
• Schairer; W; Carrer, A; Amin, B; Mummaneni, PV; Na, L. MS; Takemoto, S. PhD; Deviren, V;  Chou, D; Burch, S; Hu, SS; Sawyer, AJ; Tay, B; Ames, CP; Berven, SH. "Variations and Accuracy in Readmission Rate Following Spine Fusion Using Administrative Claims Databases" 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques IMAST Final Program July 18-21, 2012 Istanbul, TURKEY
• Burch, S. Novato Community Hospital 2012 CME/Grand Rounds program for community physicians of Marin County “Adult Spinal Deformity Correction”. January 9, 2012 Novato, Ca 
• Burch, S. University of California San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds “Chaoskampf and the Demiurg: Sustainably Collecting Prospective Data in Surgical Patients” January 25, 2012 San Francisco, Ca  Burch, S. and Berven, S. Palm Drive Hospital “Evidence Based Approach to Spine Surgery and Complications” January 25, 2012 Sebastopol, Ca Burch, S "Osteoporosis and the Aging, Painful Spine:  Implications for Surgery" 7th Annual Spine Symposium June 1-2, 2012 San Francisco, Ca 
• Schairer; W;  Carrer, A; Sing, D; Deviren, V; Chou, D; Mummaneni, PV; Berven, SH; Burch, S;  Hu, SS; Tay, B; Ames, CP "Readmission Rate for Patients with Surgical Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Tumors of the Spine" 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques IMAST Final Program July 18-21, 2012 Istanbul, TURKEY

Grants and Awards

• Canadian Back Institute Award, 2002 Kennedy Visiting Professorship Day, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toronto "Photodynamic Therapy: Potential Use in Spinal Metastases" Shane Burch, Albert Yee, Joel Finkelstein, Brian Wilson. 2002
• Canadian Back Institute Award, 2003 Kennedy Visiting Professorship Day, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toronto "PDT for the treatment of spinal metastasis; preclniical study" S. Burch, SK Bisland, A. Bogaards, CM Whyne, B Yang, AJM Yee, Joel Finkelstein, Brian Wilson. 2003.
• Best Paper Award: "Evaluation of spinal metastases in a preclinical rat model of human breast carcinoma": International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Annual Meeting (Medtronic Sofamor Danek), Porto, Portugal, May 30 to June 5, 2004. 2004
• Best Paper Award: "Use of photodynamic therapy to treat vertebral metastases in rat and porcine models" UHN Research Day. S Burch, SK Bisland, A. Bogaards, CM Whyne, B Yang, AJM Yee, Joel Finkelstein, Brian Wilson. October 2004
• Photodynamic therapy and the treatment of spinal metastases. Shane Burch, Stuart K Bisland, Co-investigators:Yee, A, Wilson, B. Canadian Institute of Health Research: Proof of Principle - Phase I. 2006
• Best Paper Award.  British Orthopaedic Research Society., South Hampton, UK, "A rationale for using photodynamic therapy to treat leg length discrepancy." SK Bisland, B Wilson, M Diab, S Burch. 2006
• AAOS Traveling Fellowship Award
• Lloyd Taylor Resident Award. Western Orthopaedic Association, Maui, Hawaii. "Monitoring of nerve root injury using transcranial motor-evoked potentials in a pig model."  Mok JM, Lyon R, Lieberman JA, Cloyd JM, Burch S. 2008
• NuVasive Fellowship for British Research Award Internship Funding Award 2009

Membership & Committees

• Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
• Canadian Medical Association
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery 
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Canadian Orthopaedic Association
• Scoliosis Research Society 
• O-Arm Focus Group 
• Spine Oncology Study Group
• North American Spine Society 
• Deformity Study Group
• Scoliosis Research Society