Dr. Steven John Valentino, DO

Dr. Steven Valentino is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship-training in spine, the highest level of medical education possible. Dr. Valentino excels in helping patients return to activity with individual and comprehensive treatment plans. When surgery is necessary, he prefers to use less invasive procedures for the benefit of patients. The difference between a M.D. degree (Medical Doctor) and D.O. Degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is that osteopathic doctors have additional training in the structure of the musculoskeletal system, including how movement or manipulation can in some cases relieve pain symptoms. Both M.D.s and D.O.s can prescribe medicine, and orthopedic surgeon M.D.s and D.O.s perform the same surgeries. Fellowship-training related to spine surgery is typically identical between both MD and DO degrees. Dr. Valentino has practiced orthopedic surgery specializing in spine in the Philadelphia and South Jersey region for more than 25 years. Over that period, he has performed more than 5,000 successful spine surgeries. He was one of the first surgeons in the Philadelphia / South Jersey region to be trained in minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement surgery. Dr. Valentino completed his year-long spine fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - Presbyterian in Philadelphia. Before that, he completed a residency in orthopedic surgery where he was named “Chief Resident.” During his hospital internship, he was named the “Intern of the Year.” His Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree was received in 1982 from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a graduate of LaSalle College and Bishop Neumann High School, both in Philadelphia. In addition to being a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Valentino is also Board-Certified by the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, and Board-Certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners. He is trained to perform Independent Medical Examinations and to provide Impairment Ratings related to on-the-job injury. He has written dozens of professional papers and presentations for publication on the subjects of back and neck pain; back injury in the workplace; back injury in sports; non-surgical spine care options and spine surgery. He is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.