Orthopedic surgeon

Trevor R. Schmitz, M.D.

Locations: Des Moines (Downtown), Pella, Perry, West Des Moines

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Professional headshot of Dr. Trevor Schmitz, orthopedic spine surgeon at Iowa Ortho in Des Moines IA

About
Dr. Schmitz

Dr. Trevor Schmitz is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon who specializes in the treatment of disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

Dr. Schmitz was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and spent his early years in a small farming community in Southwest Iowa. He ultimately moved to and graduated from Ankeny High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University with a major in chemical engineering. He then received his M.D. from the University of Iowa. He subsequently completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there, he trained under one of the international leaders in spine surgery. Dr. Schmitz then completed advanced training at the Twin Cities Spine Center fellowship under the guidance of world-renowned leaders in the field of spine surgery. Twin Cities Spine Center is one of the busiest spine centers in the world, and several of the current and future spine techniques were developed and mastered at this center.

Throughout his training, Dr. Schmitz published, presented, and wrote numerous research articles, book chapters, and podium presentations. Due to his operative ability, patient care, and leadership, he was selected as his program’s chief resident in his last year of residency.

Since starting practice, Dr. Schmitz has become a local, state, and national presence in the field of spine surgery. Due to his excellent outcomes and patient care, he has become one of the busiest spine surgeons in the country. He is a “doctor’s doctor” and has provided both operative and non-operative care to countless physicians, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, and their family members. He has become a trusted surgeon and provided spinal care for several professional and collegiate athletes from organizations ranging from the NFL, MLB, and NHL teams to Division I athletes. Dr. Schmitz has regularly been awarded for his care, including being named a “Top Spine Surgeon in Iowa” by Dexur on several occasions.

Professionally, Dr. Schmitz serves in leadership roles for local and national organizations. He has been selected to serve on spine Clinical Decision Teams for several national hospital organizations, including the largest non-profit hospital system in the county. Due to his expertise, he has been hired as a consultant to help with the development of the next generation of spine implants and the use of artificial intelligence for multiple international spine companies, from Fortune 500 companies to small start-ups. On a more local level, he is the Vice Chairman of Orthopaedics for MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. He also serves as an external peer reviewer for the Mercy system, ensuring that other spine surgeons are providing safe, ethical care.

Dr. Schmitz entered the field of orthopaedics due to the life-improving changes in patients’ quality of life that this field can provide. Dr. Schmitz has become a leader in the field of outpatient spine surgery and, while using newer techniques, performs more outpatient surgery than any surgeon in the state. His goal is to always keep the treatment as minimal as possible, whether that means getting the patient better without surgery or doing the smallest surgery possible. Dr Schmitz’s passions and priorities are his work, patients, and his wife and three children. He does manage to squeeze in 2-3 rounds of golf a year and loses about that many balls per hole while doing so.

Fellowship
Twin Cities Spine Center; Minneapolis, Minnesota

Residency
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals; Milwaukee, WI

Medical Degree
The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; Iowa City, IA

Undergrad
Iowa State University; Ames, IA

Cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine injuries, disorders, and surgical needs

Sciatica

Herniated and bulging discs

Spinal arthritis

Spinal stenosis

Degenerative disc disease

Minimally invasive disc replacement surgeries and fusions

Work-related injuries

IME

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