About James Silverthorn

Dr. James Silverthorn is a highly accomplished, board-certified neurosurgeon who brings exceptional expertise in spine surgery and nerve repair to Total Spine Institute. With over 17 years of clinical experience, Dr. Silverthorn is dedicated to providing comprehensive, cutting- edge care for patients with complex spinal conditions.

Dr. Silverthorn graduated with full honors as valedictorian from the University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2000. He completed his neurosurgical residency at UC Davis which included an enfolded neurospine fellowship. His academic excellence is reflected in his outstanding performance on national examinations, scoring in the 94th percentile on the USMLE Step 1 and 98th percentile on the COMLEX Step 1.

Dr. Silverthorn’s surgical expertise encompasses complex instrumented spine surgery with advanced spinal reconstruction and stabilization procedures, minimally invasive spine surgery using state-of-the-art techniques for reduced recovery times, neurotrauma and critical care including emergency and complex trauma management, peripheral nerve repair with specialized treatment of nerve injuries and tumors, and comprehensive cranial and spinal tumor treatment approaches.

Throughout his career, Dr. Silverthorn has demonstrated exceptional leadership in neurosurgical care. At Kaiser Permanente, he served as Assistant Chief of Neurosurgery, overseeing operations across multiple facilities and managing a team of 13 neurosurgeons and support staff. He was instrumental in developing the first neurosurgical department at Kaiser’s trauma center in South Sacramento and played a key role in establishing trauma protocols and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Silverthorn has also advanced his neurosurgical education as volunteer clinical faculty at UCSF, learning complex peripheral nerve repair techniques.

Dr. Silverthorn is committed to advancing the field of neurosurgery through research and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in prestigious medical journals. His research contributions span areas including cranial surgery outcomes, avoidance of spinal cord complications, and neurocritical care management. He maintains board certification with the American Board of Neurological Surgery (2011-2031) and holds an active California Osteopathic Medical Board License (2001-Present).

Dr. Silverthorn’s combination of clinical excellence, leadership experience, and commitment to patient care makes him a valuable addition to the Total Spine Institute team, where he continues to provide exceptional neurosurgical, peripheral nerve and spine care to patients in both Northern and Southern California.