Dr. C. Rory Goodwin is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery in the School of Medicine at Duke University. His clinical interests include spinal-based pathologies ranging from degenerative disease, trauma, and deformity, but he has a specialized clinical focus on patients with spinal tumors. In parallel, Dr. Goodwin’s laboratory conducts research on causes and potential treatments for diseases affecting the spine. Specifically, he investigates the mechanisms by which cancer cells move to or develop from the spinal column, genetic predictors of survival, tumor-associated pain, and clinical outcomes associated with spinal tumors. To identify clinical and molecular determinants associated with optimal paradigms and therapies for patients with metastatic spine cancer, some of his current work aims to determine the role of post-translational modifications and potential association with malignant phenotypes in cancer models. Dr. Goodwin aims to translate potential gene and protein discoveries into therapeutic and diagnostic benefit to improve quality and quantity of life of patients diagnosed with spinal cancers.
Dr. Goodwin received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, before completing his M.D, Ph.D., internship, and residency in neurosurgery, all at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.