Dr. Peter Thomas McCunniff, MD

Orthopedist | Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine

9401 W Thunderbird Rd Ste 180 Peoria AZ, 85381 Show map

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About

Dr. Peter T. McCunniff is an Orthopedic Spine surgeon in the greater Phoenix area (Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale) and is the newest and only fellowship trained Spine surgeon at The Pain Center of Arizona (TPC). This partnership with TPC has created the first comprehensive spine care model in the Southwest for patients that begins with non-operative therapy and medication management, followed by procedural interventions with the pain management physicians, and for those patients who have failed those steps, they’re referred to Dr. McCunniff for minimally invasive surgical consultation if they’re interested. This “Right patient, right provider, right time” model helps patients to avoid unnecessary surgeries and the comfort knowing that all providers along the way work closely together to create a unique care program tailored to their specific needs.

He received his medical degree from University of Iowa. He completed his residency at Case Western / University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH and completed an additional year of fellowship training in Spine Surgery in Scottsdale, AZ. His fellowship focus was on minimally invasive spine surgery techniques for all areas of the spine and was mentored by both Orthopedic and Neurosurgical spine surgeons. He has now been in practice 4 years here in the Valley and brings cutting-edge expertise to the TPC, including minimally-invasive procedures, disc replacements that allow appropriate patients to avoid fusions, as well as navigation and robotic-assisted spinal surgery that increases safety for the patient.

He performed the first cervical artificial disc replacement at the Arizona Surgical Specialists Center in September. He continues to be active in research with over 12 peer-reviewed publications and 20 presentations primarily focused on different areas within spine surgery. He is also one of the few surgeons in the valley that perform a unique oblique lumbar surgery that helps to restore alignment from the front which can decrease the risk having issues at other issues down the road. This also spares the muscles and nerves unlike many other methods which can put those important nerves at risk. He has been a part of the surgeon led research and development team for these tools and implants for the past 2 years.

Education and Training

University of Iowa BS 2009

U of Iowa College of Medicine MD 2014

Cleveland Case Western Ortho Orthopedic Surgery Residency 2019

Spine Institute of Az Spine Surgery Fellowship 2020

Provider Details

Male English

Areas of expertise and specialization

Minimally invasive spine surgeryCervical Spine SurgeryThoracic Spine SurgeryLumbar Spine SurgeryAdult Spine SurgeryDegenerative Spinal SurgeryMinimal Access Spine Surgery

Faculty Titles & Positions

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon The Pain Center of Arizona 2023 - Present
Assistant Professor/Specialty Instructor Banner University Medical Center 2022 - Present

Awards

Vernon L. Nickel Award Winner 2017 Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association
Barry Friedman Orthopaedic Research Award 2017 Mt. Sinai Health Foundation

Professional Memberships

North American Spine Society
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
AO Spine Foundation

Treatments

Operative and nonoperative treatment for adult spinal disorders

Internships

Orthopedic Surgery

Fellowships

Spine Surgery Fellowship Combined Ortho/Neuro SpineFocus on minimally invasive surgical techniques to minimize collateral damage or surgical footprint compared to more traditional spine surgical techniques. This helps my patients get in and out of the hospital quicker and get back to their lives and the things they enjoy.

Professional Society Memberships

NASS, AO Spine Foundation, AAOS, ABOS

Articles and Publications

Publications:McCunniff PT, Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Arthroscopic Validation of the Clinical Exam for the Detection of the Symptomatic Synovial-Plical Complex. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal, 2013; Vol 33: p78-83. PMID: 24027465Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Bollier M, Wolf BR, Thedens DR, Albright JP. Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction: Novice Surgeons Utilizing Computer-Assisted Navigation versus Experienced Surgeons. The Bone and Joint Journal 2013 vol. 95-B no. SUPP 28 98.Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Quantitative Assessment of Knee Kinematics Utilizing a New Low Profile Pivot Shift Test. The Bone and Joint Journal 2013 vol. 95-B no SUPP 28 99.McDermott SE, Anthony CA, McCunniff PT, Duchman K, Albright JP. A clinical and radiographic approach for establishing proper tibial tubercle transfer when using quad active femoral nerve stimulation. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal. 2013;33:84-9. PMID: 24027466Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Bollier M, Wolf BR, Thedens DR, Albright JP. Double-Bundle ACL Reconstruction: Novice Surgeons Utilizing Computer-Assisted Navigation versus Experienced Surgeons. Computer Aided Surgery, 2013;18(5-6):172-80. PMID: 23662622Crebs DT, Anthony CA, McCunniff PT, Nieto MJ, Beckert MW, Albright JP. Effectiveness of Fulkerson Osteotomy with Femoral Nerve Stimulation for Patients with Severe Femoral Trochlear Dysplasia. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal, 2015; Vol. 35:3 p34-41.McDermott SE, Anthony CA, McCunniff PT, Albright JP. A Clinical and Radiographic Approach for Establishing Proper Tibial Tubercle Transfer When Using Quad Active Femoral Nerve Stimulation. Iowa Orthopaedic Journal, 2013; Vol. 33: p84-9. PMID: 24027466McCunniff PT, Yoo H, Dugarte A, Bajwa NS, Toy JO, Ahn UM, Ahn NU. Bilateral Pars Defects at the L4 Vertebra Result in Increased Degeneration When Compared With Those at L5: An Anatomic Study. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2016 Feb;474(2):571-7. PMID: 26403424McCunniff PT, Young ES, Ahmadinia K, Ahn UM, Ahn NU. Smoking is Associated with Increased Blood Loss and Transfusion Use After Lumbar Spinal Surgery. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2016 Apr;474(4):1019-25. PMID: 26642788McCunniff PT, Young ES, Ahmadinia K, Kusin DJ, Ahn UM, Ahn NU. Chronic Antiplatelet Use Associated With Increased Blood Loss in Lumbar Spinal Surgery Despite Adherence to Protocols. Orthopedics, 2016 Jul1;39(4)e695-700. PMID: 27111080McCunniff PT, Yoo H, Yu CC, Bajwa NS, Toy JO, Ahn UM, Ahn NU. Spondylolysis and End Plate Arthrosis at L5-S1: A Cadaveric Study. Orthopedics, 2017 Jan 1;40(1)e59-e64. PMID: 27684084McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Roach, MJ, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus non-operative management of civilian gunshot wounds to the spinal cord: novel use of the functional independence measure for validated outcomes. World Neurosurgery, Vol 106, p240 - 246. PMID: 28669874PresentationsMcCunniff PT, Sawatzke AB, Cole KJ. Is the Transfer of Sensorimotor Information Across Separate Prehension Tasks Affected by a Time Delay? Multimedia presentation: Integrative Physiology Honors Seminar Symposium, Iowa City, Iowa, April 2009.Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Quantitative Assessment of Knee Kinematics Utilizing a New Low Profile Pivot Shift Test. Poster: ISAKOS Biennial Congress, Toronto, Canada, May 2011.McCunniff PT, Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Recalcitrant symptomatic synovial plica: Validation of unique clinical exam findings and causal relationship to anterior knee pain. Multimedia presentation: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Medical Student Research Day, Iowa City, Iowa, September 2011.Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Quantitative Assessment of Knee Kinematics Utilizing a New Low Profile Pivot Shift Test. Poster: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Medical Student Research Day, Iowa City, Iowa, September 2011.McDermott SE, Anthony CA, McCunniff PT, Albright JP. J-sign, TT-TG, and Quad Active MRI In Establishing Proper Tibial Tubercle Transfer Distance In Patients With Patellar Instability and Incongruency. Poster: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Medical Student Research Day, Iowa City, Iowa September 2011.McCunniff PT, Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Recalcitrant symptomatic synovial plica: Validation of unique clinical exam findings and causal relationship to anterior knee pain. Multimedia presentation: Magellan Society. Lake Como, Italy, April 2012.Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McCunniff PT, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Quantitative Assessment of Knee Kinematics Utilizing a New Low Profile Pivot Shift Test. Poster: University of Iowa: The 14th Annual James F. Jakobsen Graduate Conference, Iowa City, Iowa, May 2012.McCunniff PT, Anthony CA, Duchman KR, McDermott SE, Albright JP. Recalcitrant symptomatic synovial plica: Validation of unique clinical exam findings and causal relationship to anterior knee pain. Poster: European Society for Shoulder, Knee, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2012.McDermott SE, Anthony CA, McCunniff PT, Albright JP. J-sign, TT-TG, and Quad Active MRI In Establishing Proper Tibial Tubercle Transfer Distance In Patients With Patellar Instability and Incongruency. Poster: European Society for Shoulder, Knee, and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2012.Nieto MJ, Crebs DT, McCunniff PT, Bennett DL, Gao, Y, Albright JP. MRI findings in patients with Symptomatic Synovial-Plical Complex of the knee. Oral presentation: Magellan Society Meeting 2014. Arima, Japan, April 2014Nieto MJ, Crebs DT, McCunniff PT, Bennett DL, Gao, Y, Albright JP. MRI findings in patients with Symptomatic Synovial-Plical Complex of the knee. Poster: 1st Congress Asia-Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society, Nara, Japan, April 2014.McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus Non-Operative Management of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Spinal Cord. Cleveland Orthopaedic Society Resident Essay Contest. Cleveland, Ohio, January 2017.McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus Non-Operative Management of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Spinal Cord. Oral Presentation: American Academy of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, California - April 2017.McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus Non-Operative Management of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Spinal Cord. Oral Presentation: Ohio Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting. Dublin, Ohio May 2017McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus Non-Operative Management of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Spinal Cord. Oral Presentation: Mt. Sinai Barry Friedman Orthopaedic Resident Research Award competition. 1st place. Cleveland, Ohio, May 2017McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus Non-Operative Management of Civilian Gunshot Wounds to the Spinal Cord. Poster: North American Spine Societys 2017 Summer Spine Meeting. San Diego, California. July 2017.McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Roach, MJ, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus non-operative management of civilian gunshot wounds to the spinal cord: novel use of the functional independence measure for validated outcomes. Poster: Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting 2017. Vancouver, BC.McCunniff PT, Ramey JS, Scott M, Roach, MJ, Vallier H, Moore, T, Kelly ML. Operative versus non-operative management of civilian gunshot wounds to the spinal cord: novel use of the functional independence measure for validated outcomes. Presentation and Vernon L. Nickel award recognition: Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association annual meeting Philadelphia, PA - October 2017Kalil JA, McCunniff PT, Lamberti P, Keen R. Lethal Necrotizing Fasciitis as a sequela of Streptococcal Septic Knee Arthritis. Accepted for Poster: 38th Annual Meeting of the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS 2019) Antwerp, Belgium. September 2019.Ahn BT, McCunniff PT, Du JY, Weinberg DW, Yu CX. Leg length discrepancy is associated with lumbar disc disease : A study of 350 postmortem specimens. Poster: Spine Week 2023. Melbourne, Australia. May 2023

What do you attribute your success to?

I make recommendations to my patients just as if they were a member of my own family. I try to take the time to explain things in a way that is easy for anyone to understand.

Areas of research

Spine surgery

Awards

Mt. Sinai Barry Friedman Orthopaedic Research Award 1st place, May 2017Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association 2017 Vernon L. Nickel award winner

Teaching and speaking

Assistant Professor/Specialty InstructorAugust 2022 to PresentDepartment Faculty Neurosurgery and OrthopedicsUniversity of Arizona College of Medicine PhoenixBanner University Medical Center

Favorite Place to Vacation

Wherever we can be with good friends and family. My 3 year old can have fun pretty much anywhere!

Hobbies / Sports

Father. Partner. Anything to do with University of Iowa athletics.

Areas of research

Primarily focused on spinal anatomy, spinal diseases, and different treatments for various conditions of the spine (both operative and nonoperative). I also have been involved in different projects and publications in orthopaedics, general surgery, and basic sciences.

Dr. Peter Thomas McCunniff, MD's Practice location

The Pain Center of Arizona

9401 W Thunderbird Rd Ste 180 -
Peoria, AZ 85381

Get Direction

New patients: 623-742-1562

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

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Media Releases

Enhancing Spine Care Services with the Expertise of a Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. Peter McCunniff, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at The Pain Center of Arizona, bringing with him a wealth of expertise in cutting-edge spine surgery techniques. He operates out of multiple hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. He also offers multiple office locations, including Arcadia, Deer Valley, Gilbert, Peoria, and West Phoenix, making his specialized services easily accessible to patients across the valley.

With a focus on minimally invasive spine surgery procedures, disc replacements, and innovative navigation and robotic-assisted spinal surgeries, Dr. McCunniff is dedicated to providing patients with the most advanced and safest treatment options available. Notably, he is one of the few surgeons in the region skilled in performing oblique lumbar surgery, a unique procedure that can help restore alignment and reduce the risk of future spinal issues.

Committed to enhancing the comprehensive spine care program at The Pain Center, Dr. McCunniff is incredibly passionate about this practice because it is one of the only in existence set up to meet the diverse care needs of all patients under one roof. His collaboration with leading experts in the field and his academic appointment as an Assistant Professor/Specialty Instructor at Banner University Medical Center underscore his commitment to advancing spine care techniques and tools.

Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Dr. McCunniff graduated with his Bachelor of Science Degree, with Highest Distinction from the University of Iowa in 2009. He then went on to earn his Medical Degree from the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, graduating with the Class of 2014.

Furthering his training, Dr. McCunniff performed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center from 2015 to 2019, followed by a year-long fellowship in orthopedic and neurosurgical spinal surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive spinal surgery, at the Spine Institute of Arizona from 2019 to 2020.

Following his residency and fellowship training, Dr. McCunniff went on to work in the highly specialized field of spine surgery in the greater Phoenix area with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques to get patients back to doing the things they love with less pain and down time than more traditional spine surgery techniques. Fast forward to today, he has over a decade of experience, more than 20 publications, and over 50 citations.

Recognized for his dedication and excellence in spinal care and orthopedic research, Dr. McCunniff boasts membership in the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and AO Spine, while also earning accolades such as the Mt. Sinai Barry Friedman Orthopaedic Research Award and the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association’s 2017 Vernon L. Nickel Award.

His passion lies in treating his patients as if they were his own family members, taking the time to explain medical concepts in an understandable manner and making recommendations with their best interests at heart. This means As much as he enjoys his job and getting to help patients at The Pain Center, Dr. McCunniff never turns down an opportunity to spend time with his loved ones. Whether vacationing with close friends and family or cheering on University of Iowa athletics, his heart remains with those he holds dear.

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