PD Dr. med. Klaus John Schnake

Dr. Schnake is a specialist in spinal and orthopedic surgery with extensive clinical experience in the treatment of spinal disorders. His clinical work covers the full spectrum of spinal care in both adults and children, including surgical and conservative treatment of degenerative conditions, deformities, trauma, infections, and tumors. As Head of the Center for Spinal and Scoliosis Surgery at Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien in Erlangen, he leads an interdisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and trauma surgeons. The center integrates modern surgical technologies including robotic assistance, endoscopy, navigation systems, and intraoperative imaging. It has been recognized as a European Reference Center for robotic-assisted spine surgery since 2021.

Postgraduate Medical Education and Professional Career

• Since 2020: Head, Center for Spinal and Scoliosis Surgery, Malteser Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien, Erlangen, Germany

• 2014–2020: Head, Center for Spine and Scoliosis Therapy, Schön Klinik Nürnberg Fürth, Germany

• 2008–2013: Vice Head, Center for Spinal Surgery and Neurotraumatology, BG-Unfallklinik Frankfurt (Chair: Prof. Dr. F. Kandziora)

• 1999–2007: Department for Spine Surgery, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery; Orthopedic Surgery, Traumatology and Reconstructive Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Head: Prof. Dr. N. P. Haas)

• 2002: Fellowship, Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland (Head: Prof. Dr. W. Dick)

• 1990–1998: Medical School, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany

Academic and Professional Society Activities

• Since 2024: Chair, AO Spine Research Commission

• President-elect 2023 of the German Spine Society (DWG), term 2026

• Local Host, EuroSpine Meeting Frankfurt, 2023

• Since 2023: Chair, German Spine Foundation (DWS)

• 2020–2024: Chair, AOSpine Knowledge Forum Trauma

• 2020–2022: Chair, Spine Section, German Orthopedic and Trauma Society (DGOU)

• 2012–2021: Chair, Osteoporotic Fracture Working Group, Spine Section, DGOU