Dr. Ronald Childs specializes in spine surgery. After serving in the United States Army as an orthopedic surgeon, he entered private practice in 1993 and has held multiple leadership positions in the Inova system. He is the System Medical Director for the Inova Spine program and Chief of the Orthopedic Spine Section. Dr. Childs has particular interest and expertise in minimally invasive spinal surgery and has several patents in that area.
Dr. Childs has practiced orthopedic spine surgery in Northern Virginia since 1993. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Boston University in 1979, he attended Howard University College of Medicine and graduated in 1983. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery in 1989 at Howard University Hospital and then went on active duty in the United States Army where he served three years including a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.
Dr. Childs was the first spine surgeon at OrthoVirginia where he has been practicing since 1994. He is currently the chief of the Orthopaedics Spine Section at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is Medical Co-Director of the Inova Spine Institute at Inova Fairfax Hospital, and also chairman of Spine and Osteobiologics committee, which has system-wide control of the products allowed into the Inova Health System for spine surgery. He has also been appointed Chairman of the State’s Region II of the Workers Compensation Peer Review Board.
Dr. Childs is board certified and was re-certified in 2001 and 2011, by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He has been an active member in the North American Spine Society, the Old Dominion Medical Society, and the Fairfax Medical Society. He is also a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons.
Dr. Childs has particular interest and expertise in minimally invasive spinal surgery and has several patents pending in that area.
Education & Training
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Spine Surgery Fellowship
Howard University, Orthopedic Surgery Residency
Howard University, Medical Degree
Boston University, Bachelor of Arts
Certifications
Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
Hospital & Team Affiliations
Inova Fairfax Hospital
OrthoVirginia Operatory
Organizations & Awards
Voted Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
Voted Top Doctor by Northern Virginia Magazine 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Medical Director of the Year for Inova
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
North American Spine Society
Patient Testimonials
Rima
“Dr. Childs is a joy to work with. He is warm, comforting, and professional. He is very thorough and explained his diagnosis clearly. He explained the surgical procedure so well and truly made me feel like I’m in the right hands! Best doctor in the world!” – Rima, spinal fusion
Heyward
“Dr. Childs has been treating me since 2017 when he first perfumed a Laminectomy and Discectomy on my lumbar spine. After a few years the pain in my legs came back and worsened and my pain doctor recommended my reaching back to Dr. Childs for a look at my spine. Dr. Childs had an MRI and nerve test performed which revealed a serious spinal instability requiring fusion. He was quite disturbed when talking to me about how serious this was. I trust him completely and we immediately scheduled surgery for 8/4. While the process was painful, I can say that his skill and care sure indicates it was hugely successful. The pain in my right leg disappeared completely while recovering in the hospital. The pain in my left leg is steadily going down each day. I am amazed and completely in awe of Dr. Childs. I told him today he is my hero for helping me get back to living and not suffering.
I have to compliment his whole team. Laura Ricard has always been incredibly supportive and helpful. Teriah Crabtree has been unbelievably wonderful. She helped me through all the steps needed to get tested and ready for surgery. I have always enjoyed her positive attitude, friendliness, and professionalism. I can’t say enough good things about all of the team. Just simply amazing people. I have to add that one thing that impressed me in a deeply personal way was the support shown when I mentioned my husband. Gay people, even these days, are always expecting rejection and some negative reaction when people discover you are gay. It rears its head every so often and most of us are prepared for it. I have to say this team did not flinch and they have always shown us respect and understanding. I really appreciate that deeply. It sure looks like OrthoVirginia values diversity in it’s staff and fully grasp how important it is to respect everyone.
OrthoVirginia helped me out in a big way again. I had knee replacement surgery there in 2012 and that went really well too. I would not think of going anywhere else for orthopedic needs after having such great care by the surgeons and staff there.
A big THANK YOU to everyone.” — Heyward, spinal fusion
Beth
“I knew instantly that Dr. Childs was the right choice. He did a multilevel lumbar TLIF and has continued follow up care. I really appreciate that he tries hard not to perform this surgery unless it is necessary, even sending me for injections and pain management. Unfortunately, due to the issue with my spine, surgery was required. The skill that he possesses is superb. My single incision is so much smaller than I ever anticipated. He did not push multiple incisions and opioids like so many other doctors in this area and specialty. I am now pain free and I feel better than I have in a long time! I’m also recovering much faster than my friends who also had lumbar fusions (surprisingly I know 5 others!).
Dr. Childs possess what few skilled surgeons have – skill AND a personality. He has a wonderful bedside manner, is caring and compassionate and incredibly skilled! My husband came with me to a few appointments and really appreciated how he answered all of his questions, explained my MRI in detail, and never made either of us feel like there was a stupid question. Even in COVID times, my husband said he received a thorough summary of the surgery and how I was doing. [His team] helped navigate through all of this and even had that beaming smile the morning of my surgery when Dr. Childs stopped by my pre-op room. Dr. Childs really did save me – returned my quality of life, surgically took care of all of my pain, and helped me feel at ease from the start! I can never thank him enough!!!” – Beth, spinal fusion
Treatments
Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion
Cervical disc replacement
Cervical spine surgery
Disc arthroplasty (replacement)
Laminectomy
Lumbar spine surgery
Microdiscectomy
Minimally invasive spine surgery
Video: Get to Know Dr. Childs
Video: Scott's Story
Dr. Childs has practiced orthopedic spine surgery in Northern Virginia since 1993. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Boston University in 1979, he attended Howard University College of Medicine and graduated in 1983. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery in 1989 at Howard University Hospital and then went on active duty in the United States Army where he served three years including a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.
Dr. Childs was the first spine surgeon at OrthoVirginia where he has been practicing since 1994. He is currently the chief of the Orthopaedics Spine Section at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is Medical Co-Director of the Inova Spine Institute at Inova Fairfax Hospital, and also chairman of Spine and Osteobiologics committee, which has system-wide control of the products allowed into the Inova Health System for spine surgery. He has also been appointed Chairman of the State’s Region II of the Workers Compensation Peer Review Board.
Dr. Childs is board certified and was re-certified in 2001 and 2011, by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He has been an active member in the North American Spine Society, the Old Dominion Medical Society, and the Fairfax Medical Society. He is also a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons.
Dr. Childs has particular interest and expertise in minimally invasive spinal surgery and has several patents pending in that area.
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Spine Surgery Fellowship
Howard University, Orthopedic Surgery Residency
Howard University, Medical Degree
Boston University, Bachelor of Arts
Certifications
Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
Inova Fairfax Hospital
OrthoVirginia Operatory
Voted Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
Voted Top Doctor by Northern Virginia Magazine 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Medical Director of the Year for Inova
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
North American Spine Society
Rima
“Dr. Childs is a joy to work with. He is warm, comforting, and professional. He is very thorough and explained his diagnosis clearly. He explained the surgical procedure so well and truly made me feel like I’m in the right hands! Best doctor in the world!” – Rima, spinal fusion
Heyward
“Dr. Childs has been treating me since 2017 when he first perfumed a Laminectomy and Discectomy on my lumbar spine. After a few years the pain in my legs came back and worsened and my pain doctor recommended my reaching back to Dr. Childs for a look at my spine. Dr. Childs had an MRI and nerve test performed which revealed a serious spinal instability requiring fusion. He was quite disturbed when talking to me about how serious this was. I trust him completely and we immediately scheduled surgery for 8/4. While the process was painful, I can say that his skill and care sure indicates it was hugely successful. The pain in my right leg disappeared completely while recovering in the hospital. The pain in my left leg is steadily going down each day. I am amazed and completely in awe of Dr. Childs. I told him today he is my hero for helping me get back to living and not suffering.
I have to compliment his whole team. Laura Ricard has always been incredibly supportive and helpful. Teriah Crabtree has been unbelievably wonderful. She helped me through all the steps needed to get tested and ready for surgery. I have always enjoyed her positive attitude, friendliness, and professionalism. I can’t say enough good things about all of the team. Just simply amazing people. I have to add that one thing that impressed me in a deeply personal way was the support shown when I mentioned my husband. Gay people, even these days, are always expecting rejection and some negative reaction when people discover you are gay. It rears its head every so often and most of us are prepared for it. I have to say this team did not flinch and they have always shown us respect and understanding. I really appreciate that deeply. It sure looks like OrthoVirginia values diversity in it’s staff and fully grasp how important it is to respect everyone.
OrthoVirginia helped me out in a big way again. I had knee replacement surgery there in 2012 and that went really well too. I would not think of going anywhere else for orthopedic needs after having such great care by the surgeons and staff there.
A big THANK YOU to everyone.” — Heyward, spinal fusion
Beth
“I knew instantly that Dr. Childs was the right choice. He did a multilevel lumbar TLIF and has continued follow up care. I really appreciate that he tries hard not to perform this surgery unless it is necessary, even sending me for injections and pain management. Unfortunately, due to the issue with my spine, surgery was required. The skill that he possesses is superb. My single incision is so much smaller than I ever anticipated. He did not push multiple incisions and opioids like so many other doctors in this area and specialty. I am now pain free and I feel better than I have in a long time! I’m also recovering much faster than my friends who also had lumbar fusions (surprisingly I know 5 others!).
Dr. Childs possess what few skilled surgeons have – skill AND a personality. He has a wonderful bedside manner, is caring and compassionate and incredibly skilled! My husband came with me to a few appointments and really appreciated how he answered all of his questions, explained my MRI in detail, and never made either of us feel like there was a stupid question. Even in COVID times, my husband said he received a thorough summary of the surgery and how I was doing. [His team] helped navigate through all of this and even had that beaming smile the morning of my surgery when Dr. Childs stopped by my pre-op room. Dr. Childs really did save me – returned my quality of life, surgically took care of all of my pain, and helped me feel at ease from the start! I can never thank him enough!!!” – Beth, spinal fusion
