For ease, he also goes by Dr. D among his colleagues and patients. Dr. D is a Detroit native who befell a fulfilling career of service through pursuit of academics, music, engineering, and athletic participation. His professional development was nudged by mentors and a few orthopedic injuries through which he realized ……a passion for returning patients from injury —to the life they most enjoy!

A Liberal Arts education, community engagement and collegiate sports led Dr. Dekutoski to Wayne State University for medical school. Engagement in the Detroit Inner City for Medical School, General Surgery Internship and Orthopedic Residency was nine years of personal and professional growth in a economically challenged and multicultural environment. He continued to further his education at the prestigious John H. Moe Twin Cities Scoliosis Spine Center/ University of Minnesota. There, he was a NIH PostDoctoral Research Fellow in Arthritis and Spinal Deformity and then completed his clinical and surgical fellowship with Five Presidents of the Scoliosis Research Society. Thoughtful prescient mentors James W Ogilvie, Roby Thompson, Ensor Transfeldt, Jack Lewis , Ted Ogema and others honed an awareness of soft tissue pathophysiology and evidence based practice well before it became a mainstream awareness.

Dr. D was recruited to the Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN. Where he served as a professor, trained hundreds of Neurosurgical and Orthopedic surgical fellows/residents, was honored as a Teacher of the Year, and served as a Musculoskeletal Chairman of the medical school. When recruited Dr. Dekutoski was only the 3rd orthopedist in department history that had not complete his residency or fellowship training at Mayo. He excelled Nationally, and Internationally as a leader in spine surgery and education across Neurosurgical and Orthopedic Societies-AOSPINE, American Academy of Neurosurgery, Scoliosis Research Society, North American Spine Society, Minimally Invasive Spine Society.

His research work from his NIH fellowship throughout his career has been highly recognized and awarded by American Association of Neurosurgery, Scoliosis Research Society and AOSPINE. Having delivered over 450 CME lectures, Numerous Visiting Professorships and contributing to over 120 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Dekutoski has become a well recognized quality care and thought leader. Through his efforts and participation in Spine education he has generated very impactful contributions to the standards of clinical care, creating improved outcomes for conditions in Spinal Deformity, Tumor, Trauma, and Degenerative Conditions.