Dr. Bjerke is a Fellowship-Trained and Board-Certified spine surgeon. His practice is dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders. Dr. Bjerke believes strongly in prioritizing nonsurgical care before surgery when appropriate. When surgery is needed, Dr. Bjerke uses minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques. He has extensive experience performing cervical disc replacements, often when a fusion has been recommended by other surgeons.
Dr. Bjerke graduated medical school from Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, residency training with top-ranked Hospital for Special Surgery (Cornell University), and the combined Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Spine Surgery Fellowship with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Bjerke also holds a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from UCLA.
Most of Dr. Bjerke’s surgeries are minimally invasive with small incisions and minimal blood loss, often with faster recovery and lower infection rates compared to traditional spine surgery. He is also experienced with complex spinal reconstruction and revision surgery when a more extensive approach is needed. Dr. Bjerke welcomes all adult patients with any spine-related conditions, and encourages patients to seek a second opinion, especially when surgery has been offered.
Dr. Bjerke has served as a volunteer surgeon in Ghana on three separate trips, where he has operated on the most severe cases of spinal deformity from all parts of Africa. He has also worked as a US Ski Team physician for over eight seasons, caring for US Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, pickleball, tennis, canyoneering, traveling, and playing chess.
