John Berry-Candelario, MD
Neurological Surgery
Locations
Practice Locations
UCHealth Spine Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
720-848-1980
UCHealth Neurosciences Center - Anschutz Medical Campus
720-848-2080
Provider Expertise
Clinical Interest for Patients
Neuro-Oncology - Primary Spine Tumors, Metastatic Spine Tumors / Novel Treatments for Spinal Tumors - Immunotherapy, Radiotherapy, LIFU / Gut dysbiosis connection to spinal disorders / Biomechanics of the spine
Care Philosophy
As Director of Spine Oncology, my philosophy centers on delivering compassionate, evidence-based, and multidisciplinary care that prioritizes both survival and quality of life. I believe in treating each patient as a whole person—balancing advanced surgical and oncologic interventions with preservation of function, pain relief, and dignity. Collaboration across specialties, clear communication, and individualized treatment planning guide my practice, ensuring that every patient receives care that is not only technically excellent but also deeply humane.
Specialties
- Neurological Surgery
Conditions & Treatments
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Spine
Back Pain, Bulging Discs, Cervical disc herniation, Cervical Myelopathy, Cervical spinal stenosis, Cervicalgia (Neck Pain), Degenerative back conditions, Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative neck conditions, Degenerative Scoliosis, Disc Extrusions, Disc Prolapse, Disc Protrusions, Herniated Discs (HNP), Low-back Pain, Lumbago, Lumbar disc herniation, Lumbar spinal stenosis, Myelopathy, Neurogenic Claudication, Osteoporosis and compression fractures, Peripheral nerve compression syndromes (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), Radiculopathy, Ruptured Discs, Sacroiliac Joint, Sciatica, Scoliosis, Slipped Disc, Spinal Stenosis, Spinal tumors, Spondylolisthesis, Spondylolysis, Spondylolysis (pars defects and fractures), Sports-related neck and back injuries, Thoracic Pain
Education & Training
Medical Schools
MD, Harvard Medical School (2011)
Fellowships
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Program (2019)
Professional Memberships
American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgeon
Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgeon
North American Spine Society, Neurosurgeon
Research & Grants
Research Interests for Patients
Dr. Berry-Candelario leads our spine oncology division. He directs the center of brain and spine metastasis. One of its pillars is leading in the development and application of research for neuro-oncology care, including platforms such as LITT for brain pathology and NOMS treatment algorithm for spine tumors. In addition, he has interest in understanding the role of immunotherapy treatment for distant metastasis. A second research interest includes understanding the underpinnings of spine degeneration through the lens of the gut dysbiosis of the microbiome. Finally, in the field of spine, there is still work to be done in understanding the biomechanical breakdown of the joints due to mechanical forces. Leveraging our broad campus expertise, we are investing in partnerships to bring this new knowledge to bear on the care of our spine patients.
information for referring providers
Referral Contact Phone
Referral Contact Fax
720-848-2019
Referring Patients Link
Clinical Interests for Referring Providers
Our program is built on the principles of excellence, combining specialized expertise, state-of-the-art technology, and a dedicated team committed to comprehensive and personalized surgical care. We provide treatment for a wide range of spinal conditions, with a particular emphasis on precision neurosurgical care. When you refer patients to our team, they benefit not only from high-quality neurosurgical treatment but also from seamless collaboration across multidisciplinary specialties. My goal is to ensure a smooth continuum of care and to make the referral process as straightforward as possible for you and your patients.
Research Interest for Referring Providers
Key areas of research: spine oncology, gut microbiome profiling in spine pathology, understanding the connection between biomechanical engineering and spine pathology
