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Steven Zachary George

Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
200 Morris Street, Office 6510, Durham, NC 27701
200 Morris Street, Office 6510, Durham, NC 27701
Office hours By appointment only  

Overview


Dr. George’s primary interest is research involving biopsychosocial models for the prevention and treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders.  His long term goals are to 1) improve accuracy for predicting who is going to develop chronic pain; and 2) identify non-pharmacological treatment options that limit the development of chronic pain conditions.  Dr. George is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, United States Association of the Study of Pain, and International Association for the Study of Pain. 

Dr. George’s research projects have been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Orthopaedic Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association.  Dr. George and his collaborators have authored over 330 peer-reviewed publications in leading medical, orthopaedic surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and pain research journals.  He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief for the Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal. Dr. George has also been involved with clinical practice guideline development for the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and the American Psychological Association. 

Dr. George has been recognized with prestigious research awards from the American Physical Therapy Association, American Pain Society, and International Association for the Study of Pain. For example from the American Physical Therapy Association: he was named the  21st John H.P. Maley Lecturer, recognized as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow in 2017, and selected for the Marian Williams Award for Research in Physical Therapy in 2022.    

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery · 2020 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery · 2017 - Present Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Science Departments
Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2023 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute · 2016 - Present Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published April 14, 2020
Duke Awards 29 University Distinguished Professorships

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Recent Publications


Risk-stratified Care Improves Pain-related Knowledge and Reduces Psychological Distress for Low Back Pain: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

Journal Article Clin Orthop Relat Res · April 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: A number of efforts have been made to tailor behavioral healthcare treatments to the variable needs of patients with low back pain (LBP). The most common approach involves the STarT Back Screening Tool (SBST) to triage the need for psychologica ... Full text Link to item Cite

Intervention delivery complexity and adaptations for implementation of non-pharmacologic pain interventions.

Journal Article Contemp Clin Trials Commun · April 2025 BACKGROUND: Delivering evidence-based interventions remains challenging, particularly for complex conditions like chronic musculoskeletal pain. Non-pharmacologic treatments are recommended for many pain conditions, but implementing these can be difficult d ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Boston Children's/UCLA/Duke Next Generation Regeneration for Osteoarthritis (BUD NextGenRegen for OA)

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health · 2024 - 2029

Biomarkers to Advance Clinical Phenotypes of Low Back Pain (BACk)

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

Biopsychosocial Influence on Shoulder Pain

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Pittsburgh · 2002 Ph.D.
West Virginia University · 1994 B.S.