WFAA: Scottish Rite Studies How Volleyball Players Move to Prevent Injury

WFAA: Scottish Rite Studies How Volleyball Players Move to Prevent Injury

by | Oct 20, 2026 | Press Coverage, Sports Medicine

Researchers at Scottish Rite for Children’s Movement Science Lab in Frisco are exploring new ways to help young volleyball players reduce sport-related injuries through an ongoing study.

A recent WFAA story highlighted the research, led by Dr. Sophia Ulman, which examines volleyball players’ movement patterns using specialized cameras and sensors that capture subtle joint movements during jumps, landings and other court-specific drills.

Volleyball players face different injury risks depending on their positions and the movements they perform on the court. Hitters and blockers, for example, may experience different demands than defensive specialists. Building on early findings that ankle mobility may vary by position, the team hopes to better understand how these differences influence injury risk and identify prevention strategies tailored to each athlete’s role.

This research supports Scottish Rite for Children’s commitment to advancing sport-specific injury prevention and helping young athletes stay healthy and active.

To learn more about the study or how to participate, call 469-515-7160.

To view the full story, click here.

Scottish Rite Surgeon Shares Insight on Training the Next Generation of Spine Specialists

Scottish Rite Surgeon Shares Insight on Training the Next Generation of Spine Specialists

by | Oct 7, 2026 | Press Coverage, Scoliosis & Spine

Becker’s Spine Review featured Scottish Rite for Children pediatric orthopedic surgeon Megan E. Johnson, M.D., and her perspective on preparing the next generation of spine surgeons as complex cases and advanced technologies continue to shape the field.

As program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis at Scottish Rite, Johnson plays a key role in preparing fellows for independent practice. She emphasized the importance of hands-on experience, clinical judgment and knowing when to seek help when treating complex spinal deformities, while also noting that navigation and robotics should complement – not replace – a surgeon’s foundational skills.

“The robot or navigation is really only as good as the surgeon using the technology,” Johnson told Becker’s. “If you’re a bad surgeon, those enabling technologies aren’t going to make you better. If you’re already a great surgeon, they’ll make you even better.”

To read the full article, click here.

WFAA: Previously Conjoined Twins Undergo Scoliosis Surgeries at Scottish Rite

WFAA: Previously Conjoined Twins Undergo Scoliosis Surgeries at Scottish Rite

by | Sep 30, 2026 | Press Coverage, Scoliosis & Spine

A recent WFAA story spotlighted 12-year-old Texas twins Knatalye and Adeline “Addy”, who underwent scoliosis surgeries at Scottish Rite for Children 11 years after surviving a complex 26-hour surgery to separate them as conjoined infants.

Born joined at the chest and abdomen and sharing several vital organs, the sisters underwent their separation surgery at just 10 months old. Their family says they were told at the time that they had about a 20% chance of survival.

More than a decade later, both sisters faced another major medical challenge: severe scoliosis. Brandon A. Ramo, M.D., a Scottish Rite for Children pediatric orthopedic surgeon, performed the surgeries one week apart in April. 

Addy’s scoliosis was particularly severe, with her spine pressing against her ribs and limiting the space available for her lungs. Ramo explained the magnitude of her condition, noting that the angle of her scoliosis was roughly double that of her sister’s.

Both surgeries were successful, and the family hopes the procedures will improve the sisters’ quality of life as they grow. Ramo said the surgeries are ultimately about helping the twins in the years ahead: “I think what we’re doing is helping their future selves.”

To view the full story, click here.

Scottish Rite Surgeon Earns Hometown Recognition for Groundbreaking Spinal Procedure

Scottish Rite Surgeon Earns Hometown Recognition for Groundbreaking Spinal Procedure

by | Sep 30, 2026 | General News, Press Coverage, Scoliosis & Spine

A newspaper in Gladstone, Mich., recently spotlighted Scottish Rite for Children pediatric surgeon Amy L. McIntosh, M.D., and her role as the first U.S. surgeon to implant the Spring Distraction System (SDS), a dynamic growth-friendly spinal device for children with early-onset scoliosis.

The Daily Press feature highlights McIntosh’s connection to the town and the education and experiences that helped shape her career – from advanced science courses at Gladstone High School to discovering her passion for pediatric spinal deformity surgery during residency.

“I loved the opportunity to care for the whole child, and I was struck by how resilient my young patients were and how well they could heal,” McIntosh told the newspaper. “I also fell in love with pediatric spinal deformity surgery.”

Earlier this year, McIntosh, who also serves as a professor of orthopedic surgery and medical director of patient safety at Scottish Rite for Children, performed the first U.S. implantation of the SDS in a 6-year-old patient with neuromuscular scoliosis and spinal muscular atrophy.

Developed in the Netherlands and cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2026, the SDS is designed to provide continuous spinal correction while allowing a child’s spine to grow. McIntosh told the newspaper that the new technology offers another option for children with early-onset scoliosis.

To read the full article, click here.