26. Breaking Stereotypes: Life as a Neurosurgeon & Social Media Star with Betsy Grunch

This week on Skin Deep MDs, we’re fangirling hard because we have the one and only Dr. Betsy Grunch, MD, FAANS, FACS, FCNS – also known to her millions of followers as @ladyspinedoc.

Dr. Grunch is a board-certified neurosurgeon practicing at the Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia. After earning her medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia and completing neurosurgery residency and a spine fellowship at Duke University, she went on to become one of the few women in spine surgery. She’s been named a Top Doctor for years running by Georgia Trend and Atlanta Magazine. Her specialties include minimally invasive spine techniques and advancing the field of neurotrauma.

But Dr. Grunch is more than her white coat. Online, she’s built a thriving platform as @ladyspinedoc, where she breaks down the mysteries of neurosurgery, calls out trolls with humor, and shows the raw reality of balancing being a surgeon, mom, wife, and content creator. She even launched her own boutique line of healthcare-inspired fashion through @shopladyspinedoc.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Dr. Grunch’s mother’s spinal cord injury inspired her to pursue neurosurgery
• What it’s like to be a woman in one of medicine’s most male-dominated specialties
• Juggling emergency surgeries, motherhood, and content creation without burning out
• Her strategies for handling trolls, setting boundaries, and keeping it real online
• Building an authentic community that trusts her both in the OR and on Instagram/TikTok
• The story behind her viral videos, merch line, and speaking opportunities

This conversation is equal parts inspiring, unfiltered, and badass – just like Dr. Grunch herself. Whether you’re a physician, a parent, or just someone figuring out how to balance it all, you’ll walk away with practical tips, perspective, and a reminder that even neurosurgeons are human.

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