OM Docs Physician Spotlight: Dr. Craig A. Popp
When an employee suffers a back or neck injury on the job, early evaluation by a spine specialist can play a critical role in recovery. Whether the injury is the result of a lifting incident, fall, repetitive motion, or other workplace accident, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help restore function while supporting a safe return to work. For employers, adjusters, nurse case managers, risk managers, and other workers' compensation professionals, having access to experienced spine specialists is an important part of delivering quality care to injured workers.
This month, OM Magazine is highlighting Dr. Craig A. Popp, one of the physicians featured in the OM Docs Directory. Dr. Popp is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon at Vero Orthopaedics, where he specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries and disorders using both conservative care and advanced surgical techniques. He has more than two decades of experience helping patients recover from complex spine conditions and joined Vero Orthopaedics in 2017.
Dr. Popp earned his undergraduate degree in Biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley before receiving his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and went on to complete a prestigious Spine Surgery Fellowship at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Spine Center, where he received advanced training in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of complex spinal conditions. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Popp treats many of the injuries commonly encountered in workers' compensation, including cervical and lumbar disc herniations, spinal stenosis, fractures, neck and back injuries, pinched nerves, degenerative spine conditions, and other disorders affecting the spine. His practice emphasizes accurate diagnosis and individualized treatment plans, utilizing conservative therapies whenever appropriate while also offering advanced minimally invasive procedures, including kyphoplasty, motion-preserving spinal surgery, disc replacement, and other surgical options when necessary.
For workers' compensation professionals, selecting physicians with specialized fellowship training in spine surgery is an important part of coordinating quality care. Work-related spine injuries often require ongoing communication between the treating physician, employer, adjuster, and nurse case manager. Physicians who provide timely documentation, clearly defined treatment recommendations, and functional progress updates help support informed claim decisions while keeping the injured worker's recovery as the primary focus.
Dr. Popp participates in all major workers' compensation networks and accepts direct employer agreements, making Vero Orthopaedics a valuable resource for employers seeking experienced spine specialists for occupational injuries.
As a WorkCompReady Certified physician, Dr. Popp has completed additional education focused specifically on the workers' compensation system. The program reinforces that quality patient care and the injured worker remain the highest priority while strengthening the communication, documentation, and coordination expected throughout every stage of the claims process.
Knowing experienced physicians across multiple specialties allows employers and workers' compensation professionals to make informed referral decisions when workplace injuries occur. Dr. Popp is one of many experienced physicians featured in the OM Docs Directory, giving organizations access to specialists committed to helping injured workers recover safely and efficiently.
To learn more about Vero Orthopaedics or schedule an appointment with Dr. Craig A. Popp, visit OMDocs.com. The practice's OM Docs profile links directly to the practice's website for additional information and scheduling. The practice is one of many WorkCompReady Certified practices featured in the OM Docs Directory, making it easier for employers and workers' compensation professionals to find quality care for injured workers across multiple specialties.
