Dr. Andrew Cappuccino

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Dr. Andrew Cappuccino received his undergraduate education in biomedical and material science engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and medical schooling at the University of Buffalo, Dr. Cappuccino completed a residency in Orthopedic Surgery.  He became Board Certified in Orthopedics, and then returned to Johns Hopkins to complete specialty training in spine surgery.  Dr. Cappuccino is one of the first surgeons in the country to be certified by the American Board of Spine Surgery, and is a inaugural member of this board. 

During his training and continuing presently, Dr. Cappuccino has been an investigator in numerous studies and trials dedicated to improving spinal surgery outcomes and technologies.  He is a sought after teacher of spine surgery techniques internationally.  He has taught surgeons all over Europe, South America, Australia, Africa and Asia.  He has authored numerous spine surgery textbook chapters and journal articles, contributing his expertise to spine doctors everywhere.  Dr. Cappuccino has been a principle investigator on international teams of doctors who have developed artificial disc replacements for the neck and back.  

Trained as both a biomedical engineer and a spine surgeon, Dr Cappuccino has always been actively engaged in research projects for the betterment of patient care, and advancement of the latest surgical techniques in spine surgery. Patients often find that access to newer technology (even experimental) can be very helpful in treating their condition. Should you have any questions about this, please feel free to discuss our research with Dr Cappuccino.

Dr. Cappuccino has also served on the medical staff of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres for more than 25 years, and in this capacity has returned professional athletes with spine injuries, back to the field.  As the attending surgeon who operated on paralyzed Buffalo Bill Kevin Everett and who then coordinated his care, he was nationally recognized for Mr. Everett’s recovery. They have appeared together on the Oprah Show, and at many venues raising money for Mr. Everett’s foundation to care for spinal cord injury patients. 

 Dr. Cappuccino consistently appears on the Castle Connolly “Top Docs” List, and has received several awards including: Western New York Community Leader Healthcare Award (National Federation of Just Communities), Business First “Health Care Hero” for his contributions as an innovator of medical technology, “Citizen of the Year” for Buffalo, New York (Buffalo News),  “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” (Buffalo Bills Alumni), Hilbert College Medal Recipient, UB Alumni Association Award, “Italian American Citizen of the Year” for Buffalo New York, D’Youville College Award for Achievement in Health Care, and the Dr. Ernest Jokl Sports Medicine Award from the United States Sports Academy.

Dr. Cappuccino has a strong calling to charitable causes, and has hosted children from Asia, and Europe here in the US so he could perform much-needed operations without charge which the children would otherwise not receive. He has also been on several medical missions to Kenya to perform spine operations on patients with no access to care otherwise. He also serves on a number of non-profit boards.

Dr. Cappuccino is himself a leukemia survivor, treated with stem cell therapy himself to effect his cure. He is married to surgical oncologist Helen Cappuccino, MD, and they have six children.