Dr. Brett A. Schlifka graduated cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago in 1992 with a BS in Biology. He earned his D.O. degree from the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City Missouri in 1997, where he also received the Gold Stethoscope Award for graduating first in his medical school class. Dr. Schlifka then completed a General Surgery Internship at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington in 1998.
After his internship,from 1998-2000, Dr. Schlifka was deployed to South Korea where he served as the Brigade Flight Surgeon with the 6th Calvary Brigade; an Apache Attack Helicopter Brigade. He then attended Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where he completed his Neurosurgery Residency in 2005. Dr. Schlifka returned to Madigan Army Medical Center to complete his military obligation in 2005. During that time, he gained extensive trauma experience (Brain, Craniofacial, and Spine) as a staff neurosurgeon in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his tour in Iraq, Dr. Schlifka served as the theater consultant for Neurosurgery. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Upon completing his military obligation, Dr. Schlifka sought an academic position as an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center; where he participated in training residents and helping to build the Neuroscience Institute. His clinical interests include Adult Degenerative Scoliosis/Complex Revision Spine Surgery, spinal tumors, brain and spine trauma, intracranial cerebrovascular and tumor surgery, and complex peripheral nerve surgery. As a trauma expert, Dr. Schlifka has traveled the country as a guest lecturer at trauma conferences and training courses. He is currently in private practice with Palm Beach Neurosurgery. Dr. Schlifka has written questions for both the AOBS Written and Oral Neurosurgical Board Exams and is a Board Examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. He was also a past Chair of the Neurosurgery Division of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.