Atlanta Spine Institute

Meet Dr. Plas James

Dr. Plas James specializes in the treatment of all spinal conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease. If you have back pain or neck pain, or numbness in your fingers, arms, or legs, Dr. James can help determine the best course of action to return you to a pain-free life.

From the very beginning, Dr. Plas T. James has had a passion for science and healing. The Louisiana native completed his undergraduate studies in 1982, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Xavier University. He earned his medical degree in 1986 from the prestigious Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. James completed his general surgery internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1991. His advanced spine surgery education was obtained through a combined neurosurgical and orthopaedic spine fellowship program at Harvard Medical School, completed in 1992. Dr. James continues researching and studying the latest techniques in spine care and surgery at noted institutions nationally and internationally.

A published researcher in the field of orthopaedics and spine care, Dr. James has served as orthopaedic faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine Spine Fellowship Teaching Program. He was a guest lecturer at Harvard Medical School on “Lumbar Spine Trauma” and discussed “Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy” before the Atlanta Bar Association.

Dr. James is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Board of Spine Surgery. From 1995 to 1997, he served as Chief of Orthopaedics at West Paces Medical Center. His hospital affiliations in the Atlanta area include Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta Medical Center, and Southern Regional Hospital.

Dr. James has extensive experience treating professional and high-caliber amateur athletes. He served as Team Physician and Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon for the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers and for the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons from 2004 to 2011. He continues to serve as Orthopaedic Spine Consultant for the Atlanta Falcons. Additional team physician experience includes the 2000 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Georgia Games Amateur Boxing, the USA Boxing Association, and the Holyfield-Frazier boxing event.

Dr. James is widely recognized as one of the top spine surgeons in Atlanta. In 2023 he received the prestigious Hugh McLeod Award of Excellence from the Arthritis Foundation.

Meet Dr. Ben Burch

Dr. Ben Burch is a double board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon specializing in both surgical and non-surgical care for a wide range of spinal conditions. With advanced training in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, he is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts and is among a select group of surgeons proficient in both uniportal and biportal endoscopic techniques. This dual expertise allows him to create highly personalized treatment plans for each patient.

Dr. Burch treats disc herniations, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, spinal deformity, tumors, infections, and traumatic injuries in both adults and adolescents. His practice focuses on precise diagnosis, tailored treatment plans, and faster recovery through the least invasive approaches possible.

Dr. Burch earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Economics from the University of Alabama in 2010 and a Master of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Alabama in 2012. He received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2016. He completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute from 2016 to 2021, followed by a fellowship in Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at the Brown University Alpert Medical School, completed in 2022.

Dr. Burch is board-certified by both the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). He is an active member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS), the North American Spine Society (NASS), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and AO Spine.

A published researcher and educator, Dr. Burch has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters and remains involved in ongoing research to advance spine surgery techniques. He regularly teaches advanced endoscopic methods to other surgeons, helping expand access to these procedures nationwide. He previously performed the first endoscopic spine surgery in Mississippi and later completed Georgia’s first fully endoscopic spinal fusion surgeries—milestones that underscore his leadership in ultra-minimally invasive spine care.

Endoscopic spine surgery, performed through incisions only a few millimeters in size, often results in less muscle disruption, reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain, and faster recovery. Many procedures can be completed on an outpatient basis. Above all, Dr. Burch is committed to providing every patient with a thoughtful, personalized treatment plan—surgical or non-surgical—built around their individual condition, goals, and lifestyle.