Ernest Braxton, MD, MBA

Ernest Braxton, MD, MBA, is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumors, neurotrauma, and complex and minimally invasive spine surgeries. At his offices in Vail, Frisco, and Edwards, Colorado, Dr. Braxton offers treatment to children and adults who experience chronic pain from spine injuries and degenerative diseases. He champions the prevention and management of concussions and other brain injuries.
Dr. Braxton has extensive experience using the latest diagnostic and surgical technologies to address the underlying causes of neck and back pain, including spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, disc herniation, and spine deformities. He is also an expert in artificial disc surgery.
Customized treatment plans focus on conservative therapies, like medications, bracing, physical therapy, and chiropractic care, to ease pain and improve the spine’s overall health. Dr. Braxton also offers microdiscectomy, laminectomy, lumbar fusion, and cervical fusion surgeries. He does some surgeries, including transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), on an outpatient basis without the need for general anesthesia.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Braxton completed his residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While in Pittsburgh, he earned his master’s degree in business administration from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Dr. Braxton got to ring the opening bell at the NASDAQ stock exchange to celebrate his accomplishments as an entrepreneur.
Dr. Braxton is an Afghanistan war veteran. He has a strong history of caring for complex combat injuries during Operation Enduring Freedom and contributed to the 96% survivability rate of incoming wounded. He served as the chief of neurosurgery at San Antonio Military Medical Center, part of Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Defense Department’s largest medical treatment facility.
In addition to serving his patients, Dr. Braxton is a team physician for the US ski and snowboard teams and the USA Nordic team. To relax, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, skiing, and biking.