Dr. William L. Sheppard Jr. is an orthopedic spine surgeon practicing in Santa Monica, California. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders, utilizing both advanced surgical and non-surgical approaches to help patients restore function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life.

Dr. Sheppard earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Honors from the University of California, Davis before attending the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA as a prestigious UCLA-PRIME and Geffen Scholar. During medical school, he also earned a Master of Public Health from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health as a Dean’s Leadership in Health Science Scholar. He completed his general surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at UCLA Health before pursuing advanced fellowship training in spine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s highly regarded combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine surgery fellowship program.

Dr. Sheppard’s clinical expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of spinal conditions, including degenerative spine disease, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spinal deformity, traumatic spine injuries, and disorders requiring complex reconstruction. He has particular interests in minimally invasive spine surgery, motion preservation techniques, and evidence-based approaches to spinal care.

An active member of several leading professional organizations, including the North American Spine Society (NASS), the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), the Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS), AO Spine, and the J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society, Dr. Sheppard remains dedicated to advancing the field of spine surgery through clinical excellence, research, education, and service. Dr. Sheppard is also deeply committed to mentorship and medical education, having guided numerous medical students, residents, and fellows pursuing careers in orthopedic surgery and spine surgery. Beyond his clinical and academic work, he has participated in global health initiatives providing orthopedic care and surgical education in underserved communities throughout Central America and Africa.