Richard L. Saunders, MD

Clinical Interests & Specialties

• Cervical Orthosis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery

Appointments & Affiliations

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS 

• Active Professor Emeritus, Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire  (1997)
• Professor of Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire (1992 to 1997)
• Professor of Clinical Surgery (Neurosurgery), Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire  (1987 to 1992)
• Chairman and Residency Program Director, Neurological Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (1980 to 1997)
• Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire  (1981 to 1987  )
• Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire (1970 to 1981 )
• Honorary Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, School of  Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (1984)

HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS 

• UVNN Lebanon, NH; Neurosurgery (Present)
• Gifford Medical Center; Neurosurgery (Present)
• New London Hospital; Neurosurgery (Present)
• Staff Surgeon, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, Lebanon, New  Hampshire (1970 to 1997)
• Staff Neurosurgeon, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, Lebanon, New  Hampshire (1999 to 2009)

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 

• Grafton County Medical Society
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons, (Senior Member)
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons, (Senior Member)
• COSIN Scientific Advisory Board
• New England Neurosurgical Society
• Society of Neurological Surgeons
• Spine Research Society, (Senior Member)

Honors & Awards

Publications

• Saunders RL: Intramedullary epidermoid cyst associated with a dermal sinus.  Case report.  J Neurosurg 31 (1): (1983-86,1969) 
• Saunders RL: Sachs E Jr:  Relation of accessory rootlets of the trigeminal nerve to its motor root:  A microsurgical autopsy study.  J Neurosurg 33(3):317-324, (1970)
• Saunders RL: Sachs E Jr:  The role of the motor root in recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia.  Headache 10(4):144-147, (1971)
• Saunders RL: Krout R, Sachs E Jr.:  Masticator electromyography in trigeminal neuralgia.  Neurology 21(12):1221-1225, (1971)
• Sachs E Jr., Saunders RL: Advantages of fifth nerve section at the pons for trigeminal neuralgia (Dandy operation).  In:  Present Limits of Neurosurgery:  Proceedings of the Fourth European Congress of Neurosurgery.  Avicenum, Czechoslovak Medical Press, Prague, (1972), pp 531-533.
• Woodford JE, Bogdanowicz W, Saunders RL: Traumatic Intracranial hematomas.  Role of CSF leakage.  JAMA 227(10):1152-1154, (1974)
• Woodford JE, Saunders RL: Sachs E Jr:  Shunt system patency testing by lumbar infusion.  J Neurosurg 45(1):60-65, (1976)
• Zumpano BJ, Saunders RL: Lumbar intradural arachnoid diverticulum with cauda equina compression.  Surg Neural 5(6):349-353, (1976)
• Zumpano BJ, Saunders RL: Percutaneous epidural dorsal column stimulation.  Technical note.  J Neurosurg 45(4):459-460, (1976)
• Vincent FM, Sadowsky CH, Saunders RL, Reeves AG: Alexia without agraphia, hemianopia, or color-naming defect:  A disconnection syndrome.  Neurology 27(7):689-691, (1977)
• Saunders RL: Intracranial pressure monitoring survey.  Neurosurgery 3(1):130, (1978)
• Saunders RL: Dandy approach to trigeminal nerve.  Acta Neurochirsurgica 42:254, (1978)
• Goldsmith HS, Saunders RL, Reeves AG, Allen CD, Milne J: Omental transposition to brain of stroke patients.  Stroke 10(4):471-472, July/August, (1979)
• Saunders RL, Lyons TA: External ventricular drainage.  A technical note.  Crit Care Med 7(12):556-558, (1979)
• Saunders RL, Wilson DW: The surgery of cervical disc disease:  New perspectives.  Clin Orthop 146:119-127, January/February, (1980)
• Greenblatt SH, Saunders RL, Culver CM, Bogdanowicz W: Normal interhemispheric visual transfer with incomplete section of the splenium.  Arch Neurol 37(9):567-571, (1980)
• Fisher RG, Saunders RL: Lumbar disc protrusion in children.  J Neurosurg 54(4):480-483, (1981)
• Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL, Edwards WH: External ventricular drainage for control of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants.  J Neurosurgery 55(5):766-770, (1981)
• Kenning JA, Toutant SM, Saunders RL: Upright patient positioning in the management of intracranial hypertension.  Surg Neurol 15(2):148-152, (1981)
• Levy RL, Saunders RL: Citrobacter meningitis and cerebral abscess in early infancy:  Cure by moxalactam.  Neurology 31(12):1575-1577, (1981)
• Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL, Reeves AG: Pediatric cerebellar infarction:  Case report and review of the literature.  J Neurosurg 10(5):593-596, (1982)
• Harbaugh RE, Coombs DW, Saunders RL, et al: Implanted continuous epidural morphine infusion system:  Preliminary report.  J Neurosurg 56(6):803-806, (1982)
• Coombs DW, Saunders RL, Gaylor M, Pageau MG: Epidural narcotic infusion reservoir:  Implantation technique and efficacy.  Anesthesiology 56(6):469-473, (1982)
• Coombs DW, Pageau MG, Saunders RL, Mroz WT: Intraspinal narcotic tolerance:  preliminary experience with continuous bupivacaine HCL infusion via implanted infusion device.  Int J Artif Organs 5(6):379-382, (1982)
• Coombs DW, Saunders RL, Gaylor MS, et al: Relief of continuous chronic pain by intraspinal narcotics infusion via an implanted reservoir.  JAMA 250(17):2336-2339, (1983)
• Carlton CK, Saunders RL: Twist drill craniostomy and closed system drainage of chronic and subacute subdural hematomas.  Neurosurgery 13(2):153:159, (1983)
• Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL: The false fontanel.  J Neurosurg 61(1):71-75, (1984)
• Saunders RL, Harbaugh RE: The second impact in catastrophic contact-sports head trauma.  JAMA 252(4):538-539, (1984)
• Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL: Intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants.  Contemp Neurosurg 6(3):1-6, (1984)
• Harbaugh RE, Roberts DW, Coombs DW, Saunders RL, Reeder TM: Preliminary report:  Intracranial cholinergic drug infusion in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  Neurosurgery 15(4):514-518, (1984)
• Coombs DW, Maurer LH, Saunders RL, Gaylor M: Outcomes and complications of continuous intraspinal narcotic analgesia for cancer pain control.  J Clin Oncol 2(12):1414-1420, (1984)
• Kennedy JG, Saunders RL: Use of cryoprecipitate coagulum to control tumor-bed bleeding.  Case report. J Neurosurg 60(5):1099-1101, (1984)  \
• Coombs DW, Saunders RL, Lachance D, Savage S, Ragnarsson TS, Jensen LE: Intrathecal morphine tolerance:  use of intrathecal clonidine, DADLE, and intraventricular morphine:  A representative case and review.  Anesthesiology 62(3):358-363, (1985)
• Saunders RL, WeiderD: Tympanic membrane sensation.  Brain 108(Part2):387-404, (1985)
• Weider DJ, Geurkink NA, Saunders RL: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorhinorrhea.  AM J Otol 6(5):416:422, (1985)
• Saunders RL, Simmons GM, Edwards WH, Crow HC: A cranial nail for fetal shunting:  Technical note.  Child’s Nerv Syst 1:185-187, (1985)
• Coombs DW, Fratkin JD, Meier FA, Nierenberg DW, Saunders RL: Neuropathic lesions and CSF morphine concentrations during chronic continuous intraspinal morphine infusion.  A clinical and post-mortem study.  Pain 22(4):337-351, (1985)
• Saunders RL: Table-fixed retractor system for noncranial surgery:  Technical note.  J Neurosurg 64:819-821, (1986)
• Coombs DW, Saunders RL, Fratkin JD, Jensen LE, Murphy CA: Continuous intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine for intractable cancer pain.  J Neurosurg 64:890-894, (1986)
• Saunders RL: We can close down the “hired gun” industry.  Medical Economics June 28-32, (1987)
• Graham JM Jr, Saunders RL, Fratkin J, Spiegel P, Harris M, Klein RZ: A cluster of Pallister-Hall Syndrome cases (congenital hypothalamic hemartoblastoma syndrome).  Am J Med Genetics.
• Saunders RL, Simmons GM, Edwards WH, Crow HC: A cranial nail for fetal shunting:  Technical note.  (Abstr)  In:  Matsumoto S (ed.):  Annual Review of Hydrocephalus.  Kobe, Japan:  Kobe University School of Medicine, 4:146-148, (1986)
• Coombs DW, Nierenberg D, Saunders RL, Mroz WT: Steady state CSF morphine concentrations with chronic intraspinal infusion.  (Submitted for publication in ASA).
• Rhodes TT, Edwards WH, Saunders RL, Harbaugh RE, Little CL, Morgan LJ, Sargent SK: External ventricular drainage for initial treatment of neonatal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus:  Surgical and neurodevelopmental outcome.  Pediatric Neuroscience 13:255-262, (1987)
• Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL, Reeder RF: Use of implantable pumps for central nervous system drug infusions to treat neurological disease.  Neurosurgery 23(6):693-698, (1988)
• Reeder RF, Saunders RL, Roberts DW, Fratkin JK, Cromwell LD: Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of Lhermitte-Duclos disease (dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum).  Neurosurgery 23(2):240-245, (1988)
• Toselli RM, dePapp A, Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL: Neurosurgical complications after intranasal ethmoidectomy.  J Neurol Neurosurg Psych 54(5):463-465, (1991)
• Saunders RL: Anterior reconstructive procedures in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.  Clin Neurosurg 37:682-721, (1991)
• Jonsson E, Coombs DW, Hunstad D, Richardson JR, Fordham von Reyn C, Saunders RL, Heaney JA: Continuous Infusion of Intrathecal Morphine to Control Bladder Pain in a Patient with AIDS.  J Urology 47:687-689, (1991)
• Saunders RL, Bernini PM, Shirreffs TG, Reeves, AG: Central corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy:  A consecutive series with long-term follow-up evaluation.  J Neurosurg 74:163:170, (1991)
• Rupa V, Saunders RL, Weider DJ: Geniculate Neuralgia:  Surgical management of primary otalgia.  J Neurosurg 75:505-511, (1991)
• Weider DJ, Saunders RL, Musiek FE: Repair of a cerebrospinal fluid perilymph fistula primarily through the middle ear and secondarily by occluding the cochlear aqueduct.  Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 105(1):35-39, (1991)
• Saunders RL, Harbaugh RE: Periventricular hemorrhage in premature infants.  Contemp Neurosurg 14:11, 1991.
• Rupa V, Weider DJ, Glasner S, Saunders RL: Geniculate Ganglion:  Anatomic study with surgical implications.  Am J Otology 13(5):470-473, (1992)
• Saunders RL: On the pathogenesis of the radiculopathy complicating multilevel corpectomy.  Neurosurgery 37(3):408-413, (1995)
• Saunders RL: Cervical spondylosis:  The when and how of surgery.  Neurosurg Quarterly, (1999)
• Saunders RL, Pikus HJ, Ball P: Four-Level Cervical Corpectomy.  Spine 23:2455-2461, (1998)
• Saunders RL: Anterior Subaxial Decompression for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Techniques in Neurosurgery.  5:111-123, (1999)
• Saunders, RL: The Impact of Aging on Head Injuries:  An Editorial, The Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care, August (2002)

Book Chapters

• Saunders RL: Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy, Editor & Author: Boston: Blackwell, (1992). Extraprofessional Activities – Juried sculptor
• Saunders RL: Coombs DW:  Pain control with implantable systems for the long-term infusion of intraspinal opioids in man.  In:  Poletti CE, Schmidek HH, et al (eds.):  Operative Neurosurgical Techniques (Indications, Methods, and Results).  New York:  Grune & Stratton, (1982)
• Saunders RL: Microsurgical lumbar disc excision: a dissenting view.  In:Poletti CE, Schmidek HH, et al (eds.):  Operative Neurosurgical Techniques (Indications, Methods, and Results).  New York:  Grune & Stratton, (1982)
• Coombs DW, Saunders RL: Intraspinal infusion of narcotic drugs.  In:  Wilkins RH, Rengacheny SS (eds.):  Neurosurgery.  McGraw-Hill, pp ---(2393-2387)---.
  Harbaugh RE, Saunders RL: Neurosurgical options in cancer pain management.  In:  Higby DJ (ed.):  Issues in Supportive Care of Cancer Patients.  Boston:  Martinus Nijhoff, (1986), pp 95-105.
• Saunders RL: Coombs DW, Harbaugh RE:  Infusional methods for pain.  In:  Youmans JR (ed.):  Neurological Surgery.  A Comprehensive Guide to the Diagnosis and Management of Neurosurgical Problems, Vol. 6, 3rd  Philadelphia:  WB Saunders, (1989), pp 4121-4128.
• Saunders RL: Complications of cervical corpectomy.  In:  Tarlov E (ed.):  Complications of Spinal Surgery, Neurosurgical Topics.  Williams & Wilkins, 1991.
• Saunders RL: Infectious disorders affecting the posterior fossa.  In:  Apuzzo M, (ed.):  Brain Surgery:  Complication Avoidance and Management.  New York:  Churchill, (1992)
• Saunders RL: Reoperative surgery for non-neoplastic disease of cervical spine.  In:  Little J (ed.):  Reoperative Neurosurgery.  Williams & Wilkins, (1992)
• Saunders RL: Surgical perspectives in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.  In:  Sinha KK, Chandra P (eds.):  Advances in Clinical Neurosciences.  Association of Neuroscientists of Eastern India, (1993)
• Saunders, RL: Interbody strut techniques for subaxial cervical spine fusion.  In:  Benzel EC (ed.):  Spine Surgery:  Techniques, Complication Avoidance & Management.  Churchill Livingstone, (1995)
• Saunders RL: Cervical discectomy.  In:  Benzel EC (ed.):  Spine Surgery:  Techniques, Complication Avoidance & Management.  Churchill Livingstone, 1999.
  Saunders RL: Treatment for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  In:  Yoganandan N, Pintar RA, Larson SJ, and Sances A (eds.):  Frontiers in Head and Neck Trauma.  Amsterdam:  IOS Press, (1998)
• Saunders, RL: Trough Decompression With Strut Bone Graft.  Controversies in Spine Surgery.   Zdeblick, Benzel, Anderson and Stillerman, 2002.
  Saunders, RL: Cervical Disc In: Benzel (Ed) Spine Surgery:  Techniques, Complications, Avoidance and Management.  2nd Elsevier Churchill Livingston, (2005)
• Saunders, RL: Cervical Spondylosis.  In: Benzel (Ed) Spine Surgery:  Techniques, Complications, Avoidance and Management.  2nd Elsevier Churchill Livingston, (2005)
• Saunders, RL: Corpectomy:  Not to Plate.  In: Benzel (Ed) Spine Surgery:  Techniques, Complications, Avoidance and Management.  2nd Elsevier Churchill Livingston, (2005)

Lectures

Presentations

• Saunders RL:  The Role of Epidural Blood in Arachnoiditis, Experimental Study.  Presented at San Francisco Meeting of American Association of Neurological Surgery, (April, 1976)
• Saunders RL, Wilson DW:  Dandy Approach to the Trigeminal Nerve.  Presented to Scandinavian Neurological Society, Reykjavik, Iceland, (1977)
• Saunders RL:  Approaches to Chronic Pain:  Technical Considerations—Pros and cons of surgical intervention.  Intraspinal Narcotic Analgesia for Acute and Chronic Pain, Palm Springs, California, (April 8, 1983)
• Saunders RL, Harbaugh R:  Chronic Non-Malignant Pain:  Results at Dartmouth with Continuous Epidural Morphine.  Intraspinal Narcotic Analgesia for Acute and Chronic Pain, Palm Springs, California, (April 9, 1983)
• Saunders RL:  Intraspinal Narcotics for Intractable Pain.  Moderator, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, 33rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, October 29-(November 2, 1983)
• Saunders RL:  Practical Solutions to Infant Bioethical Problems.  American Academy of Pediatrics Meeting, Hanover, New Hampshire, (November 10, 1984)
• Saunders RL:  Surgical Management of Pain.  Participant in Seminar at American Association of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, (April 23, 1985)
• Saunders RL:  Spinal Analgesia:  A New Approach to Cancer Pain.  International Symposium, Munich, Germany, (April 26-28, 1985)
• Saunders RL:  Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, (October 1, 1985)
• Saunders RL:  Current Treatment of Chronic Pain by Infusion Methods.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, (October 1, 1985)
• Saunders RL, Kasdon D:  Spinal Procedures for Pain and Spasticity.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, (October 3, 1985)
• Saunders RL:  Acute Head Injury:  What to Do Before the Patient Reaches the Neurosurgeon.  Panelist, Tri-State Meeting of the Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire Chapters, American College of Surgeons, Hanover, New Hampshire, (February 2, 1986)
• Saunders RL:  Use of Collagenase for Chemonucleolysis.  Second Annual Meeting of the Joint Section on Spinal Disorders of the AANS/CNS, San Diego, California, (February 19,1986)
• Saunders RL:  Deep Inner Ear Pain—Surgical Treatment.  New Hampshire Medical Society Meeting, (June 3, 1986)
• Saunders RL:  Intractable Pain.  New Hampshire Medical Society Meeting, (June 4, 1986)
• Saunders RL:  Multilevel Anterior Corpectomy and Iliac Bone Graft for Spondylotic Cervical Myelopathy.  38th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Neurosurgical Society, Reykjavik, Iceland, (June 11-14, 1986)
• Saunders RL:  Neurosurgical Treatment—Geniculate Neuralgia.  New Hampshire/Vermont Neurological Society Fall Meeting, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, (October 4, 1986)
• Saunders RL:  Multilevel Partial Corpectomy and Fusion for Spondylotic Cervical Myelopathy (SCM).  Third Annual Meeting of the Joint Section on Spinal Disorders of the AANS/CNS, Boca Raton, Florida, (January 16, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Multilevel Partial Corpectomy and Fusion for Spondylotic Cervical Myelopathy (SCM).  Winter Meeting, New England Neurosurgical Society, Woodstock, Vermont, (February 6, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Multilevel Partial Corpectomy and Fusion for Spondylotic Cervical Myelopathy (SCM).  1987 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Dallas, Texas, (May 4, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Pediatric Head Injury.  First Annual Neurology/Neurosurgery Symposium for Physicians/Nurses, Neurology Associates, Sioux City, Iowa, (May 9, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Management of Cervical Spine Degenerative Disease.  First Annual Neurology/Neurosurgery Symposium for Physicians/Nurses, Neurology Associates, Sioux City, Iowa, (May 9, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Deep Ear Pain:  The Dartmouth Experience.  Problems and Horizons in Otology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, (June 27, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Management of Cervical Spondylosis:  Anterior Approach.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, (October 26, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Controversies in the Management of Cervical Spondylosis.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, (October 26, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Multilevel Partial Corpectomy and Fusion for Spondylitic Cervical Myelopathy.  New Hampshire/Vermont Neurological Society Fall Meeting, Burlington, Vermont, (November 7, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Management of Cervical Spondylosis Anterior Approach.  Neurosurgery Update, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, (November 9, 1987)
• Saunders RL:  Problems and Results of Strut Graft Stabilization of the Cervical Spine.  Fourth Annual Meeting of the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, Phoenix, Arizona, (February 18, 1988)
• Saunders RL:  Geniculate Neuralgia.  New England Neurosurgical Society Winter Meeting, Woodstock, Vermont, (March 4, 1988)
• Saunders RL:  Infusion Devices in Neurosurgery:  Utilization and Function.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, (April 26, 1988)
• Saunders RL:  Management of Unstable Cervical Spine.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, (April 26, 1988)
• Saunders RL:  Evaluation and Management of Spinal Injuries.  Neurological Emergencies, Hanover, New Hampshire, (December 14, 1988)
• Saunders RL:  Long-Term Follow-Up for Vertebrectomy in Spondylitic Myelopathy.  New England Neurosurgical Society Winter Meeting, Hanover, New Hampshire, (February 3, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Corpectomy for CSM.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons Meeting.  Washington, D.C., (April 3-7, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Corpectomy Series.  New Hampshire/Vermont Neurological Society Meeting, Burlington, Vermont, (May 6, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Long-Term Follow-Up after Multilevel Vertebrectomy for Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Ninth International Congress of Neurological Surgeons Meeting, New Delhi, India, (October 8-13, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior Reconstructive Procedures in CSM.  39th Annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Atlanta, Georgia, (October 28-November 2, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Indications for Cervical Corpectomy.  39th Annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Atlanta, Georgia, (October 28-November 2, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Long-Term Follow-Up after Multilevel Vertebrectomy for Spondylotic Myelopathy.  39th Annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Atlanta, Georgia, (October 28-November 2, 1989)
• Saunders RL:  Complications of Cervical Corpectomy.  Annual Meeting Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Captiva Island, Florida, (February 7-11, 1990)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior Cervical Corpectomy.  58th AANS Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, (April 28-May 3, 1990)
• Saunders RL:  Complex Decisions in Cervical Spine Surgery.  59th AANS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, (April 22, 1991)
• Saunders RL:  Methods and Problems of Cervical Spine Stabilization.  59th AANS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, (April 24, 1991)
• Saunders RL:  Salvage Surgery in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM).  Tri-State Meeting of the American College of Surgeons, Burlington, Vermont, (June 1, 1991)
• Saunders RL:  Central Corpectomy for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Citizen Ambassador Program Spinal Injury Delegation to the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, (October 18-November 2, 1991)
• Saunders RL:  Immediate and Long-Term Morbidity of Multilevel Central Corpectomy for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM).  19th Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, (December 4-6, 1991)
• Saunders RL:  The Problem of Cervical Spondylosis.  60th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, San Francisco, California, (April 12-15, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  The ABC’s of Spine Surgery:  Cervical Spine.  12th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Niigata, Japan, (April 23-25, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  Present Status of Corpectomy, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Surgery of the Cervical Spine - Hands On, Cincinnati, Ohio, (May 15-17, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  The Learning Curve in Cervical Corpectomy, Society of University Neurosurgeons.  28th Annual Meeting, Woodstock, Vermont, (June 24-27, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  Surgery of the Cervical Spine – Hands On, Professional Development Course.  Co-Chairman, Sponsored by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, St. Louis, Missouri, (October 2-4, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  Surgery of the Cervical Spine – Hands On, Professional Development Course.  Co-Chairman, Sponsored by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Los Angeles, California, (November 19-22, 1992)
• Saunders RL:  Central Corpectomy for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Visiting Professor, Mayfield Neurological Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, (March 30-31,1993)
• Saunders RL:  Surgical Perspectives on Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Tufts Medical School Centennial Celebration, (April 17, 1993)
• Saunders RL:  Elimination of Morbidity in Central Cervical Corpectomy.  New England Neurosurgical Society, New Haven, Connecticut, (September, 1993)
• Saunders RL:  The Pathophysiological Basis of Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy, Congress of Neurological Surgeons.  Annual Meeting, Vancouver, (October 2-7, 1993)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior and Anterolateral Approaches to the Subaxial Cervical Spine.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons.  Surgical Exposure of the Spine – Hands On, Professional Development Course, Albuquerque, New Mexico, (November 4-7,1993)
• Saunders RL:  The C-5 Radiculopathy Associated with Multilevel Corpectomy.  Rachidian Society Annual Meeting, Kohala Sun Coast, Hawaii, (March 21-24, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior Decompression.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Surgery of the Cervical Spine - Hands On, Co-Chairman, New Orleans, (May 13-14, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Degenerative Diseases of the Cervical Spine.  Visiting Profressor, Appleton Medical Center, Appleton, Wisconsin, (May 20, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior and Lateral Cervical Surgery – Anatomy and Approaches.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Spine Surgery:  A Comprehensive Approach – Hands On, Albuquerque, New Mexico, (May 22-27, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  The C-5 Radiculopathy Associated with Multilevel Corpectomy.  New England Neurosurgical Society, Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, (June 3, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Medical Malpractice and Defensive Medicine.  Bridging the Gap:  Common Concerns of Lawyers and Doctors, Vermont Bar Association, Montpelier, Vermont, (September 9, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Symposium for Oral Board Preparation.  Guest Speaker.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Annual Meeting, (October 5, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Experiences with Four-Level Cervical Corpectomies.  Guest Speaker.  Wisconsin Neurosurgical Society, Annual Meeting, Kohler, Wisconsin, (October 21, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Contemporary Perspectives on Cervical Spondylosis.  Guest Speaker.  Eighth Annual Neuroscience Conference, Marian Health Center.  Current Topics in Neurology and Neurosurgery, Sioux City, Iowa, (November 18, 1994)
• Saunders RL:  Outcomes Study in Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Guest Speaker.  Philadelphia Neurological Society.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (February 8, 1995)
• Saunders RL:  Remote Follow-Up of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  New England Neurosurgical Society Fall Meeting, Manchester, Vermont, (September 20, 1996)
• Saunders RL:  Commentator, Cervical Spine.  International Congress of Neurological Surgery, Amsterdam, (June 17, 1997)
• Saunders RL:  Anterior Surgery for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  International Congress of Neurological Surgery, Amsterdam, (June 17, 1997)
• Saunders RL:  Cervical Spine Degenerative Disease:  Posterior or Anterior.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, (September 29, 1997)
• Saunders RL:  Guest Faculty.  6th Annual Denver Spine Institute Winter Meeting, Breckenridge, Colorado, (February 27, 1998)
• Saunders RL:  Cervical Spine Practical Clinic.  Co-Chairman and presenter.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (April 26, 1998)
• Saunders RL:  Breakfast Seminar Presentation.  Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Annual Meeting of American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (April 27, 1998)
• Saunders RL:  Moderator.  Luncheon Seminar on Cervical Spondylosis.  Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Seattle, Washington, (October 5, 1998)
• Saunders RL:  Co-director.  Cervical Spine Practical Clinic.  American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Philadelphia, (April 25, 1999)
• Saunders RL:  Moderator--Luncheon Seminar, “Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy:  Annual meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.  Boston, October 31-(November 4, 1999)
• Saunders RL:  The cervical posterior longitudinal ligament.  Presentation:  Eighth Annual Meeting of Rachidian Society.  Hawaii, (March 2, 2000)
• Saunders RL:  Panelist:  Contemporary Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.  San Francisco, (April 12, 2000)
• Saunders RL:  The cervical posterior longitudinal ligament.  Presentation:  Annual Meeting of the New England Neurological Surgery Society.  Boston, (June 9, 2000)
• Saunders RL:  A critique of instrumentation in anterior cervical spine surgery.  Presentation:  Fall meeting of the NENS.  Woods Hole, (September 23, 2000)
• Saunders RL:  Retraction and Soft Tissue Morbidity in Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery.  Presentation:  Winter meeting of the NENS.  Manchester, VT, (March 2, 2001)
• Saunders RL:  Panelist:  Contemporary Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.  Toronto, Ontario, (April 26, 2001)
• Saunders RL:  Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, (Sept.29 - Oct. 3, 2001)
• Saunders RL:  Joint Spine Section CNA/AANS Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida,
• Saunders RL: Panelist:  Contemporary Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.  Annual Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Chicago, Illinois, (April 9, 2002)
• Saunders RL: Moderator:  The Simple Cervical Disc.  Annual Meeting of Congress of Neurological Surgeons.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (September 24, 2002)
• Saunders, RL: A Cranial Fixed Cervical Orthotic:    Annual Meeting of Rachidian Society.  February 2003, Kona, Hawaii.
• Saunders RL:  Spondylotic Myelopathy: Current Biases.  Invited Lecture.  Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, (August 2004)
• Saunders, RL:  Cervical Spine Protection in Emergent Car Crash Extraction, A Critique: Presentation, Annual Meeting of Rachidian Society.  (February 27, 2005)  Kona, Hawaii
• Saunders, RL:  Conservative Management of Minimally Symptomatic Cervical Spinal Cord Compression.  Instruction Course, Cervical Spine Research Society
• Saunders, RL: World Federation of Neurological Surgeons, Boston, MA, (August 2009 -  September 2009)  Presentation:  Spondylotic Myelopathy, biases and asides.
• Saunders, RL: Vertebral Artery Injury in Anterior Surgery.  Instructional Course, Cervical Spine Research Society.  (2009)
• Saunders, RL: Vertebral Artery Injury in Anterior Surgery.  Presentation:  New England Neurosurgical Society.  (June 2010)

Laboratory Research

Licensed in the State of:

• New Hampshire (1966)
• Iowa (1987)
• Vermont (1997)

BOARD CERTIFICATION 

American Board of Neurological Surgery (1972)