Timothy E. Lindley, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Timothy Lindley is a fellowship-trained, board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in the treatment of injuries and conditions of the back, neck, and spine. Using his extensive training and experience, he works with his patients to formulate a plan that always focuses on addressing the problem in a way that minimizes risk and maximizes the likelihood of long-term improvement.

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in Duluth, Dr. Lindley received a doctorate in anatomy and cell biology and his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City. Following medical school, he stayed in Iowa City and completed residency training in neurosurgery and two fellowships in spine surgery and neurosurgery at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Dr. Lindley grew up in Alexandria, and he is happy to be back in his hometown, providing the best care possible to friends and neighbors. He is excited to know that people can now get the best care possible right in their own backyard, and Dr. Lindley deeply enjoys taking care of patients and later seeing how much that hard work has improved their quality of life.

In addition to his extensive medical commitments, Dr. Lindley enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Lindley is available to see patients at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists in Alexandria.

Education & Training

• Undergraduate Degree: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN
• Graduate Degree: Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
• Medical Degree: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
• Neurosurgery Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
• Clinical Neurosurgery Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
• Orthopedic Spine Fellowship: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
• Board Certification: The American Board of Neurological Surgery

Professional Affiliations

• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons
• Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Special Interests

• Open and Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy/Foraminotomy
• Open and Minimally Invasive Lumbar Laminectomy
• Lumbar Fusion
• Cervical Discectomy
• Cervical Fusion
• Management of Spine and Spinal Cord Tumors
• Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement
• Management of Thoracolumbar Deformity

Publications/Presentations

• Published author in Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, 2016, 2011, 2009
• Published author in Cureus, April, May 2016
• Published author in Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, 2014, 2013
• Published author in Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, March 2014
• Published author in Public Library of Science’s PLOS ONE, August 2013
• Published author in Journal of Neurological Surgery Part A: Central European Neurosurgery, June 2013
• Published author in American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2009
• Published author in Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 2007
• Published author in American Journal Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, April 2005
• Published author in Circulation Research, 2004
• Published author in Physiological Genomics, 2004
• Published author in Hypertension, 2002
• Published author in Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1999

Book Chapters

• Co-author of book chapter in Approaches for Spinal Fusion & Instrumentation, Chapter 14, 2007
• Co-author of book chapter in Spinal Reconstruction Clinical Examples of Applied Basic Science, Biomechanics, and Engineering, Chapter 9, 2007
• Co-author of book chapter in Schmidek & Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques: Indications, Methods and Results, 2012 
• Co-author of book chapter in Spine Surgery: Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management, Third Edition, Vol. 2., Chapter 106, 2012

Honors & Awards

• New to Sanford Award, Sanford Health, 2013
• Finalist, Resident Physician of the Year, Nominated by the M3 and M4 Class, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2006
• Gold Humanism Honor Society, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2004
• Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2004
• The Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award for Meritorious Research, American Physiological Society, 2002, 2003, 2004
• Finalist, M1 Teacher of the Year, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2003, 2004
• Merk New Investigator Award, 57th Annual Fall Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, 2003
• Award for Superior Achievement in Student Teaching in Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 2003
• Second Place, James F. Jakobsen Graduate Forum Life Sciences Division, The University of Iowa, 2003
• Finalist, The University of Iowa Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, 2002, 2003
• Tung-Yang Wing Award for Superior Achievement in Anatomy and Cell Biology Graduate Education, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, 2002
• College of Medicine Dean’s Scholarship, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 1998
• Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Award, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1998
• Outstanding Oral Presentation and Mayo Award, Newton W. Winchell Research Symposium, Minnesota Academy of Science, 1998
• Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School, 1997 – 1998