12 Spine Surgeon Leaders With New Hospital Programs

William Beutler, MD (PinnacleHealth Spine Institute, Harrisburg, Pa.). Dr. Beutler is the medical director of The PinnacleHealth Spine Institute, which initially opened in 2010. PinnacleHealth opened a new orthopedic and spine unit at the Harrisburg Campus in October 2012. He is a board-certified neurological surgeon and completed a spine surgery fellowship from the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse. He maintains a private practice at the Pennsylvania Spine Institute. He received his medical degree from SUNY Buffalo's School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery internship and neurosurgery residency at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Beutler is associated with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurosurgeons, American College of Surgeons, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, American Medical Association and more. He has made numerous international presentations on spine issues and has published peer-reviewed articles on spine and kyphoplasty.

David Duffner, MD (Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, Calif.). Dr. Duffner is the medical director of the spine program at Desert Regional's Institute of Clinical Orthopedics and Neurosciences. Desert Regional opened a new 9,448-square-foot, $7 million Spine & Joint Pavilion in September. The pavilion has 18 private rooms and a physical therapy gym. Dr. Duffner is a diplomate member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is a member of North American Spine Society. Dr. Duffner earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma and completed his orthopedic residency at Scott and White Clinic at Texas A&M School of Medicine. His additional training includes a fellowship in adult reconstructive orthopedics at the University of Basel in Switzerland.

Raj Kakarlapudi, MD (St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Florence, Ky.). Dr. Kakarlapudi is the medical director of the new spine center at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, which was opened in January 2012. The new spine center includes a continuum of care for services, 15 private rooms and new imaging technology. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Kakarlapudi conducts research and has published on several subjects, including deformity correction and TLIF procedures. He earned his medical degree at the School of Medicine at Creighton University in Lincoln, Neb., and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia department of orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a spinal fellowship with OrthoIndy and Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital.

Lloyd Maliner, MD (Broward Health, Coral Springs, Fla.). Dr. Maliner is a neurosurgeon with Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center's new spine program, which opened in March 2012. The new program focuses on evidence-based medicine and less invasive procedures. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery as well as brain surgery procedures. Dr. Maliner earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa and completed an internship at Eastern Virginia Medical College in Norfolk, Va. His additional training includes a residency in neurosurgery at Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center.

Richard Ozuna, MD (Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport, Mass.). Dr. Ozuna is the medical director of the Anna Jaques Hospital newly-created Spine Center. He has experience in advanced surgical techniques of the spine, including minimally invasive microsurgery and complex spinal reconstruction. He treats many conditions, including cervical spine disorders, degenerative spinal conditions, spinal stenosis, scoliosis and deformity, lumbar spine disorders and more. Dr. Ozuna prefers conservative treatments when possible and performs surgeries, including discectomy, microdecompression, scoliosis surgery and upper back surgery. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed an internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.

Thomas C. Origitano, MD (Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Montana). Dr. Origitano is a neurosurgeon at the Neuroscience and Spine Institute at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He specializes in cranial surgery for patients with brain tumors, aneurysms and vascular brain conditions. Prior to his position at Kalispell, Dr. Origitano was a professor and the chair of the department of neurological surgery at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. He received his medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago, where he also completed his neurological surgery residency.

Frank M. Phillips, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Phillips is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine surgery at Rush University medical Center and a surgeon with the new Minimally Invasive Spine Institute. He has a special interest in motion preservation and was one of the first surgeons in Chicago to begin using minimally invasive techniques. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Phillips is a past president and board member of the Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and has been the principle investigator for FDA trials on cervical disc replacement. Dr. Phillips earned his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa and completed his residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals. His additional training includes a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.

John M. Roberts, V, MD (Spine Institute at The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati). Dr. Roberts is an orthopedic spine surgeon and the medical director at the Spine Institute at The Christ Hospital, which opened in 2010. The hospital recently announced it would begin construction on a $265 million expansion to the Mt. Auburn Campus, which will be finished in 2015. Dr. Roberts received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed a residency and a fellowship in orthopedics at the University of Pittsburgh. He's a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a member of professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, North American Spine Society, Ohio Orthopaedic Association and Cincinnati Orthopaedic Association.

Michael Steinmetz, MD (MetroHealth Spine Center, Cleveland). Dr. Steinmetz is a board-certified neurologist and the medical director of MetroHealth Spine Center in Cleveland. He is the chair of the department of neurosciences and an associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland. His areas of interest include complex spine surgery, adult spinal deformity surgery, degenerative conditions of the spine, spine trauma, spine tumors and spinal cord injury. Dr. Steinmetz's research interests include axon regeneration, neuroprotection, spinal cord injury and spinal deformity. He received his medical degree from Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock. He completed an internship at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque and a residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Steinmetz's fellowship in complex spine surgery was completed at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.

Kern Singh, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Singh is an assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center and a surgeon with the new Minimally Invasive Spine Institute that opened in mid 2012. He has a professional interest in treating complex degenerative disorders, spinal tumors and adult spinal deformity. He has published articles based on his research in several professional journals and served as a principle investigator in the FDA clinical trials involving cervical disc replacements and motion preserving technology. Dr. Singh earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his residency at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. His additional training includes a fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta.

Jeremy M. Shore, MD (Anna Jacques Hospital, Newburyport, Mass.). Dr. Shore is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in neck and back disorders. He practices spine surgery at Anna Jacques Hospital's new spine center. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Shore has been involved in developing minimally invasive implants and serves as a clinical instructor at Tufts University in Boston. Dr. Shore earned his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.

Steven Svabek, DO (Broward Health, Coral Springs, Fla.). Dr. Svabek is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Broward Health Coral Springs Medical Center's new spine program, opened in March 2012. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal diseases and disorders. Dr. Svabek is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and American Osteopathic Association for Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his osteopathic medicine degree at Kirksville (Mo.) College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at St. Vincent Hospital/Cabrina Medical Center as well as North Shore University in New York City. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of Colorado.

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