15 Spine Surgeons Focused on Patient Advocacy

Gunnar Andersson, MD (Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago). Dr. Andersson serves as the chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, which is charged with, among other responsibilities, assisting in the crafting of policy and position statements on issues related to spinal healthcare. He is also the vice-chair of the International Advocates for Spine Patients. Dr. Andersson is a chairman in spinal deformities at Rush University Medical Center. In addition to his clinical practice, he has been committed to research and advancement of spine care. His efforts have been recognized by the North American Spine Society, and he has received the ISSLS Stryker Spine Lifetime Achievement Award. His research interests include intervertebral disc biology and biomechanics and epidemiology of back pain. Dr. Andersson earned his medical degree at Sahlgren Hospital, University of Goteberg in Sweden, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Andersson's additional training includes a fellowship in orthopedics at The London Hospital in the United Kingdom.

Anthony Castellvi, MD (Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Tampa). Dr. Castellvi is a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He has a professional interest in treating patients with pediatric and adult scoliosis as well as other spinal disorders. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Castellvi conducts research focusing on bone graft substitutes, scoliosis-bracing and motion preservation in the lumbar spine. During his career, he has developed a cervical plate and designed instrumentation for other spinal disorders, including scoliosis. Dr. Castellvi is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Zaragonza Medical School and completed his residency at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in spine surgery.

Domagoj Coric, MD (Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine, Charlotte, N.C.). Dr. Coric is the chief of neurosurgery at Carolinas Medical Center and a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He also serves as president of the North Carolina Spine Society. His special surgical interests are artificial disc replacement, spinal trauma, spinal tumors, degenerative disc diseases of the spine, disc disease, spinal cord injuries and endoscopic disc surgery. Dr. Coric attended medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., and completed a residency and internship at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Thomas Errico, MD (New York University Hospital for Joint Disease, New York City). Dr. Errico is a past president of International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and chair of the board of directors of the International Advocates for Spine Patients. He is the chief of spine surgery at NYUHJD. During his time as ISASS president, Dr. Errico was instrumental in advocating for lumbar fusion coverage in states where payors were denying reimbursement to patients with degenerative disc disease. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society and the National Association of Spine Surgeons, as well as on the board of directors of the World Spine Society. During his career, Dr. Errico has participated in several studies, such as the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial and the ProDisc Lumbar Total Disc Replacement FDA trial. Dr. Errico earned his medical degree at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, N.J., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at New York University Medical Center in New York City. He also completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Toronto General Hospital.

John Finkenberg, MD (Alvarado Orthopaedic Medical Group, San Diego). Dr. Finkenberg serves as chair of the North American Spine Society Advocacy Committee and as associate editor for The Spine Journal. During his career, he has also spent time on the board of directors for the Foundation for Orthopedic Spine Research in Boston and a section editor for SpineLine Journal. Dr. Finkenberg has been the chief of the orthopedic department at Alvarado Hospital Medical Center for several years and is the acting director of Alvarado Spine Center. His research includes studies on lumbar and cervical spinal fusions and he holds a patent for diagnosing fractures with intrasound vibration. Dr. Finkenberg earned his medical degree from the University of California in Los Angeles and completed his residency at Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Calif. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore.

Rolando Garcia, MD (Orthopedic Care Center, Aventura, Fla.). Dr. Garcia is a spine surgeon with Orthopedic Care Center and a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Garcia also participates in research and has authored articles published in professional journals. Previously Dr. Garcia served as chief of orthopedic surgery at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. He earned his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Garcia's additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at North Carolina Spine Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Choll Kim, MD (Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Alvarado Hospital, San Diego). Dr. Kim is a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He is also a member of the Spine Network of California, which has a patient advocacy branch. His clinical practice focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery for treating complex spinal disorders. He performs computer-assisted procedures and endoscopic techniques. Dr. Kim is the executive director of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and has served as the UCSD Spine Fellowship Program head. Dr. Kim earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Diego. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Frank Phillips, MD (Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago). Dr. Phillips is a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center and co-founder of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. During his career, he has been a principle investigator in FDA trials on cervical disc replacement. His research has been published in several orthopedic journals and he directs spinal education courses for other spine surgeons. Dr. Phillips earned his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and completed his residency at The University of Chicago Medical Center. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

David Polly, MD (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). Dr. Polly is the chief of the spine services at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Dr. Polly has a clinical interest in treating scoliosis, spinal tumors and degenerative spine disease. During his career, Dr. Polly has been the treasurer of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons and secretary of the Scoliosis Research Society. He also served on the board of directors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and was co-founder of the Army Spine Study Group. Dr. Polly earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Minnesota.

Raj Rao, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). Dr. Rao is a professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin and director of spine surgery in the department of orthopedic surgery. He is a former advocacy chair for the North American Spine Society and an associate editor of The Spine Journal. He was appointed to the US Food and Drug Administrator Advisory Panel on Orthopaedic rehabilitation Devices and continues to serve on the NASS board of directors. Dr. Rao completed his residency and internship at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and fellowship in spine surgery at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

Thomas C. Schuler, MD (Virginia Spine Institute, Reston). Dr. Schuler is the founder and CEO of the Virginia Spine Institute, as well as president of the Spinal Research Foundation. SRF was established in 2002 as a non-profit organization and includes the "We've Got Your Back" Race for Spine Health, which is designed to raise funds for spinal research and celebrate the accomplishments of people who have overcome back or neck pain through non-surgical and surgical treatment. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Schuler is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the North American Spine Society. Dr. Schuler earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Paul J. Slosar, Jr., MD (SpineCare Medical Group, San Francisco). Dr. Slosar is the president of the SpineCare Medical Group and a board member of the Spine Research Foundation. He also serves as assistant director of surgical research and the surgical fellowship program at The San Francisco Spine Institute. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, International Society for the Advancement of Spinal Surgery and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Slosar earned his medical degree from Rush University Medical College in Chicago and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at The San Francisco Spine Institute/SpineCare Medical Group.

Brian R. Subach, MD (Virginia Spine Institute, Reston). Dr. Subach is the president and director of research at Virginia Spine Institute. He also serves as a board member and director of research for the Spinal Research Foundation and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Spinal Research Foundation. Prior to joining VSI, Dr. Subach was an assistant professor of neurosurgery and spine surgery at Emory University in Atlanta and is pioneering robot-guided surgery in his practice. Dr. Subach earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. His additional training includes a fellowship at Emory Clinic in Atlanta.

Najeeb M. Thomas, MD (Southern Brain & Spine, New Orleans). Dr. Thomas is a neurological surgeon at Southern Brain & Spine with a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. He is a board member for the Spinal Research Foundation and recognized as an innovator in the development of minimally invasive procedures. He has lectured about spinal procedures on four continents and maintains interactions with spine surgeons from around the world. Dr. Thomas completed his neurosurgery residency at Louisiana State University and additional training at Charity Hospital, both in New Orleans. Dr. Thomas also completed complex spine and minimally invasive spinal procedure training under the direction of Kevin T. Foley, MD.

James Yue, MD (Yale Medical Group, New Haven, Conn.). Dr. Yue is a member of the board of directors of the International Advocates for Spine Patients of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He is also co-director of the orthopedic spine service at Yale and the director of the Yale Spine Fellowship. Dr. Yue has a clinical interest in treating patients with arthritis, scoliosis, deformities and tumors. He performs ProDisc disc replacement, X-stop treatment and other motion-preservation techniques. Dr. Yue earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency at the University Hospitals of Cleveland in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes fellowships in orthopedic and spinal trauma at RA Crowley Shock Trauma Hospital at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and in spine surgery at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

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