This is a list of 20 spine surgeon founders or leaders at ambulatory surgery centers.
If you would like to suggest an addition to the list, please email Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com.
Robert S. Bray Jr., MD (DISC Sports and Spine Center, Marina Del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Bray is the CEO and founding director of DISC Sports and Spine Center, which includes two ambulatory surgery center locations. He has performed more than 10,000 successful surgeries in his career with 95 percent focused on outpatient procedures. DISC surgeons and Dr. Bray have performed procedures on several professional and Olympic athletes. Dr. Bray previously served as founder of the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedar Sinai and chief of neurosurgery at David Grant Medical Center. Dr. Bray earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
John Caruso, MD (Parkway Surgery Center, Hagerstown, Md.). Dr. Caruso has more than 16 years of experience in neurological surgery and is a leader at Parkway Surgery Center and his practice, Parkway Neuroscience and Spine Institute. The surgery center is affiliated with Blue Chip Surgical Center Partners. He is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Caruso earned his medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.
John V. Cuff, MD (GNS Surgery Center, Athens, Ga.). Dr. Cuff is a board-certified neurosurgeon and partner with GNS Surgery Center, a Blue Chip Surgical Partners facility. He previously served as general medical officer in the US Air Force at Hickman Air Force Base in Hawaii and was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. He is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Cuff earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Hawaii Queen's Medical Center. His additional training includes a neurological surgery residency at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital and Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
Donald R. Johnson II, MD (Southeastern Spine Institute & Ambulatory Surgery Center, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.). Dr. Johnson is the co-founder of Southeastern Spine Institute & Ambulatory Surgery Center, which includes 18 surgeons, physicians and physician assistants. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and was among the first surgeons to perform microendoscopic discectomy and artificial disc replacement in South Carolina. He also collaborated on the minimally invasive Globus Percutaneous spine fixation system. Dr. Johnson earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at MUSC.
Glenn Keiper, MD (Surgery Center of Eugene, Ore.). Dr. Keiper founded KeiperSpine in Eugene, Ore., and opened Surgery Center of Eugene in 2007 along with his associates. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He has a special interest in motion-sparing techniques and developed a new technique for spine surgery. Dr. Keiper earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he also completed his residency.
Richard Kube II, MD (Prairie SurgiCare, Peoria, Ill.). Prairie SurgiCare offers outpatient spine and pain procedures. Dr. Kube founded Prairie SurgiCare along with his practice, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute. He has a professional interest in motion preservation and serves as a faculty member at the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Peoria. Throughout his career, Dr. Kube has given more than 20 international presentations. Dr. Kube earned his medical degree from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Saint Louis University Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery from Dr. Richard T. Holt.
James Lynch, MD (Surgery Center of Reno, Nev.). Dr. Lynch serves as chairman and director of spine programs at Surgery Center of Reno and founder of his practice, SpineNevada. Dr. Lynch began performing minimally invasive spine surgery in 2002 and was the first neurosurgeon in Reno to perform MIS TLIF and MAS PLIF as well as artificial cervical and lumbar disc replacements. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Lynch serves as partner and director of spine services at Regent Surgical Health, an ASC and hospital outpatient center development company. Dr. Lynch earned his medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London.
Bryan J. Massoud, MD (Spine Centers of America, Fair Lawn, N.J.). Spine Centers of America operates three surgical centers with a team of endoscopic spine surgeons. Dr. Massoud is founder and head surgeon at Spine Centers of America. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Massoud earned his medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey and completed his spine surgery fellowship at Texas Back Institute in Plano. His additional training includes micro-endoscopic laser-assisted techniques with Dr. Martin Knight.
Michael J. Musacchio, Jr., MD (Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dallas). Dr. Musacchio is a neurosurgeon who focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery. He co-opened Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, an ambulatory surgery center opened in 2011 as a partnership with Meridian Surgical Partners. He also practices at the Center for Spine Care in Dallas. He has received awards for his academic and research achievements, and his clinical research has been published in several peer-reviewed scientific publications. He received his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago and is a member of many organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and North American Spine Society.
Fred Naraghi, MD (Comprehensive Spine Center, San Francisco). Dr. Naraghi is an orthopedic spine surgeon and the director of the Comprehensive Spine Center in San Francisco. He specializes in minimally invasive cervical and lumbar disc surgery. He conducts clinical research for spinal stenosis, bone morphogenic proteins for cervical fusions, non-fusion stabilization of the spine and more. He completed a spine surgery fellowship at the San Francisco Spine Institute.
Joan F. O'Shea, MD (The Spine Institute of Southern New Jersey, Marlton). Dr. O'Shea is a dually trained neurosurgeon and spine surgeon and founder of The Spine Institute of Southern New Jersey in Marlton. She has published several papers on treatments for patients suffering from spinal cancers and complex spinal disorders. She has been an invited lecturer for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and is a member of the North American Spine Society and Women in Neurosurgery.
John Peloza, MD (Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Dallas). Dr. Peloza is a founding partner of the Center for Spine Care and Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, an ambulatory surgery center opened in 2011 as a partnership with Meridian Surgical Partners. The outpatient facility includes the O-arm Spine Surgical Imaging System with StealthStation Navigation. He was one of the first spine surgeons and clinical researchers in Dallas to use mesenchymal stem cells to treat degenerative disc disease. He has been active in using biologic solutions to promote disc and joint healing. Dr. Peloza earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and completed his residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. His additional training includes fellowships in knee and shoulder reconstructive surgery and spine surgery, and he served as a spine consultant to the United States Ski Team.
Kenneth Pettine, MD (The Spine Institute, Johnstown, Colo.). Dr. Pettine is co-founder of The Spine Institute and the Society for Ambulatory Spine Surgery. He has long been an advocate for outpatient spine surgery and ambulatory surgery centers. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Pettine is the co-designer of the Maverick artificial disc and has been the principle investigator for 15 FDA studies involving non-fusion technology. Dr. Pettine earned his medical degree at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. His additional training includes a fellowship at the Institute for Low Back Care in Minneapolis.
Steven C. Poletti, MD (Southeastern Spine Institute & Ambulatory Surgery Center, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.). Dr. Poletti was the first spine surgeon to join founder Donald R. Johnson II, MD, at Southeastern Spine Institute more than 20 years ago. In addition to the ASC, the medical campus also includes physical therapy facilities, MRI and a pain management department. Dr. Poletti collaborated with Dr. Johnson as one of the first to perform microendoscopic discectomy and artificial disc replacement in South Carolina. He also participated in the development of the minimally invasive Globus Percutaneous spine fixation system. Dr. Poletti earned his medical degree from the University of California Medical School and completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He also completed a fellowship with Dr. David Selby.
Khawar Siddique, MD (Beverly Hills Spine Surgery). Dr. Siddique is a California spine surgeon with the Beverly Hills Spine Surgery. He’s a spine physician and neurosurgeon who specializes in spine disorders. He’s a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association for Cancer Research and Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association for Cancer Research and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Siddique has given many lectures on advanced spine surgical techniques and taught many surgical dissection courses to other neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.
Dwight Tyndall, MD (Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana, Munster). Dr. Tyndall is a spine surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive spine care. He recently established a facility devoted to minimally invasive spine care along with his colleagues. He was the first surgeon in Northwest Indiana to perform the BRYAN cervical disc replacement and previously served on the board of directors for the Northwest Indiana Boys and Girls Club. During his career, Dr. Tyndall presented about the future of spine care in the evolving healthcare system at the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference. Dr. Tyndall earned his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic residency at Stanford University. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Michael C. Weiss, DO (Laser Spine Institute, Tampa, Fla.). Dr. Weiss is chairman of the department of surgery at Laser Spine Institute. He previously served as chief of spine surgery and has a professional interest in minimally invasive procedures. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics. Dr. Weiss is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery and National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
Richard Wohns, MD, JD, MBA (Microsurgical Spine Center, Puyallup, Wash.). Dr. Wohns is the founder of NeoSpine, a network of outpatient spine surgery centers sold to Symbion in 2008. He remains a chief consultant with the company for outpatient surgery center development and was among the first neurosurgeons in the country to perform minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement. He also performs the XLIF procedure and has completed more than 3,000 outpatient cervical and lumbar surgeries. The results from his procedures have been published in the medical literature. Dr. Wohns earned his medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Washington. He also received an MBA from the University of Washington and JD from the Seattle University School of Law.
Anthony Yeung, MD (Squaw Peak Surgical Facility, Phoenix). Dr. Yeung developed the FDA-approved Yeung Endoscopic Spine System and spent his career refining and teaching the technique around the world. Throughout his career, Dr. Yeung has published more than 70 scientific publications and was named "Health Care Hero" by the Phoenix Business Journal. He has been president of the Maricopa County Medical Society and Arizona Orthopaedic Society, and served on the board of directors for the Arizona Medical Association. He has been the president of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons. Dr. Yeung earned his medical degree at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed his residency at Maricopa County General Hospital in Phoenix.
Christopher Yeung, MD (Squaw Peak Surgical Facility, Phoenix). During his career, Dr. Yeung has focused on research and innovation, serving as the principle investigator for FDA studies such as the Flexicore lumbar artificial disc replacement, Cervicore cervical artificial disc replacement and DASCOR total nucleus replacement. He is Team Spine Surgeon and Consultant for several professional athletic teams. Dr. Yeung is s a founding member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Dr. Yeung earned his medical degree at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. His additional training includes spine fellowships at the USC Center for Orthopaedic Spine Surgery and Los Angeles Spine Surgery Institute, both in Los Angeles.
More Articles on Spine Surgeons:
Dr. Elijah Wogu Joins Regional Medical Clinic in South Dakota
3 Spine Surgeons on the Use of Robotics in the Operating Room
Outpatient Spine Surgery: 4 Myths Debunked