While the number of spine surgeons certified to perform robot spine surgery is still small, the ranks of robotics-certified physicians are growing. Here are 49 spine surgeons that operate with robotic assistance.
If you have questions or additions to this list, please email Ellie at erizzo@beckershealthcare.com.
Lee V. Ansell, MD: Dr. Ansell is medical director Houston Orthopedic & Spine Hospital. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and experience with Mazor Robotics Renaissance system. He is a past president of the Southern Neurosurgical Society and Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons. During his career, Dr. Ansell has served in the military, earning the Air Force Commendation Medal and two Meritous Service Medals.
Neville Alleyne, MD: Dr. Alleyne, a surgeon with Orthopedic Specialists of North County, is certified to perform robot-assisted spinal surgery. He specializes in treatment of neck and back problems and has invented several medical devices, including the Spinal Cord Protective Device, Cardiac Protective Device and Tummy Tutor.
Henry E. Aryan, MD: Dr. Aryan is a board certified neurosurgeon with a special interest in complex spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement. He performs robotic-guided spine surgery, which is also among his research interests. Additional research interests include lumbar and cervical arthroplasty as well as minimally invasive percutaneous instrumented fusion. He practices with the Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic Center in Fresno, Calif.
Samuel Bederman, MD: Dr. Bederman is the director of orthopedic inpatient care at UC Irvine Medical Center. Dr. Bederman was among the first surgeons in Orange County, Calif., to perform robotic-assisted spine surgery at UC Irvine. He has a professional interest in deformity reconstruction, complex cervical surgery and minimally invasive spine procedures.
William Beutler, MD: Dr. Beutler is a neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery at PinnacleHealth The Spine Institute in Harrisburg, Pa. Along with two other surgeons in the group, Dr. Butler was among the first to publish and complete a spinal fusion using the da Vinci Si Surgical System earlier this year. Dr. Beutler has a professional interest in anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
Nitin N. Bhatia, MD: Dr. Bhatia is the chief of adult and pediatric spinal surgery at UC Irvine and was one of the first spine surgeons to perform robot-assisted spine surgeries in Orange County. He has a professional interest in all areas of spine pathology, such as spine trauma, scoliosis and reconstruction. He is a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society, Scoliosis Research Society and North American Spine Society.
James B. Billys, MD: Dr. Billys is an orthopedic surgeon at the Brandon and Sun City Center clinics for the Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa, Fla. He specializes in spine, hand, and microvascular reconstructive surgeries and is certified to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery.
Thomas R. Bowen, MD: Dr. Bowen is a spine surgeon with a special interest in orthopedic oncology at Geisinger in Pennsylvania. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon and has experience with the Mazor Robotics system for spinal surgery. His related interests include sarcoma of the bone and the connective tissue, limb salvage surgery and total hip arthroplasty.
Antonio E. Castellvi, MD: Dr. Castellvi practices at the Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa and is director of the spine fellowship at the Florida Orthopedic Institute.
Terrence T. Crowder, MD: Dr. Crowder is a spine surgeon with Sonoran Spine Center in Mesa, Ariz., and among the only spine surgeons who performs robotic spine surgery in Arizona. He has a special interest in all diseases and disorders of the adult spine, including motion preserving techniques. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and J.R. Gladden Orthopaedic Society.
John Stuart Crutchfield, MD: Dr. Crutchfield is a neurological spine surgeon with a special interest in spine surgery at Texas Spine and Joint Hospital in Tyler. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and has experience with the Mazor Robotics system. Dr. Crutchfield is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Throughout his career, he has published several articles based on his research into spinal care.
Dennis P. Devito, MD: Dr. Devito is on the medical advisory board for Mazor Robotics, maker of the SpineAssist robotic system, and director of multispecialty clinics at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Scottish Rite. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member with American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Lou DiMarco, MD: Dr. DiMarco was among the first to complete a robot-assisted spinal fusion surgery in March of 2012. His team used the da Vinci Si Surgical System for the operation. Dr. DiMarco is a spine surgeon at The Spine Institute in Harrisburg, Pa.
Bradley Stuart Duhon, MD: Dr. Duhon is a physician practicing at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colo. He is an orthopedic and neurosurgeon with a certification to perform Mazor Robotics machine-assisted minimally invasive surgery. He has a special interest in degenerative conditions and deformity.
Janet Dunlap, MD: Dr. Dunlap is a physician at Orthopedics Specialists of North County in Oceanside, Calif. She specializes in diagnosis and treatment of the neck and back. She is certified to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery with Mazor Robotics technology. She completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Scripps Clinic Research Facility in La Jolla, Calif., and is a member of the North American Spine Society.
Meagan D. Fernandez, DO: Dr. Fernandez is an orthopedic spine surgeon at Geisinger in Pennsylvania with a special interest in scoliosis and sports injuries. She treats patients with a variety of orthopedic conditions, including pediatric tumors and scoliosis. She has experience with robotic-guided spine surgery and completed her fellowship at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in 2011.
Richard Francis, MD: Dr. Francis is CEO and founder of Spine Associates and a surgeon with Houston Orthopedic and Spine Hospital, which acquired the Renaissance system from Mazor. Dr. Francis was among the first surgeons in the Houston area to perform robotic-guided spinal surgery. He has a professional interest in treating both adult and pediatric deformity cases and artificial disc replacements.
Christopher R. Good, MD: Earlier this month, Dr. Good, Director of Research and Director of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformity for Virginia Spine Institute in Reston, Va., made history. He performed the first robot-guided sacroiliac joint fusion in North America, using Mazor Robotics' Renaissance robot.
Michael Hasz, MD: Dr. Hasz is a spine surgeon at Virginia Spine Institute in Reston, a practice he joined in 1995 after serving as the chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery and director of spine surgery at Andrews Air Force Base/Malcolm Grow Medical Center. He uses the Mazor Robotics system for robotic-guided spine surgery and serves as a clinical instructor of orthopedic surgery and assistant professor of surgery at the Uniformed Services Health Science University in Bethesda, Md. He has a professional interest in laser spinal techniques and artificial disc technology in addition to robotic guidance.
W. Fred Hess, MD: Dr. Hess is a spine and orthopedic surgeon practicing at Orthopedics Gray's Woods State College, Orthopedics Spine Surgery Danville and Orthopedics Spine Surgery Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania. Dr. Hess specializes in pediatric spinal trauma and spinal deformity. He is Mazor Robotics-certified. He completed a fellowship with Kansas University Medical Center.
Dale S. Horne, MD: Dr. Horne is a neurosurgeon with RiverHills Neuroscience who has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, cervical disc replacement and motion-sparing techniques. He has been a pioneer in the application of robotic spine surgery to make the procedure safer for patients. In addition to his clinical practice Dr. Horne is president of the Ohio State Neurosurgical Society and a diplomate of the American Board of Neurosurgical Surgery.
Zaki George Ibrahim, MD: Dr. Ibrahim is a spine surgeon at the Parker, Colo.-based Parker Adventist Hospital and practices with South Denver Spine, established in 2007. He is certified to perform robot-assisted spinal surgery using Mazor Robotics technology. He completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of California, San Diego.
John Keller, MD: Dr. Keller uses the Renaissance system from Mazor Robotics during spine surgeries to guide implant placement. He has a professional interest in treating patients with complex disorders and performing minimally invasive interventions. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Keller is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Douglas Kiester, MD: Dr. Kiester is a clinical professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He is certified to perform minimally invasive spine surgery using Mazor Robotics technology. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Kiester holds four patents for his innovations and conducts research focused on scoliosis and lumbar disc replacements. He has a special interest in major spinal reconstructions, including revision surgery and trauma.
John Y.K. Lee, MD: Dr. Lee is the medical director of the Gamma Knife Center at Pennsylvania Hospital. During his career, he has worked with the manufacturer of the da Vinci surgical robot to develop new approaches and tools that could be used in skull-base and craniocervical junction surgery. He also performs spinal fusions with the robotic system.
Kevin R. Lee, MD: Dr. Lee is a neurosurgeon with Lakes Surgery Center, which is the first ambulatory surgery center to purchase Mazor Robotics' Renaissances system for robotic spine surgery. Dr. Lee performs pain management and endoscopic spinal procedures using the system at Lakes Surgery Center.
Michael A. Leonard, MD: Dr. Leonard is executive director of Alamo Neurosurgical Institute and a board-certified neurosurgeon. He has a special interest in minimally invasive technologies for spine and neurosurgical disorders, including robotic-guided spinal surgery with the Mazor Robotics system. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He serves as a clinical assistant professor at the Center for Neurosurgical Services at the University of Texas Health Science Center and spent time as director of spine surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio.
Isador Lieberman, MD: Dr. Lieberman is on the medical advisory board for Mazor Robotics and has been involved in the research and development of SpineAssist. Throughout his career, Dr. Lieberman has received several awards for his research, including the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Innovations Award. He has a professional interest in scoliosis and spinal tumors.
Jae Y. Lim, MD: Dr. Lim is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive techniques significantly reducing surgical impact and recovery times. He currently serves as a principal surgeon at Atlantic Brain and Spine and is an assistant clinical professor of neurosurgery at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond.
James B. Manzanares, MD: Dr. Manzanares is a spine surgeon with Orthopedic Associates of Osceola in Kissimmee, Fla. He is certified to perform minimally invasive robot-assisted spine surgery with Mazor Robotics technology. He completed a fellowship at John Hopkins Memorial Hospital.
George Martin, MD: Dr. Martin is a neurosurgeon with a special interest in spine surgery and is among the only spine surgeons in his region to perform robotic-assisted spine surgery using the Mazor Robotics system. He practices with Southwest NeuroSpine Institute in El Paso and is a member of the North American Spine Society. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive and complex procedures, and previously served as chief of surgery at Sierra Providence East Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in reconstructive spine surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.
B. Thomas Mazahery, MD: Dr. Mazahery is a spine surgeon with Commonwealth Orthopaedics in Alexandria, Va., the official orthopedic and physical therapy provider for the Washington Redskins. He uses the Mazor Robotics system for robotic-guided spine surgery and has a special interest in minimally invasive spinal procedures. Throughout his career, Dr. Mazahery has received several research grants and presented on his findings at national meetings. He participates in the AOA Emerging Leaders Program and is a member of the North American Spine Society.
Payam Moazzaz, MD: Dr. Mozzaz is a spine surgeon at Orthopedic Specialists of North County, the second location in the state of California to offer robotic spine surgery. OSNC also offers robot-assisted surgery with Mazor Robotics machines. Dr. Moazzaz specializes in complex spinal deformity of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine.
Bonaventure Ngu, MD: Dr. Ngu is a spine surgeon based out of his own spine practice, Premier Spine Institute, in Humble, Texas. He and his colleagues use Mazor Robotics' Renaissance system to perform surgeries.
Chetan Patel, MD: Dr. Patel is medical director of the Spine Health Institute in Alamonte Springs, Fla. Dr. Patel publishes extensively on minimally invasive spine surgery, and he is the 2013 to 2015 Section Chair for Robotics and for the North American Spine Society.
Dhruv B. Pateder, MD: Dr. Pateder is an orthopedic surgeon with Town Center Orthopaedic Associates in Reston, Va. He has a professional interest in treating scoliosis patients and performing minimally invasive spine surgery. He previously practiced at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., and has won multiple awards for his clinical work and research. He uses the Mazor Robotics system for robotic-guided spine surgery.
Walter Peppleman, DO: Dr. Peppleman is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in back and spine at The Pennsylvania Spine Institute in Harrisburg, Pa. He has experience with robotic-assisted spinal fusions.
Todd M. Raabe, MD: Dr. Raabe is an adult and pediatric spinal specialist with Azalea Orthopedics in Tyler, Texas. He has experience using the Mazor Robotics system for robotic-guided spine surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Raabe has given presentations and published articles based on his research in spinal care. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and completed fellowships at the Colorado Spine Center and Rocky Mountain Spine Center in Aurora, Colo.
Nizam Razack, MD: Dr. Razack is the founder and president of Spine & Brain Neurosurgery Center. Earlier this year, he became one of the first surgeons in Florida to perform spinal surgery using the Renaissance robotic system at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. Currently, Dr. Razack serves as chairman of the department of neurological surgery at Orlando Health and a clinical professor in the department of neurosurgery for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando.
Roy Sanders, MD: Dr. Sanders is president and CMO of the Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa. As of April 2013, Dr. Sanders was one of three spine surgeons in Florida performing robotic spine surgery. The Florida Orthopedic Institute uses Mazor robotics to perform machine-assisted surgeries.
Thomas C. Schuler, MD: In August 2012, Dr. Schuler, who is CEO of Reston-based Virginia Spine Institute, performed one of the first robot-assisted spine surgery in the Mid-Atlantic region. He performed the surgery alongside Dr. Christopher R. Good at HCA Reston Hospital Center in Reston. The pair used Mazor Robotics' Renaissance robot for the operation.
Jonathan Reese Slotkin, MD: Dr. Slotkin is the director of spine surgery at Geisinger Neuroscience Institute and director of spinal cord injury research at Geisinger. He has experience with regeneration and plasticity of after spinal cord injury and serves on the board for InVivo Therapeutics. He also has experience with robotic-guided spinal procedures with the Mazor Robotics system. His additional research includes the application of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine to clinical neurosciences.
Scott Stanley, MD: Dr. Stanley is a physician based out of Parker (Colo.) Adventist Hospital, the first hospital in Colorado to offer robot-assisted spinal surgery. Dr. Stanley is the medical director of spine surgery at PAH and is certified to perform robot-assisted spine surgery, which he does with Mazor Robotics' Renaissance.
Brian Subach, MD: Dr. Subach is President of the Virginia Spine Institute and currently the Director of Research for the Spinal Research Foundation (a national 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization) and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Spinal Research Foundation. He performs robotic spine surgery using the Mazor system. In addition to his clinical practice, he has more than 50 published articles on spinal treatment.
Navin Subramanian, MD: Dr. Subramanian practices in Houston and has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery. He performs robotic-assisted spine surgery and has been involved in several research projects. His work has received awards and appeared in peer-review journals. Dr. Subramanian completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York Surgery.
Hunaldo J. Villalobos, MD: Dr. Villalobos is a surgeon at the Central Florida Neurosurgery Institute in Orland and at Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, Fla. He is Mazor Robotics-certified. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery, cervical fusion and disc replacement. He completed fellowships in neurological oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and neurosurgery, trauma and critical care at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
William C. Welch, MD: Dr. Welch is the chief of neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital and uses robotic-assisted technology when performing spinal fusions and disc repair. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Cervical Spine Research Society and Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Raymund Woo, MD: Dr. Woo is the Medical Director of Pediatric Orthopedics at the Florida Hospital for Children in Gainesville. He specializes in pediatric surgery, scoliosis and congenital spine issues. He is Mazor Robotics-certified.
Faissal Zahrawi, MD: Dr. Zahrawi is the medical director of The Spine Center at Florida Hospital Celebration Health in Celebration. He specializes in spinal surgery and is Mazor Robotics certified. He completed a fellowship at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Atlanta and is a fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Lucia Zamorano, MD: Dr. Zamorano is a neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon at the Michigan Brain and Spine Surgery Center at various locations in Michigan. Dr. Zamorano is certified to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery. She completed a neurosurgery fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and serves as a clinical professor at Oakland University and William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, Mich. She holds several honors and awards for her research nationally and internationally.
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