Charles Branch Jr., MD, executive director of the spine service line at Wake Forest Baptist Health System in Winston-Salem, N.C., says the pandemic has put some surgeries and technology purchases on hold for now, but there are big opportunities in imaging and video visits as the spine field emerges from the pandemic.

In February, Fred Naraghi, MD, moved his practice from San Francisco to Klamath Orthopedic Clinic in Klamath Falls, Ore., citing both financial and personal reasons. 

Richard Chua, MD, a neurosurgeon with Northwest NeuroSpecialists in Tucson, Ariz., spoke to Becker's Spine Review about how his practice has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and steps he is taking to return to elective surgeries on May 1.

Benjamin Domb, MD, founder and medical director of the American Hip Institute & Orthopedic Specialists in Des Plaines, Ill., is an advocate of lifting restrictions on procedures deemed elective.

Brian Gill, MD, MBA, a spine surgeon with Nebraska Spine Hospital in Omaha, spoke to Becker's Spine Review about how his practice is preparing for the return to elective surgeries in Nebraska and how the coronavirus will change spine care.

Oren Gottfried, MD, is professor of neurosurgery and clinical vice chair of quality in the department of neurosurgery at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C. He is also past-president of the North Carolina Spine Society, 

Ninety-seven percent of medical practices have suffered a financial hit due to the cessation of elective surgeries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the orthopedic specialty is no different.

Across the nation, non-essential businesses have closed or transitioned to remote work while hospitals and surgical centers have canceled elective procedures to avoid further spreading the coronavirus and devote resources to treating COVID-19 patients.

Daniel Yoshor, MD, was recently appointed chair of the department of neurosurgery in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Atlanta-based Georgia Spine and Orthopaedics has been ahead of the telemedicine trend after implementing the technology one year ago.

Huntley, Ill.-based Life Spine teamed with Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Gizmo Medical on March 23 to produce surgical masks and gowns to meet the growing demand amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alan Hilibrand, MD, is vice chairman for academic affairs and faculty development for the department of orthopedic surgery and co-director of spine surgery at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia.

Neurosurgeon Brian Gantwerker, MD, has been in private practice for nine years as president and CEO of The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles in Santa Monica and Encino, Calif. 

Adam Anz, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. 

The Western Society of Engineers recently recognized orthopedic surgeon Richard Berger, MD, with the 2020 Washington Award for his contributions to joint replacement.

New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery recently named spine surgeon Frank Schwab, MD, vice chair of the HSS Innovation Institute.

Todd Lanman, MD, is founder of Lanman Spinal Neurosurgery in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Spine surgeon Dwight Tyndall, MD, has practiced with Orthopaedic Specialists of Northwest Indiana in Munster for the past 21 years.

Spine surgeon Anthony Yeung, MD, recently retired from Phoenix-based Desert Institute Spine Care, where his son Chris Yeung, MD, is spearheading the practice.

Scott Boden, MD, is a spine surgeon and chair of the department of orthopedics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.