Here are 20 spine surgeons who received the Spine Surgeon Leadership Award in 2015 from Becker's Healthcare.
Please also see our honorees for the Spine Surgeon Leadership Award in 2014 and 2013.
Becker's Healthcare is also accepting recommendations for the 2016 Leadership Awards. If you have a recommendation for next year, or questions or comments on this list, please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.
Stephen Bartol, MD — Henry Ford Health System in Detroit
Dr. Bartol is the chief medical officer of innovations at Henry Ford Health System. He also serves as the director of the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative as well as CEO and board chairman of Sentio and MedAccess Solutions owner. He has served as medical director of surgical services for the Henry Ford Health Network from 2006 to 2011.
The surgical service line grew more than 35 percent under Dr. Bartol's leadership and was also the associate director of utilization and quality. Dr. Bartol established the surgical services quality forum and led the NSQIP adoption. In addition to his clinical practice, he holds several patents on medical devices and has launched multiple successful business start-ups.
Dr. Bartol earned his medical degree at Dalhousie University and completed his post-graduate education at Victoria General Hospital and Dalhousie University in orthopedics. His additional degrees include an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario.
Chris Bono, MD — Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston
Dr. Bono is the chief of Brigham and Women's Hospital orthopedic spine service and serves on the North American Spine Society board of directors. He is also the co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital-BW Hospital Spine Fellowship.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bono served as chair of the Professional Economic and Regulatory Committee of NASS and has expertise advocating for spinal fusion reimbursement. He was also the deputy editor of The Spine Journal and the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Dr. Bono earned his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of the New Jersey Medical School. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of California, San Diego.
Paul Detwiler, MD — Tyler, Texas
Dr. Detwiler is the past chairman of the board of Texas Spine & Joint Hospital and past president of the Texas Neurosurgical Association. He currently practices at Tyler (Texas) Neurosurgical Associates. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Detwiler earned his medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. His additional training includes a fellowship in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery at Barrow Neurological Institute and a second fellowship in spine surgery at Barrow.
Drew Dossett, MD — The Carrell Clinic in Dallas
Dr. Dossett is a spine surgeon with The Carrell Clinic in Dallas and the spine consultant for the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and active member of the North American Spine Society.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Dossett has authored several articles on spinal fusions and neck injuries in athletes. He presents at national meetings and is a member of the NFL Team Physicians and MLB Team Physicians. He has performed spine surgery for elite athletes, such as slugger Prince Fielder and quarterback Tony Romo.
Dr. Dossett earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed orthopedic residency at Parkland Hospital and affiliated hospitals. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship under Robert Watkins, MD, at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Steven Garfin, MD — UC San Diego School of Medicine
Steven Garfin, MD, is the distinguished professor and chairman of the orthopedic surgery department and chief of spine surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He was previously the president of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He regularly trains orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons in spine care at UC San Diego.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Garfin is involved in the design, use and clinical trials related to several new techniques developed over the past few decades. These innovations include artificial disc replacements, biologic alternatives to bone grafts for fusions and lumbar and cervical anterior plating systems. He has authored more than 260 articles.
Dr. Garfin earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of San Diego. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal disorders at the Pennsylvania Hospital.
Richard Guyer, MD — Texas Back Institute in Plano
Dr. Guyer is the co-founder of Texas Back Institute and the director of the Texas Back Institute Spine Fellowship. He is also a co-director for the Texas Back Institute Center for Disc Replacement and founder of the Texas Back Institute Research Foundation.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Guyer earned the Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research and has been president of the North American Spine Society. He has been an associate clinical professor at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He has held leadership positions in the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and is a Cervical Spine Research Society member.
Dr. Guyer earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at Case Western Reserve University with Henry Bohlman, MD, and a second fellowship studying under Leon Wiltse, MD.
Alan Hilibrand, MD — Rothman Institute/Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia
Dr. Hilibrand is the The Joseph and Marie Field Professor of Spinal Surgery, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, Co-Chief of Spinal Surgery and Director of Orthopaedic Medical Education at Jefferson Medical College/The Rothman Institute. His professional leadership positions include treasurer of the Cervical Spine Research Society and Deputy Editor of both the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) and the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Early in his career, Dr. Hilibrand was identified as a leader and was a leadership fellow of AAOS in 2005 to 2006. He now serves as chair of the AAOS Communications Cabinet and endorses the AAOS A Nation in Motion Campaign. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society and International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine.
He earned his medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine where he was the class president. Dr. Hilibrand completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals and a spine and spinal cord injury fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Tony Mork, MD — California
Dr. Mork is a California-based spine surgeon who has performed more than 8,000 endoscopic spine surgeries. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Mork has a special interest in designing and developing tools used in laser spine surgery and spine care.
Dr. Mork was instrumental in developing endoscopic spine surgery techniques and wrote articles for peer-review journals. He is the co-founder of Microspine and Endoscopic Spinal Academy. He performs procedures in both the hospital and outpatient surgical setting, with incisions no larger than one inch.
Dr. Mork earned his medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Martin Luther King Hospital.
Dan Resnick, MD — University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Dr. Resnick is a professor of neurological surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where he has also served as the vice chairman and program director. He served as president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and was instrumental in developing the North American Spine Society's data registry and director of research.
Throughout his career, Dr. Resnick authored more than 175 peer-reviewed scientific papers and contributed to more than 130 other publications. He is interested in comparative effectiveness research and an advocate for spine surgeons and spine patients.
Dr. Resnick earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also earned a master's degree during his residency, focusing on neuroscience based on spinal cord injury research. He completed an "infolded fellowship" at the University of New Mexico.
Jeff Roh, MD — ProOrtho
Dr. Roh is a spine surgeon, president, and board member of ProOrtho, division of Proliance Surgeons in Seattle. He is also president and a board member of the Puget Sound Spine Society, as well as president-elect and board member of the Korean American Spine Society. His focus is on minimally invasive spine surgeries and computer-assisted spinal navigation.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Roh is a member of the medical executive committee and chair of the credentials committee for EvergreenHealth. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Medical Group Management Association.
Dr. Roh earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and completed his residency at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. His additional training includes the Allen Scholar Research Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a spine and scoliosis surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Cornell University, Weill Medical College.
David Rothbart, MD, FAANS, FACS, FACPE — Founder of Spine Team Texas in Southlake
Dr. Rothbart is the founder and medical director of Spine Team Texas, where he has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery. At the end of 2005, he performed a ground-breaking artificial disc replacement surgery and continues to stay at the cutting-edge of the field.
Previously, Dr. Rothbart served as medical director at Baylor Medical Center at Irving and Grapevine, and practiced at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery. He is a member of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, National Board of Medical Examiners and American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Rothbart completed his residency at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and a fellowship at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Kern Singh, MD — Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush in Chicago
Dr. Singh is the co-director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He is also an associate professor and principal researcher in several FDA clinical trials involving cervical disc replacements and motion-preservation.
Dr. Singh has a professional interest in minimally invasive techniques and his research has won awards from the North American Spine Society and Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He has taught and given lectures on spine surgery technique around the world, recently lecturing in Saudi Arabia. He also designs minimally invasive spine instrumentation and performs treatment for spinal tumors and adult spinal deformities.
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 fellowship was completed at Emory University in Atlanta.
Thomas Schuler, MD — Virginia Spine Institute in Reston
Dr. Schuler is the founder and CEO of Virginia Spine Institute and spinal consultant for the Washington Redskins. He was also a founder of the Spinal Research Foundation and focuses his career on innovating in spinal treatment. He is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and member of the North American Spine Society.
Dr. Schuler was among the first to perform hybrid multi-level cervical artificial disc replacement with spinal fusion. He also pioneered an alternative to spine surgery in regenerative therapy and participated in several FDA-approved studies. He has expertise in biologics and uses stem cells in his procedures.
Dr. Schuler earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery 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.
Brian Subach, MD — Virginia Spine Institute in Reston
Dr. Subach is president of Virginia Spine Institute in Reston. He joined the practice in 2003 after serving as an assistant professor of neurosurgery and spinal surgery at Emory University in Atlanta. He has pioneered artificial disc replacements and among the few surgeons in the mid-Atlantic region trained in robotic-guided spine surgery.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Subach is also the director of research and a board member for the Spinal Research Foundation and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Spine Research Foundation. He played an important role in the research and FDA approval for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein for spinal fusions and is a principal investigator for the Phase II clinical trial of NuQu from ISTO Technologies for disc regeneration.
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.
Corey Wallach, MD — Anderson (Va.) Spine Center
Dr. Wallach is the medical director for the Anderson Clinic Spine Center in Virginia. He was instrumental in developing the practice, which addresses all aspects of spine care from conservative management to minimally invasive treatment. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Wallach is involved in clinical research for spinal disorders.
He is the president of the American College of Spine Surgery.
Dr. Wallach earned his medical degree at the University of California, Davis in Sacramento and completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Jeffrey Wang, MD — USC Spine Center
Dr. Wang is the chief of orthopedic spine surgery at Keck Medicine of USC and co-director of the USC Spine Center. Dr. Wang is also a professor of orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. He has held leadership positions in the North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and other educational and research groups.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Wang runs a basic science laboratory and develops methods for treating spinal disorders. His research focuses on gene therapy, minimally invasive surgical treatment, bone growth biological proteins and biomedical engineering of non-invasive spine surgery using high intensity focused ultrasonic waves.
Dr. Wang earned his medical degree at Stanford University in California and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery studying under Henry H. Bohlman, MD, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Michael Wang, MD — University of Miami
Dr. Wang is a neurological surgeon at the University of Miami. He previously served as spine director at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and fellowship director at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Wang has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, abstracts and oral presentations. His recognitions include the distinguished Sanford Larson and Frank Mayfield Research Awards for the Joint Spine Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. His research also includes robotics in spine surgery, resorbable implants and developing new osteobiologic agents to promote spinal fusion.
Dr. Wang earned his medical degree at Stanford University Medical School and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Southern California. His additional training includes a neurosurgery spine fellowship at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Phil Yuan, MD — Southern California Center for Sports Medicine in Long Beach
Dr. Yuan is a spine surgeon at Southern California Center for Sports Medicine in Long Beach, Calif. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Yuan has authored several articles in professional publications.
Dr. Yuan has a special interest in degenerative and traumatic spinal disorders, adult spinal deformities and osteoporotic compression fractures. He is the chairman of the orthopedic surgery department at Long Beach Memorial. He has investigated new procedures as well and participated in the SMART clinical study.
Dr. Yuan earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University and Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.
James Yue, MD — Yale Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Dr. Yue is the co-director of the orthopedic spine service at Yale and director of the Yale Spine Fellowship. He participated in the ProDisc lumbar and cervical disc replacement clinical trails as well as endoscopic spine surgery techniques. He serves as an associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation and worked on the X-Stop post-FDA approval trail and Activ-L lumbar disc replacement FDA clinical trial.
Dr. Yue has a special interest in treating patients with a variety of pathology, including scoliosis, arthritis and tumors. He was the first surgeon in New England to implant the ProDisc in 2002 and published several articles based on his research into artificial discs.
Dr. Yue earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at University Hospitals of Cleveland. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the RA Cowley Shock Trauma Hospital and Queen's Medical Center.
Jack Zigler, MD — Texas Back Institute in Plano
Dr. Zigler is a founder and co-director of the Texas Back Institute Center for Disc Replacement. He is on the board of directors for the Cervical Spine Research Society and past president of the American Spinal Injury Association.
Dr. Zigler was among the first in the United States to implant the ProDisc lumbar artificial disc and has taught the procedure to surgeons around the world. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Zigler has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques and president of the Federation of Spine Associations.
Dr. Zigler earned his medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y., and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. His additional training includes the Arnold Fellowship in Spine Surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland under Henry Bohlman, MD.