Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates is the largest independent spine group in the country with 35 surgeons performing spine surgery.
Here are seven things to know about the practice:
1. Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates has 33 neurosurgeons and 2 orthopedic spine surgeons. Eleven of the neurosurgeons are spine-only specialists.
2. The practice has two joint ventures with Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health, including an ASC — SpineFirst's Carolina Center for Specialty Surgery — which performs almost 2,000 spine surgeries a year.
3. Two of the group's SpineFirst facilities, Atrium Main and Atrium Cabarrus, are among only 10 sites in the U.S. to receive the Joint Commission's advanced accreditation for spine surgery designation.
4. Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates' clinical research division has participated in more than 20 investigational device exemption/investigational new drug spine studies, including 10 cervical artificial disc clinical trials over the past two decades, according to the practice.
5. Established in 1940, Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates has grown to include more than 400 employees and has 10 office locations across the Carolinas.
6. Mary Cloninger has served as CEO of the group for the last nine years. Mark Smith, MD was elected president and chair of the board in May. He succeeded E. Hunter Dyer, MD, who served in that role from 2002-2022.
7. The practice serves more than 230,000 patients a year.