A physician who wrote a bill tackling prior authorizations and nine more spine surgeons to know:
Sheyan Armaghani, MD. 360 Orthopedics (Sarasota, Fla.). Dr. Armaghani has published numerous articles spanning topics including spinal fractures, surgical outcomes and opioid use. He specializes in degenerative spine conditions.
Greg Bonnen, MD. Houston Physicians' Hospital. Dr. Bonnen is a spinal neurosurgeon and state senator. He wrote a bill that allows some physicians to bypass prior authorization work.
Ernest Braxton, MD. Vail (Colo.) Summit Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery. Dr. Braxton specializes in complex and minimally invasive spine procedures. He served in the military and gained experience treating blast and traumatic brain and spine injuries.
Paul Jeffords, MD. Resurgens Orthopaedics (Atlanta). Dr. Jeffords was the co-medical director of the Resurgens Spine Center. He joined Resurgens in 2005.
Saqib Hasan, MD. Webster Orthopedics (Oakland, Calif.). Dr. Hasan is the first fellowship-trained full-endoscopic spine surgeon in the U.S. He authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, abstracts and textbooks.
Matthew Hefner, MD. WK Precision Neurosurgery (Bossier City, La.). Dr. Hefner joined the Willis-Knighton Physician Network in September and established the spine practice. He specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery.
Robert Kimber, MD. Kimber Spine (Sebring, Fla.). Dr. Kimber has more than 24 years of experience in the medical field. His training is international, completing fellowships in Germany and Australia.
Vernon Tolo, MD. Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Tolo is a pediatric surgeon and has been president of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the Scoliosis Research Society, and the Orthopaedic Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was chief of pediatric orthopedics at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Hospital for 11 years.
Jobyna Whiting, MD. Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables). Dr. Whiting is the director of degenerative spine surgery at Miami Neuroscience Institute. She previously worked in a private practice in Orlando, Fla.
Hart Garner, MD. Metropolitan Neurosurgery (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Dr. Garner joined Metropolitan Neurosurgery in 2008. He also works as director of the neurosurgery trauma program at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Surgeons are listed in alphabetical order. To nominate a surgeon for future lists, please contact Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com.