Here are 40spine surgeons who perform lateral access minimally invasive spine surgery. We are constantly updating our lists and if you would like to recommend a surgeon for inclusion on our lists, please contact Laura at lmiller@beckershealthcare.com.
Joseph Aferzon, MD (Connecticut Spine Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Bristol). Dr. Aferzon is the chief of the department of neurosurgery at the Hospital of Central Connecticut and co-director of Connecticut Spine Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive surgery and was the first surgeon in Connecticut to be accepted as a member of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He performs XLIF, minimally invasive TLIF and disc replacement procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Aferzon has worked with spine device companies and authored patents related to minimally invasive spine instrumentation. Dr. Aferzon is originally from the Ukraine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Hartford Hospital/University of Connecticut.
Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD (San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders). Dr. Akbarnia is the medical director at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders at the fellowship director for the San Diego Spine Fellowship. During his career, Dr. Akbarnia has been president of the Scoliosis Research Society and member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North American. He is also a member of the Society for Lateral Access Spine Surgery. He served as chief editor of Growing Spine and has published several research articles in professional journals. Currently, he is instrumental in creating the Growing Spine Study Group, an international study group focusing on care for children with early onset scoliosis. He is the founder of the Growing Spine Foundation, which supports research and educational activities related to early onset scoliosis. Dr. Akbarnia earned his medical degree at Tehran University Medical School in Iran and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albany Medical Center. His additional training includes completion of the John H. Moe Scoliosis Fellowship Program.
Neel Anand, MD (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles). Dr. Anand, Director of Spine Trauma, Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. He previously served as the director of minimally invasive spinal surgery and spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai. He has a professional interest in treating spinal curvature in adults and was among the first surgeons to perform a combination of three minimally invasive procedures to correct adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis. During his career, Dr. Anand has been a founding member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He is the national director of ONE Spine Society and a member of the Society of Nucleus Arthroplasty. Dr. Anand earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay, T.N. Medical College in India and completed his residencies in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y., and Texas Back Institute in Plano.
Ramin Bagheri, MD (San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, La Jolla, Calif.). Dr. Bagheri is an orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialization in spine surgery with San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders. He is also a clinical instructor at the University of California, San Diego. During his career, Dr. Bagheri was a founding member of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery and Society for Minimally Invasive Sine Surgery. His additional memberships include the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Bagheri is engaged in research and has published several articles in professional journals. Dr. Bagheri earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and completed his residency at George Washington University Hospital Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His additional training includes a fellowship at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders.
Ryan K. Bergeson, MD (Georgetown Orthopedics, Georgetown, Texas). Dr. Bergeson is a spine surgeon with a professional interest in minimally invasive procedures. He treats patients with degenerative disorders, fractures, herniated discs and spinal stenosis. He also performs lateral access spine surgery. Dr. Bergeson earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at The University of New Mexico. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship with The Leatherman Spine Institute in Louisville.
Bryan Bertoglio, MD (Alexian Brothers Neurosurgery Associates, Hoffman Estates, Ill.). Dr. Bertoglio is a spine surgeon with Alexian Brothers Neurosurgery Associates and a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. In addition to the lateral access approach, Dr. Bertoglio has a professional interest in pediatric neurosurgery, complex and minimally invasive spien surgery and other spinal procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bertoglio is involved in research related to the fundamental physiology of several brain and spinal conditions. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. Dr. Bertoglio's additional training includes a fellowship in complex spine surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and in pediatric neurosurgery at Royal Children's Hospital in Australia.
Frank Cammisa Jr., MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Cammisa is the chief of the spine service at the Hospital for Special Surgery and an assistant scientist in the hospital's research division. He also serves as an associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. In his practice, Dr. Cammisa has special expertise in minimally invasive surgeries, laparoscopic spinal surgery, computer assisted spine surgery and treating athletic spinal injuries. He has performed surgical intervention for several professional athletes and earned recognition from the Eastern Orthopaedic Association for his research. Dr. Cammisa earned his medical degree at the College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at HSS. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Miami and the North American Traveling Fellowship from the American Orthopaedic Association.
Clayton Dean, MD (The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy, Baltimore). Dr. Dean is a spine surgeon with The Maryland Spine Center at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy. During his career, he has been an invited presenter of more than 25 scientific presentations at national and international meetings. His research has also earned him recognition from the Cervical Spine Research Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He has an expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement and lateral access spine surgery. Dr. Dean earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at The Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Dr. Mohammad Etminan (Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic, Richmond, Texas). Dr. Etminan is a spine surgeon with a special interest in lateral access spine surgery. He performs the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedure and treats disorders such as scoliosis, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis and kyphosis. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has authored several articles in professional publications. During his career, Dr. Etminan's research has earned him the Stanley Olson Outstanding Academic Excellence Award and DeBakey Scholar Award. Dr. Etminan earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of California at Los Angeles. His additional training includes a spine fellowship program at Lenox Hill Hospital, Cornell University and Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Guy R. Fogel, MD (San Antonio Spine Pain Be Gone, Texas). Dr. Fogel has a professional interest in minimally invasive lumbar and cervical spine surgery, scoliosis treatment and failed back surgery. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Fogel performs Axial lumbar interbody fusion and cervical disc replacements. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Texas Spine Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Fogel has authored several scientific journal articles on spinal disorders. Dr. Fogel earned his medical degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minn. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Jeffrey A. Goldstein, MD (NYU Langone Medical Center Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York City). Dr. Goldstein is the Director of the Spine Service and Associate Director of the Spine Fellowship at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. His clinical expertise includes the surgical treatment of degenerative diseases, deformity, trauma and tumors. He has been a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement. In addition to his clinical practice Dr. Goldstein serves on the editorial board of The Spine Journal, among several other publications. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He sits on the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) and is also a member of the American Orthopaedic Association, the Cervical Spine Research Society, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, NASS, the Lumbar Spine Research Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Goldstein was a recipient of the Leon Wiltse award for the best overall paper at ISASS. Dr. Goldstein earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center at Brooklyn and completed his orthopaedic surgery training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Maryland Spine Fellowship in Baltimore.
Allan Goodrich, MD (Augusta Bone & Joint, Augusta, Ga.). Dr. Goodrich is a member of several professional medical societies, including the Cervical Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. He is also a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. In his practice, Dr. Goodrich has a professional interest in using cutting-edge techniques for treating his patients. Dr. Goodrich earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed his residency at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Ft. Gordon, Ga. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta.
Glenn E. Harper, MD (Seton Brain & Spine Institute, Round Rock, Texas). Dr. Harper is a spine surgeon with Seton Brain & Spine Institute and chief of surgery at Seton Medical Center Williamson. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal disorders and conditions, and he performs lateral access surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harper is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery with Texas A&M College. Dr. Harper earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Michael Hasz, MD (Virginia Spine Institute, Reston). Dr. Hasz is a spine surgeon with Virginia Spine Institute, where he focuses on minimally invasive spinal procedures, including the DLIF/XLIF approach for spinal fusions. He also performs disc replacement and laser techniques. Prior to joining VSI, Dr. Hasz was a Major in the United States Air Force and chairman of the orthopedic surgery department and director of spinal surgery at the Andrews Air Force Base/Malcolm Grow Medical Center. Dr. Hasz is a member of several professional societies, including the North American Spine Society, Society for Lateral Access Surgery and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Dr. Hasz earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital and Grace Hospital in Detroit. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
Alexander P. Hughes, MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Hughes is an attending spinal surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery with a special interest in treating patients with degenerative conditions, deformity and traumatic spinal injuries. He also serves as director of the spine services at James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center. He performs lateral access spine surgery and has a special interest in three-dimensional mechanics, new biologic healing agents and treating bone deficiencies. Dr. Hughes is a member of the Integrated Spine Research Program combining experience from experts involved in surgical and non-surgical spine patient care. Dr. Hughes earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at UCLA. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery.
William Hunter, MD (Neuroscience and Spine of the Carolinas, Gastonia, N.C.). Dr. Hunter is a spine surgeon with Neuroscience and Spine of the Carolinas with a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. He previously served as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Hunter is the director of North Carolina for the Society of Lateral Access Spine Surgery. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society, Congress of Neurological Surgery and American Association of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Hunter earned his medical degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he also completed his residency in neurosurgery. His additional training includes time at Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C., University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore and Georgetown Brain Tumor Center in Washington D.C.
Jonathan Hyde, MD (South Florida Spine, Miami Beach). Dr. Hyde is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery. He is an instructor in several techniques, including XLIF and AxiaLIF procedures. He also contributed a chapter in the first text book published for XLIF surgery and currently participates in research on the procedure. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Hyde was one of three designers of the dbrII minimally invasive pedicle screw system and is a clinical assistant professor of orthopedics at Florida International University. Dr. Hyde earned his medical degree at State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his training in orthopedics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. Dr. Hyde then completed a spine surgery fellowship at Texas Back Institute in Plano.
Kevin James, MD (Advanced Spine Solutions, Keller, Texas). In his practice, Dr. James has expertise performing lateral access spine surgery, disc replacement and minimally invasive procedures. He also treats patients with spinal trauma, degenerative scoliosis and arthritic conditions of the spine. He is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons and involved in a research project with leaders of NuVasive on the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedure for patients with failed traditional spinal fusions. Dr. James earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Texas in Houston. He also spent time at MD Anderson's cancer center and at level one trauma centers in Houston.
Adam S. Kanter, MD (University of Pittsburgh). Dr. Kanter is the director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also serves as an assistant professor of neurological surgery. His special interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc technology and experimental therapies for spinal cord regeneration. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kanter is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery, Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and North American Spine Society. His additional responsibilities include serving on the editorial board for SpineLine and as an ad hoc reviewer for Yonsei Medical Journal. Dr. Kanter earned his medical degree at the University of Vermont in Burlington and completed his residency at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His additional training includes a minimally invasive spine surgery fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco and Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand.
Kaveh Khajavi, MD (Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center, Atlanta). Dr. Khajavi is a neurological surgeon with Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center who performs lateral access spine surgery. He has a special interest in complex spinal pathology and minimally invasive techniques. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Khajavi is a neurosurgical consultant to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Thrashers. Before opening Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center, Dr. Khajavi was chief of epilepsy and functional surgery sections at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was the first Air Force officer to be given an appointment in the department of neurosurgery. D. Khajavi earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
Sanjay Kumar Khurana, MD (DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Khurana has a special interest in XLIF, spinal reconstruction and treating patients with failed spine surgery. He is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery and performs XLIF on an outpatient basis at DISC. During his career, he has received the Volvo Corporation Award for the Clinical Study of Low Back Pain and the 2000 Orthopedic Hospital Research Award from the California Orthopedic Association. Previously, Dr. Khurana was chief of spine surgery at Permanente Group Dan Diego. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif., where he also completed his orthopedic surgery residency. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal reconstruction at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in conjunction with the University of Miami/Project to Cure Paralysis.
Sunny Kim, MD (Central Minnesota Spine Center, Alexandria, Minn.). Dr. Kim is an orthopedic spine surgeon at Central Minnesota Spine Center and a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons, North American Spine Society and the American College of Spine Surgery. He has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive surgical techniques, including the TranS1 lumbosacral fusion and X-Stop surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kim has published research in professional journals on topics such as failed back surgery and adult spondylolisthesis fusion rate. Dr. Kim earned his medical degree at The University of Chicago and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Columbia University in New York City. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the Minnesota Spine Center.
Walter X. Loyola, MD (Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Plano). Dr. Loyola is the vice-chair of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano surgery department. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has an interest in performing minimally invasive spinal procedures. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Loyola performs transformational lumbar interbody fusions, anterior lumbar interbody fusions with instrumentation and the X-Stop procedure. He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and has been recognized by Newsweek as on of the best physicians in Texas. Dr. Loyola graduated from the University Central Del Caribe in Puerto Rico and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan. He also underwent training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, The Institute of Neurology in London and Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey.
Craig Meyer, MD (Columbia Orthopedic Group, Columbia, Mo.). Dr. Meyer practices spine surgery at Columbia Orthopedic Group. He was previously practicing with Silicon Valley Spine Institute in Los Gatos, Calif., and specializes in treating patients with minimally invasive procedures. He performs complex instrumentation and deformity correction, and spent time teaching other surgeons his technique. During his career, he has published articles on lateral access spine surgery and given presentations nationally on XLIF. Dr. Meyer is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He is also a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Dr. Meyer earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in neurosurgery and spine at the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
P. Ronjon Paul, MD (The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group, Lombard, Ill.). Dr. Paul has a special interest in lateral access lumbar spine surgery and has instructed more than 100 spine surgeons and neurosurgeons from around the world. He is a proctor for the XLIF classes on the west coast and has also participated in local training courses for peer physicians. He is the chair of the spine surgery section at Edward Hospital and medical director of The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Paul is a member of North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a teaching member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Previously, his research focused on genetic tissue engineering for degenerative disc disease and he has more recently set his sights on advancing minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Paul earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Chicago hospitals. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin hospitals.
Mark Peterson, MD (Southern Oregon Orthopedics, Medford). Dr. Peterson is in private practice with Southern Oregon Orthopedics ad medical director of Providence Spine Program in Medford. He previously served as chief of surgery at Providence Medford (Ore.) Medical Center and orthopedic section leader at Rogue Valley Medical Center & Providence Hospital Medical Center. During his career, Dr. Peterson has bee co-chairman of the physician education committee for the Society of Lateral Access Spine Surgery and president of the Oregon Association of Orthopedists. During his career, Dr. Peterson authored several articles in peer review journals and is a clinical advisor for NuVasive. Dr. Peterson earned his medical degree at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Akron (Ohio) City Hospital. His additional training includes a research fellowship at Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia, AO Spine Fellowship at Queens Medical Center in England and a spine fellowship at North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital.
Frank Phillips, MD (Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago). Dr. Phillips is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine at Rush University Medical Center and a physician with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. He is also the co-director of the spine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center and previously served as the medical director of the spine center at The University of Chicago. During his career, Dr. Phillips was involved in the development of the lateral approach and instrumentation, and has taught the technique extensively around the world. Dr. Phillips is a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, North American Spine Society and past president of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. During his career, he has been a principle investigator in FDA trials on cervical disc replacement. He earned his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa and completed his residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals. His additional training includes a fellowship at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.
Saqib Siddiqui, MD (The Spine Center, Houston). Dr. Siddiqui is the president and CEO of The Spine Center. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive solutions for spine surgery, disc replacement and XLIF trans-sacral fusion. He has published several articles based on orthopedic and spine surgery in professional journals and written a text book chapter on lumbar spinal arthroplasty. Dr. Siddiqui is a member of several professional societies, including the North American Spine Society and International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Dr. Siddiqui earned his medical degree at the University of New South Wales Medical School in Sydney, Australia, and completed additional training at St. Vincent's Medical Center/Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York City. He also completed fellowships in spine surgery at Texas Back Institute in Plano and Texas Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Tomball.
Michael Shapiro, MD (Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group, Oceanside, N.Y.). Dr. Shapiro is the chief of orthopedic spine surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital. His practice focuses on treating spinal disorders, lower back and neck pain, osteoporosis, scoliosis and sciatica. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Shapiro focuses on revision spine surgery and disc arthroplasty. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Spine Arthroplasty Society and the North American Spine Society. Dr. Shapiro earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco. His additional training includes a spinal reconstructive surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System in Baltimore.
William D. Smith, MD (Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, Las Vegas). Dr. Smith is a neurosurgeon with Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery and a former head of spinal reconstructive surgery at the University of Arizona School of Medicine at Tucson. He has a special interest in the development of minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and technologies and serves as the co-chairman of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He has also been the chairman of the Association of Presacral Spine Surgeons and on the 2008 faculty of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He is a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgeons and North American Spine Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Smith has served on the peer review board for several professional journals, including The Spine Journal. He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University Medical Center College of Medicine in Washington D.C., and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Jonathan Stieber, MD (New York University School of Medicine, New York City). Dr. Stieber is an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and the NYU School of Medicine in New York City. In his clinical practice, he has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive interventions and motion preservation surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stieber has conducted research and authored articles in several professional publications, including Spine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed his residency at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J. He also completed a spine surgery fellowship at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Andelle Teng, MD (Cascade Orthopaedics, Auburn, Wash.). Dr. Teng is the director of the Cascade Spine Center and performs lateral access spine surgery and lateral interbody spine fusions. He also performs minimally invasive spine surgery, MIS neuroforaminal decompression technique with iO-Flex, interspinous/interlaminar decompression and fusions and cervical disc replacement. He has a special interest in treating patients with arthritic, degenerative and traumatic disorders of the spine. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Teng is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has published research related to spinal conditions in professional journals. Dr. Teng earned his medical degree at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and completed his orthopaedic residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center.
Antoine Tohmeh, MD (Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, Spokane, Wash.). Dr. Tohmeh is a member of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists and founder of the Spine Research Institute of Spokane. He has a special interest in spinal trauma, failed back surgery and adult spinal deformity. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Tohmeh is a founding member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery and a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is a clinical advisor for NuVasive and previously served as advisor for Medtronic Sofamor Danek. During his career, Dr. Tohmeh participated in clinical trials for Extreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement and Procrit, Healos, Oxiplex studies. In 2006, Dr. Tohmeh received the XLIF Pioneer Award. Dr. Tohmeh earned his medical degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and completed his residency at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of Maryland.
Vikas V. Varma, MD (Manhattan Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, New York City). Dr. Varma is a spine surgeon with Manhattan Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group and an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive techniques for scoliosis and degenerative conditions. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and the Scoliosis Research Society. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Varma has been involved in multiple research projects, including one that focuses on the improvements associated with XLIF for patients with large adult lumbar scoliosis. Dr. Varma earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Connecticut in Farmingham. His additional training includes fellowships in sports medicine and arthroscopy with Orthopaedic Sports Specialists in Glastonbury, Conn., and spine surgery at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders.
David Vincent, MD (Tidewater Spine, Norfolk, Va.). Dr. Vincent is a neurosurgeon with Tidewater Spine. He has a special focus on minimally invasive techniques for spinal disorders, specifically for motion preservation and non-fusion procedures. He has given presentations and taught courses on minimally invasive surgery, including on XLIF and TLIF. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vincent is involved in clinical trials and product design. Dr. Vincent is a member of several professional societies, including the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Society of Lateral Access Surgery and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Vincent earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University Medical Center-Shreveport and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Virginia Health Science Center in Charlottesville. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham.
Roy Vingan, MD (North Jersey Brain & Spine Center, Oradell, N.J.). Dr. Vingan is a neurological surgeon and founding member of the North Jersey Brain and Spine Group, where he has practiced since 1992. During his career, he has been president of the medical staff at Hackensack University Medical Center and chief of neurosurgery at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and performs eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vingan has been an educator and taught other surgeons about his surgical technique. He is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Vingan is a member of several professional societies, including the Society for Lateral Access Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Association of Presacral Spine Surgery. Dr. Vingan earned his medical degree at State University of New York, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in neurosurgery.
John I. Williams, MD (Ortho NorthEast, Ft. Wayne, Ind.). Dr. Williams is a spine surgeon with SpineONE, a division of Ortho NorthEast. He is among the first spine surgeons in his region to perform XLIF. In addition to his medical practice, he is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and he speaks frequently at professional conferences. Dr. Williams earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he also completed his internship and residency in the department of orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Richard Wohns, MD (South Sound Neurosurgery, Puyallup, Wash.). Dr. Wohns is a spine surgeon and a leader in the development of ambulatory spine practices. He is the founder and president of South Sound Neurosurgery in Puyallup, Wash., and founded NeoSpine, a spine ASC development company that is currently part of Symbion Healthcare. He was one of the first neurosurgeons in the United States qualified to perform the XLIF procedure. Dr. Wohns attended medical school at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Washington in Seattle. He holds an executive MBA from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a law degree from Seattle University School of Law.
Richard Wupperman, MD (Central Texas Spine Institute, Austin). Dr. Wupperman is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon practicing at Central Texas Spine Institute in Austin, TX. He has performed lateral access spine surgery via the XLIF approach for more than five years. In addition to treating degenerative spinal pathologies of all kinds, Dr. Wupperman has special interest and experience in using minimally invasive techniques like XLIF for MIS treatment of degenerative spinal conditions, adult degenerative and idiopathic scoliosis, acute trauma and revision spine surgery. He was a principle investigator for a prospective trial on lateral access interbody fusion through the XLIF approach and remains active in lateral approach research. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Wupperman is a member of the North American Spine Society and Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Dr. Wupperman earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. His additional specialty training included a fellowship in MIS Deformity at Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders in Los Angeles.
Vasilios A. Zerris, MD (Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas). Dr. Zerris is the vice chairman of the neurosurgery department at Scott & White Healthcare and assistant professor of surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. He has a special interest in performing minimally invasive spine surgery and performs lateral access procedures. Dr. Zerris earned his medical degree at Brown University in Providence, R.I., and completed additional residency training at Tufts University Medical School, Harvard Medical School and Lahey Clinic Foundation in New York City. He also completed a fellowship in complex and reconstructive spine surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University Medical School.
Joseph Aferzon, MD (Connecticut Spine Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Bristol). Dr. Aferzon is the chief of the department of neurosurgery at the Hospital of Central Connecticut and co-director of Connecticut Spine Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive surgery and was the first surgeon in Connecticut to be accepted as a member of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He performs XLIF, minimally invasive TLIF and disc replacement procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Aferzon has worked with spine device companies and authored patents related to minimally invasive spine instrumentation. Dr. Aferzon is originally from the Ukraine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Hartford Hospital/University of Connecticut.
Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD (San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders). Dr. Akbarnia is the medical director at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders at the fellowship director for the San Diego Spine Fellowship. During his career, Dr. Akbarnia has been president of the Scoliosis Research Society and member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North American. He is also a member of the Society for Lateral Access Spine Surgery. He served as chief editor of Growing Spine and has published several research articles in professional journals. Currently, he is instrumental in creating the Growing Spine Study Group, an international study group focusing on care for children with early onset scoliosis. He is the founder of the Growing Spine Foundation, which supports research and educational activities related to early onset scoliosis. Dr. Akbarnia earned his medical degree at Tehran University Medical School in Iran and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albany Medical Center. His additional training includes completion of the John H. Moe Scoliosis Fellowship Program.
Neel Anand, MD (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles). Dr. Anand, Director of Spine Trauma, Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. He previously served as the director of minimally invasive spinal surgery and spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai. He has a professional interest in treating spinal curvature in adults and was among the first surgeons to perform a combination of three minimally invasive procedures to correct adult lumbar degenerative scoliosis. During his career, Dr. Anand has been a founding member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He is the national director of ONE Spine Society and a member of the Society of Nucleus Arthroplasty. Dr. Anand earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay, T.N. Medical College in India and completed his residencies in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y., and Texas Back Institute in Plano.
Ramin Bagheri, MD (San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, La Jolla, Calif.). Dr. Bagheri is an orthopedic surgeon with a subspecialization in spine surgery with San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders. He is also a clinical instructor at the University of California, San Diego. During his career, Dr. Bagheri was a founding member of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery and Society for Minimally Invasive Sine Surgery. His additional memberships include the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Bagheri is engaged in research and has published several articles in professional journals. Dr. Bagheri earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and completed his residency at George Washington University Hospital Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His additional training includes a fellowship at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders.
Ryan K. Bergeson, MD (Georgetown Orthopedics, Georgetown, Texas). Dr. Bergeson is a spine surgeon with a professional interest in minimally invasive procedures. He treats patients with degenerative disorders, fractures, herniated discs and spinal stenosis. He also performs lateral access spine surgery. Dr. Bergeson earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at The University of New Mexico. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship with The Leatherman Spine Institute in Louisville.
Bryan Bertoglio, MD (Alexian Brothers Neurosurgery Associates, Hoffman Estates, Ill.). Dr. Bertoglio is a spine surgeon with Alexian Brothers Neurosurgery Associates and a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. In addition to the lateral access approach, Dr. Bertoglio has a professional interest in pediatric neurosurgery, complex and minimally invasive spien surgery and other spinal procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bertoglio is involved in research related to the fundamental physiology of several brain and spinal conditions. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. Dr. Bertoglio's additional training includes a fellowship in complex spine surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and in pediatric neurosurgery at Royal Children's Hospital in Australia.
Frank Cammisa Jr., MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Cammisa is the chief of the spine service at the Hospital for Special Surgery and an assistant scientist in the hospital's research division. He also serves as an associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. In his practice, Dr. Cammisa has special expertise in minimally invasive surgeries, laparoscopic spinal surgery, computer assisted spine surgery and treating athletic spinal injuries. He has performed surgical intervention for several professional athletes and earned recognition from the Eastern Orthopaedic Association for his research. Dr. Cammisa earned his medical degree at the College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at HSS. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Miami and the North American Traveling Fellowship from the American Orthopaedic Association.
Clayton Dean, MD (The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy, Baltimore). Dr. Dean is a spine surgeon with The Maryland Spine Center at The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital at Mercy. During his career, he has been an invited presenter of more than 25 scientific presentations at national and international meetings. His research has also earned him recognition from the Cervical Spine Research Society and Scoliosis Research Society. He has an expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc replacement and lateral access spine surgery. Dr. Dean earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in orthopedic spine surgery at The Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Dr. Mohammad Etminan (Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic, Richmond, Texas). Dr. Etminan is a spine surgeon with a special interest in lateral access spine surgery. He performs the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedure and treats disorders such as scoliosis, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis and kyphosis. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has authored several articles in professional publications. During his career, Dr. Etminan's research has earned him the Stanley Olson Outstanding Academic Excellence Award and DeBakey Scholar Award. Dr. Etminan earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of California at Los Angeles. His additional training includes a spine fellowship program at Lenox Hill Hospital, Cornell University and Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Guy R. Fogel, MD (San Antonio Spine Pain Be Gone, Texas). Dr. Fogel has a professional interest in minimally invasive lumbar and cervical spine surgery, scoliosis treatment and failed back surgery. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Fogel performs Axial lumbar interbody fusion and cervical disc replacements. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Texas Spine Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Fogel has authored several scientific journal articles on spinal disorders. Dr. Fogel earned his medical degree at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minn. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Jeffrey A. Goldstein, MD (NYU Langone Medical Center Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York City). Dr. Goldstein is the Director of the Spine Service and Associate Director of the Spine Fellowship at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. His clinical expertise includes the surgical treatment of degenerative diseases, deformity, trauma and tumors. He has been a pioneer in minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement. In addition to his clinical practice Dr. Goldstein serves on the editorial board of The Spine Journal, among several other publications. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He sits on the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) and is also a member of the American Orthopaedic Association, the Cervical Spine Research Society, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, NASS, the Lumbar Spine Research Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Goldstein was a recipient of the Leon Wiltse award for the best overall paper at ISASS. Dr. Goldstein earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center at Brooklyn and completed his orthopaedic surgery training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Maryland Spine Fellowship in Baltimore.
Allan Goodrich, MD (Augusta Bone & Joint, Augusta, Ga.). Dr. Goodrich is a member of several professional medical societies, including the Cervical Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. He is also a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. In his practice, Dr. Goodrich has a professional interest in using cutting-edge techniques for treating his patients. Dr. Goodrich earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed his residency at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Ft. Gordon, Ga. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta.
Glenn E. Harper, MD (Seton Brain & Spine Institute, Round Rock, Texas). Dr. Harper is a spine surgeon with Seton Brain & Spine Institute and chief of surgery at Seton Medical Center Williamson. He has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal disorders and conditions, and he performs lateral access surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harper is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery with Texas A&M College. Dr. Harper earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Michael Hasz, MD (Virginia Spine Institute, Reston). Dr. Hasz is a spine surgeon with Virginia Spine Institute, where he focuses on minimally invasive spinal procedures, including the DLIF/XLIF approach for spinal fusions. He also performs disc replacement and laser techniques. Prior to joining VSI, Dr. Hasz was a Major in the United States Air Force and chairman of the orthopedic surgery department and director of spinal surgery at the Andrews Air Force Base/Malcolm Grow Medical Center. Dr. Hasz is a member of several professional societies, including the North American Spine Society, Society for Lateral Access Surgery and Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. Dr. Hasz earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital and Grace Hospital in Detroit. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
Alexander P. Hughes, MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Hughes is an attending spinal surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery with a special interest in treating patients with degenerative conditions, deformity and traumatic spinal injuries. He also serves as director of the spine services at James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center. He performs lateral access spine surgery and has a special interest in three-dimensional mechanics, new biologic healing agents and treating bone deficiencies. Dr. Hughes is a member of the Integrated Spine Research Program combining experience from experts involved in surgical and non-surgical spine patient care. Dr. Hughes earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at UCLA. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Hospital for Special Surgery.
William Hunter, MD (Neuroscience and Spine of the Carolinas, Gastonia, N.C.). Dr. Hunter is a spine surgeon with Neuroscience and Spine of the Carolinas with a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. He previously served as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Hunter is the director of North Carolina for the Society of Lateral Access Spine Surgery. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society, Congress of Neurological Surgery and American Association of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Hunter earned his medical degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he also completed his residency in neurosurgery. His additional training includes time at Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C., University of Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore and Georgetown Brain Tumor Center in Washington D.C.
Jonathan Hyde, MD (South Florida Spine, Miami Beach). Dr. Hyde is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery. He is an instructor in several techniques, including XLIF and AxiaLIF procedures. He also contributed a chapter in the first text book published for XLIF surgery and currently participates in research on the procedure. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Hyde was one of three designers of the dbrII minimally invasive pedicle screw system and is a clinical assistant professor of orthopedics at Florida International University. Dr. Hyde earned his medical degree at State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his training in orthopedics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. Dr. Hyde then completed a spine surgery fellowship at Texas Back Institute in Plano.
Kevin James, MD (Advanced Spine Solutions, Keller, Texas). In his practice, Dr. James has expertise performing lateral access spine surgery, disc replacement and minimally invasive procedures. He also treats patients with spinal trauma, degenerative scoliosis and arthritic conditions of the spine. He is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons and involved in a research project with leaders of NuVasive on the eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedure for patients with failed traditional spinal fusions. Dr. James earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Texas in Houston. He also spent time at MD Anderson's cancer center and at level one trauma centers in Houston.
Adam S. Kanter, MD (University of Pittsburgh). Dr. Kanter is the director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Program at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also serves as an assistant professor of neurological surgery. His special interests include minimally invasive spine surgery, artificial disc technology and experimental therapies for spinal cord regeneration. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kanter is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery, Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and North American Spine Society. His additional responsibilities include serving on the editorial board for SpineLine and as an ad hoc reviewer for Yonsei Medical Journal. Dr. Kanter earned his medical degree at the University of Vermont in Burlington and completed his residency at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His additional training includes a minimally invasive spine surgery fellowship at the University of California in San Francisco and Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand.
Kaveh Khajavi, MD (Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center, Atlanta). Dr. Khajavi is a neurological surgeon with Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center who performs lateral access spine surgery. He has a special interest in complex spinal pathology and minimally invasive techniques. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Khajavi is a neurosurgical consultant to the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Thrashers. Before opening Georgia Spine & Neurosurgery Center, Dr. Khajavi was chief of epilepsy and functional surgery sections at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was the first Air Force officer to be given an appointment in the department of neurosurgery. D. Khajavi earned his medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
Sanjay Kumar Khurana, MD (DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.). Dr. Khurana has a special interest in XLIF, spinal reconstruction and treating patients with failed spine surgery. He is a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery and performs XLIF on an outpatient basis at DISC. During his career, he has received the Volvo Corporation Award for the Clinical Study of Low Back Pain and the 2000 Orthopedic Hospital Research Award from the California Orthopedic Association. Previously, Dr. Khurana was chief of spine surgery at Permanente Group Dan Diego. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif., where he also completed his orthopedic surgery residency. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal reconstruction at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in conjunction with the University of Miami/Project to Cure Paralysis.
Sunny Kim, MD (Central Minnesota Spine Center, Alexandria, Minn.). Dr. Kim is an orthopedic spine surgeon at Central Minnesota Spine Center and a member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgeons, North American Spine Society and the American College of Spine Surgery. He has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive surgical techniques, including the TranS1 lumbosacral fusion and X-Stop surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kim has published research in professional journals on topics such as failed back surgery and adult spondylolisthesis fusion rate. Dr. Kim earned his medical degree at The University of Chicago and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Columbia University in New York City. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the Minnesota Spine Center.
Walter X. Loyola, MD (Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Plano). Dr. Loyola is the vice-chair of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano surgery department. He is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has an interest in performing minimally invasive spinal procedures. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Loyola performs transformational lumbar interbody fusions, anterior lumbar interbody fusions with instrumentation and the X-Stop procedure. He is a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and has been recognized by Newsweek as on of the best physicians in Texas. Dr. Loyola graduated from the University Central Del Caribe in Puerto Rico and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan. He also underwent training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School, The Institute of Neurology in London and Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey.
Craig Meyer, MD (Columbia Orthopedic Group, Columbia, Mo.). Dr. Meyer practices spine surgery at Columbia Orthopedic Group. He was previously practicing with Silicon Valley Spine Institute in Los Gatos, Calif., and specializes in treating patients with minimally invasive procedures. He performs complex instrumentation and deformity correction, and spent time teaching other surgeons his technique. During his career, he has published articles on lateral access spine surgery and given presentations nationally on XLIF. Dr. Meyer is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He is also a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Dr. Meyer earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship in neurosurgery and spine at the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
P. Ronjon Paul, MD (The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group, Lombard, Ill.). Dr. Paul has a special interest in lateral access lumbar spine surgery and has instructed more than 100 spine surgeons and neurosurgeons from around the world. He is a proctor for the XLIF classes on the west coast and has also participated in local training courses for peer physicians. He is the chair of the spine surgery section at Edward Hospital and medical director of The Spine Center of DuPage Medical Group. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Paul is a member of North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and a teaching member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Previously, his research focused on genetic tissue engineering for degenerative disc disease and he has more recently set his sights on advancing minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Paul earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Chicago hospitals. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin hospitals.
Mark Peterson, MD (Southern Oregon Orthopedics, Medford). Dr. Peterson is in private practice with Southern Oregon Orthopedics ad medical director of Providence Spine Program in Medford. He previously served as chief of surgery at Providence Medford (Ore.) Medical Center and orthopedic section leader at Rogue Valley Medical Center & Providence Hospital Medical Center. During his career, Dr. Peterson has bee co-chairman of the physician education committee for the Society of Lateral Access Spine Surgery and president of the Oregon Association of Orthopedists. During his career, Dr. Peterson authored several articles in peer review journals and is a clinical advisor for NuVasive. Dr. Peterson earned his medical degree at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Akron (Ohio) City Hospital. His additional training includes a research fellowship at Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia, AO Spine Fellowship at Queens Medical Center in England and a spine fellowship at North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital.
Frank Phillips, MD (Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago). Dr. Phillips is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine at Rush University Medical Center and a physician with Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. He is also the co-director of the spine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center and previously served as the medical director of the spine center at The University of Chicago. During his career, Dr. Phillips was involved in the development of the lateral approach and instrumentation, and has taught the technique extensively around the world. Dr. Phillips is a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, North American Spine Society and past president of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. During his career, he has been a principle investigator in FDA trials on cervical disc replacement. He earned his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa and completed his residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals. His additional training includes a fellowship at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.
Saqib Siddiqui, MD (The Spine Center, Houston). Dr. Siddiqui is the president and CEO of The Spine Center. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive solutions for spine surgery, disc replacement and XLIF trans-sacral fusion. He has published several articles based on orthopedic and spine surgery in professional journals and written a text book chapter on lumbar spinal arthroplasty. Dr. Siddiqui is a member of several professional societies, including the North American Spine Society and International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Dr. Siddiqui earned his medical degree at the University of New South Wales Medical School in Sydney, Australia, and completed additional training at St. Vincent's Medical Center/Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York City. He also completed fellowships in spine surgery at Texas Back Institute in Plano and Texas Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Tomball.
Michael Shapiro, MD (Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group, Oceanside, N.Y.). Dr. Shapiro is the chief of orthopedic spine surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital. His practice focuses on treating spinal disorders, lower back and neck pain, osteoporosis, scoliosis and sciatica. In addition to performing XLIF, Dr. Shapiro focuses on revision spine surgery and disc arthroplasty. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Spine Arthroplasty Society and the North American Spine Society. Dr. Shapiro earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco. His additional training includes a spinal reconstructive surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System in Baltimore.
William D. Smith, MD (Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, Las Vegas). Dr. Smith is a neurosurgeon with Western Regional Center for Brain & Spine Surgery and a former head of spinal reconstructive surgery at the University of Arizona School of Medicine at Tucson. He has a special interest in the development of minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and technologies and serves as the co-chairman of the Society for Lateral Access Surgery. He has also been the chairman of the Association of Presacral Spine Surgeons and on the 2008 faculty of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He is a member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgeons and North American Spine Society. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Smith has served on the peer review board for several professional journals, including The Spine Journal. He earned his medical degree at Georgetown University Medical Center College of Medicine in Washington D.C., and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Jonathan Stieber, MD (New York University School of Medicine, New York City). Dr. Stieber is an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and the NYU School of Medicine in New York City. In his clinical practice, he has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive interventions and motion preservation surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stieber has conducted research and authored articles in several professional publications, including Spine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed his residency at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J. He also completed a spine surgery fellowship at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Andelle Teng, MD (Cascade Orthopaedics, Auburn, Wash.). Dr. Teng is the director of the Cascade Spine Center and performs lateral access spine surgery and lateral interbody spine fusions. He also performs minimally invasive spine surgery, MIS neuroforaminal decompression technique with iO-Flex, interspinous/interlaminar decompression and fusions and cervical disc replacement. He has a special interest in treating patients with arthritic, degenerative and traumatic disorders of the spine. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Teng is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and has published research related to spinal conditions in professional journals. Dr. Teng earned his medical degree at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and completed his orthopaedic residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center.
Antoine Tohmeh, MD (Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists, Spokane, Wash.). Dr. Tohmeh is a member of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists and founder of the Spine Research Institute of Spokane. He has a special interest in spinal trauma, failed back surgery and adult spinal deformity. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Tohmeh is a founding member of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery and a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is a clinical advisor for NuVasive and previously served as advisor for Medtronic Sofamor Danek. During his career, Dr. Tohmeh participated in clinical trials for Extreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement and Procrit, Healos, Oxiplex studies. In 2006, Dr. Tohmeh received the XLIF Pioneer Award. Dr. Tohmeh earned his medical degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and completed his residency at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of Maryland.
Vikas V. Varma, MD (Manhattan Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, New York City). Dr. Varma is a spine surgeon with Manhattan Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group and an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive techniques for scoliosis and degenerative conditions. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and the Scoliosis Research Society. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Varma has been involved in multiple research projects, including one that focuses on the improvements associated with XLIF for patients with large adult lumbar scoliosis. Dr. Varma earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Connecticut in Farmingham. His additional training includes fellowships in sports medicine and arthroscopy with Orthopaedic Sports Specialists in Glastonbury, Conn., and spine surgery at the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders.
David Vincent, MD (Tidewater Spine, Norfolk, Va.). Dr. Vincent is a neurosurgeon with Tidewater Spine. He has a special focus on minimally invasive techniques for spinal disorders, specifically for motion preservation and non-fusion procedures. He has given presentations and taught courses on minimally invasive surgery, including on XLIF and TLIF. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vincent is involved in clinical trials and product design. Dr. Vincent is a member of several professional societies, including the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Society of Lateral Access Surgery and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Vincent earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University Medical Center-Shreveport and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Virginia Health Science Center in Charlottesville. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham.
Roy Vingan, MD (North Jersey Brain & Spine Center, Oradell, N.J.). Dr. Vingan is a neurological surgeon and founding member of the North Jersey Brain and Spine Group, where he has practiced since 1992. During his career, he has been president of the medical staff at Hackensack University Medical Center and chief of neurosurgery at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and performs eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedures. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vingan has been an educator and taught other surgeons about his surgical technique. He is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Vingan is a member of several professional societies, including the Society for Lateral Access Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Association of Presacral Spine Surgery. Dr. Vingan earned his medical degree at State University of New York, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in neurosurgery.
John I. Williams, MD (Ortho NorthEast, Ft. Wayne, Ind.). Dr. Williams is a spine surgeon with SpineONE, a division of Ortho NorthEast. He is among the first spine surgeons in his region to perform XLIF. In addition to his medical practice, he is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and he speaks frequently at professional conferences. Dr. Williams earned his medical degree at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he also completed his internship and residency in the department of orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Richard Wohns, MD (South Sound Neurosurgery, Puyallup, Wash.). Dr. Wohns is a spine surgeon and a leader in the development of ambulatory spine practices. He is the founder and president of South Sound Neurosurgery in Puyallup, Wash., and founded NeoSpine, a spine ASC development company that is currently part of Symbion Healthcare. He was one of the first neurosurgeons in the United States qualified to perform the XLIF procedure. Dr. Wohns attended medical school at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Washington in Seattle. He holds an executive MBA from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a law degree from Seattle University School of Law.
Richard Wupperman, MD (Central Texas Spine Institute, Austin). Dr. Wupperman is a board-certified orthopaedic spine surgeon practicing at Central Texas Spine Institute in Austin, TX. He has performed lateral access spine surgery via the XLIF approach for more than five years. In addition to treating degenerative spinal pathologies of all kinds, Dr. Wupperman has special interest and experience in using minimally invasive techniques like XLIF for MIS treatment of degenerative spinal conditions, adult degenerative and idiopathic scoliosis, acute trauma and revision spine surgery. He was a principle investigator for a prospective trial on lateral access interbody fusion through the XLIF approach and remains active in lateral approach research. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Wupperman is a member of the North American Spine Society and Society of Lateral Access Surgery. Dr. Wupperman earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. His additional specialty training included a fellowship in MIS Deformity at Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders in Los Angeles.
Vasilios A. Zerris, MD (Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas). Dr. Zerris is the vice chairman of the neurosurgery department at Scott & White Healthcare and assistant professor of surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. He has a special interest in performing minimally invasive spine surgery and performs lateral access procedures. Dr. Zerris earned his medical degree at Brown University in Providence, R.I., and completed additional residency training at Tufts University Medical School, Harvard Medical School and Lahey Clinic Foundation in New York City. He also completed a fellowship in complex and reconstructive spine surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University Medical School.