Here are 12 spine and neurosurgeons in the news this week.
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Albemarle County, Va., added neurosurgeons David Slottje, MD, and Osmond Wu, MD, to its neurosciences center. Dr. Slottje is fellowship-trained in neuro-critical care and Dr. Wu is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery.
Lancaster, Pa.-based neurosurgeon James Argires, MD, died at age 87. Dr. Argires specialized in triage, trauma, intracranial surgery and spinal surgery and served on the board of directors at Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital for 26 years. He was also chairman of the surgical department.
Neurosurgeon Cesar Borlongan, MD, from Tampa-based University of South Florida, was appointed to the National Academy of Inventors' 2019 class of senior members. Dr. Borlongan's translational bench-to-clinic research culminated in five FDA-approved clinical trials of cell transplantation including a cell therapy product for stroke patients.
Minimally invasive spine surgeon James St. Louis, DO, and founder of now defunct Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, Fla., sold his Belair estate for $7.9 million. Dr. St. Louis bought the home for $10.25 million in 2008. Stu Sjouwerman, founder of cybersecurity training company KnowBe4, purchased the 12,935-square-foot property.
Thomas Keller, MD, a California-based neurosurgeon, was charged with second degree murder for allegedly writing non-medically necessary opioid prescriptions from 2011 to 2017. The California Attorney General's office reported Dr. Keller was arrested and arraigned in connection with five patient deaths after he prescribed them "dangerously high levels of addictive opioids and narcotics."
Neurosurgeon Abdul Baker, MD, completed a robot-assisted spinal surgery at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D. The patient was a 75-year-old man who was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease.
Fellowship-trained spine surgeon Brandon Cook, MD, joined Orthopaedic Associates in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Dr. Cook focuses on the treatment of degenerative problems, trauma, tumors infections and deformities of the spine.
Khoi Than, MD, a neurosurgeon with Duke Spine Center in Durham, N.C. spoke to Becker's about minimally invasive surgery and robotics, as well as his continued studies into implant material.
OrthoGeorgia orthopedic spine surgeon Ryan Schnetzer, MD, made the University of Georgia's 40 Under 40 Alumni list. Dr. Schnetzer went to Athens-based UGA in 2001. He walked on to the Georgia Bulldogs and was part of the 2005 SEC championship team.
Todd Lanman, MD, founder of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Lanman Spinal Neurosurgery, performed a three-level artificial cervical disc replacement procedure with Orthofix's M6-C device. M6-C is an artificial disc replacement device that mimics the natural movement of an anatomical disc.
Spine surgeon Shane McGowan, MD, is set to join Newport News, Va.-based Tidewater Physicians Multispecialty Group this September. Dr. McGowan specializes in robotics and minimally invasive surgery and completed an orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical Center.