The North American Spine Society's SpineLine spotlighted 20 spine surgeons and specialists under 40 in its June 25 issue.
Here are the physicians, surgeons and researchers featured on the list.
Theresa Williamson, MD. Harvard Medical School (Boston). Dr. Williamson, is a neurosurgeon and surgical ethics researcher, renowned for her expertise in treating a wide spectrum of spine disorders, brain, and spinal trauma using minimally invasive techniques tailored to each patient. As co-chair of the Surgical Ethics Working Group at Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, her research focuses on neurosurgical decision-making, patient-doctor communication, and healthcare disparities, integrating bioethics theory with empirical data science. A member of the Center for Outcomes and Patient Safety in Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Williamson completed her neurosurgery residency and a complex spine fellowship at Duke University, and further honed her skills through the University of Chicago.
Eren Kuris, MD. Lifespan Orthopedics Institute. Dr. Kuris is a spine surgeon at Lifespan Orthopedics Institute, specializing in complex orthopedic spine surgery. As an assistant professor of orthopedics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, he leads as the director of spine trauma, tumor, and infection within the department of orthopedic surgery. He is actively involved in leading professional organizations including the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and North American Spine Society, contributing to advancements in orthopedic surgery through his extensive committee service and leadership roles.
Micheal Raad, DO. Silver Pine Medical Group (Sterling Heights, Mich.). Dr. Raad, a dedicated internal medicine specialist, brings over 15 years of teaching experience from Henry Ford Hospital's prestigious training program, transitioning to private practice in 2003. Holding clinical professorships at Michigan State University and Oakland/William Beaumont School of Medicine, he earned his medical degree from Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine after completing his Bachelor’s at Wayne State University. Board certified and passionate about adult care, Dr. Raad joined Silver Pine in March 2011, offering expert medical care with a commitment to patient wellbeing.
Omar Ramos, MD. Twin Cities Spine Center (Minneapolis). Dr. Omar Ramos, MD, of Twin Cities Spine Center, is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine surgery, with expertise in minimally invasive, robotic, and navigation-assisted techniques. Recognized for his contributions to spine care, he is a member of prestigious organizations including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the North American Spine Society.
Vivek Babaria, DO. DISC Sports & Spine (Los Angeles). Dr. Babaria, of DISC Sports & Spine, is a pioneering osteopathic physician specializing in interventional spine and sports medicine. Utilizing advanced ultrasound technology, he provides real-time diagnostics and personalized treatment plans encompassing minimally invasive procedures, neuromodulation, and orthobiologic therapies. With a medical degree from A.T. Still University and extensive training at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and OSS Health, Dr. Babaria is dedicated to patient care and safety, contributing to industry guidelines through roles in NASS, SIS, and PSPS committees.
Ashraf N. El Naga, MD. UCSF Health (San Francisco). Dr. Ashraf N. El Naga, MD, is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon at UCSF Health renowned for his specialization in traumatic injuries and spinal conditions, including fractures of the spine, pelvis, arms, and legs. As director of the orthopedic spine service at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, he oversees comprehensive care for patients with complex orthopedic needs. Dr. El Naga's research is dedicated to enhancing patient recovery and long-term outcomes following spinal surgery, leveraging his extensive training at UCSF, Baylor College of Medicine, and multiple prestigious fellowships including at Hannover Medical School and Harborview Medical Center.
Michael Suer, MD. UWHealth (Madison, Wis.). Dr. Suer, serves as a spine medicine specialist at UWHealth and holds an assistant professorship at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health's Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine. Dedicated to non-surgical spine care, he utilizes fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided injections to alleviate spine, back, and neck pain resulting from various causes. Dr. Suer prioritizes enhancing his patients' functional capabilities, aiming to reduce pain and facilitate daily activities.
Rachel Bratescu, MD. NYU Langone (New York City). Dr. Bratescu is a fellow at NYU Langone. She completed her orthopedic surgery residency at Houston Methodist and attended Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Mohamed A.R. Soliman, MD, MSc, PhD. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City). Dr. Soliman is an interventional radiology resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, part of Weill Cornell Medicine. He completed his medical degree at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar and did research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
David B. Anderson, PhD. University of Sydney (Australia). Dr. Anderson is a lecturer in the school of health sciences at the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health in Australia. He is focused on cervical myelopathy, spinal stenosis and placebo methodology.
K. Aaron Shaw, DO. Children's Mercy Kansas City (Mo.). Dr. Shaw is a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of MIssouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. His spine surgery practice at Children's Mercy Kansas CIty focuses on scoliosis and kyphosis. He earned his medical degree at Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences and completed his fellowship in pediatric orthopedic and scoliosis surgery at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.
Edward S. Yoon, MD. Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Dr. Yoon, is the chief of the Division of Interventional Radiology at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Specializing in minimally invasive treatments of joints and spine, he is dual fellowship trained and dual board certified in Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Pain Management. Dr. Yoon's expertise spans a wide array of advanced procedures, from vertebral augmentation to intrathecal drug delivery, contributing significantly to research and innovation in non-opioid pain relief methods.
Nishank Mehta, MS, MBBS. Stony Brook Medicine (New York). Dr. Mehta is a resident in orthopedic surgery at Stony Brook Medicine.
Syed I. Khalid, MD. University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago). Dr. Khalid is a resident in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He earned his medical degree at Rosalind Franklin University.
Kelsey Corcoran, DC. Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, Conn.). Dr. Corcoran is an associate research scientist of biomedical informatics and data science at Yale. She has an interest in interdisciplinary musculoskeletal care and Veterans healthcare.
Sonal Sodha, MD. Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles). Dr. Sodha earned her medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and completed her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed a fellowship in spine surgery at Mayo Clinic.
Morgan Price, DC. Puget Sound Health Care System (Seattle). Dr. Price is a chiropractor at VA Puget Sound Health Care System and serves on the healthcare provider organization stakeholder advisory council for the National Quality Forum. She is also a health policy fellow at the American Chiropractic Association.
Houssam Bouloussa, MD. University Health Orthopaedics (Kansas City, Mo.). Dr. Bouloussa earned his medical degree in France before completing spine and pediatric orthopedic fellowships at Yale, UPMC, Oakland (Calif.) Medical Center and University of Alberta, Edmonton, in Canada.
Chester J. Donnally III, MD. Texas Spine Consultants. Dr. Donnally is a spine surgeon with extensive experience in spine trauma, having trained with leading experts in the field. He completed his spine surgery fellowship at the prestigious Rothman Institute in Philadelphia and his orthopedic surgery training at University of Miami Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Zachary NaPier, MD. Indiana Spine Group (Indianapolis). Dr. NaPier is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon with advanced expertise in minimally invasive and motion-preserving surgical techniques. He completed his medical education at George Washington University, followed by an orthopedic surgery residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. NaPier further honed his skills during the Harvard Spine Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and he has a particular expertise in prone transpsoas lateral interbody fusion (PTP LIF), which he has presented, published, and taught to other surgeons.