Here are seven spine and neurosurgeons making the news this week.
A jury found that neurosurgeon Robert Replogle, MD, did not have to disclose his connection with spinal device company Spineology before receiving a patient's consent to a spinal fusion using one of the company's implants.
The University of Utah in Salt Lake City unveiled six new professorships focusing on health and clinical research with Howard Colman, MD, earning a spot. Dr. Colman is a professor of neurosurgery who focuses on the treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors.
Meic Schmidt, MD, was appointed to lead the Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico's department of neurosurgery. Dr. Schmidt currently chairs New York Medical College's neurosurgery program and directs Valhalla, N.Y.-based Westchester Medical Center's neurosurgery department. He will assume the position in February 2020.
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery appointed Harvinder Sandhu, MD, MBA, and Andrew Sama, MD, the new co-chiefs of HSS Spine. They spoke to Becker's Spine Review about goals for their tenure and current trends in spine care.
Saksith Smithason, MD, of Lumberton, N.C.-based Southeastern Health will begin treating patients at Southeastern Multi-Specialty and Urgent Care in Whiteville, N.C. Dr. Smithason joined Southeastern Health in 2013 and completed three fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic — a research fellowship, clinical fellowship and clinical fellowship in epilepsy surgery.
Neurosurgeon Namath Hussain, MD, performed first spinal tumor ablation with radiofrequency at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health in September. The procedure is used to treat tumors and allows the patient to return to their daily life faster than traditional surgeries.