8
SPINE
SURGEONS
Apple hired dozens of physicians, including
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sharat Kusuma
By Laura Dyrda
A
pple is hiring physicians, and now
has around 40 to 50 on staff, in-
cluding orthopedic surgeon Sharat
Kusuma, MD, according to a CNBC report.
e physicians on staff are scattered across
various projects and departments; some sup-
port the creation of integrated health technol-
ogies for products such as the Apple Watch
and iPhones. Many of the physicians main-
tain an active practice and leadership roles
within their organizations.
Dr. Kusuma was hired to manage Apple's rela-
tionship with Zimmer Biomet, according to the
report. e two companies launched their col-
laboration in October 2018 to examine and im-
prove the joint replacement patient experience.
e partners launched the mymobility app for
Apple Watch, and the clinical study will exam-
ine its impact on patient outcomes and costs.
e study could include as many as 10,000
participants, and several academic medical
centers, hospitals, orthopedic practices and
ambulatory surgery centers are participating
in the study.
According to an American Academy of Or-
thopaedic Surgeons profile, Dr. Kusuma is
an orthopedic surgeon with interest in adult
reconstruction and joint replacement. He
also served as an AAOS Washington Health
Policy Fellow in 2003-04 and attended several
Orthopaedic Device Forum meetings.
He le full time orthopedic practice in 2014
and was a healthcare expert at McKinsey &
Co., before joining Apple in 2017, according
to his Vanderbilt Alumni profile. n
Court rules New York hospital
properly denied neurosurgeon
privileges for poor interpersonal
skills: 5 things to know
By Mackenzie Garrity
A
panel of judges found New York City-based Lincoln Med-
ical and Mental Health Center properly denied neurosur-
geon Syed Aftab Karim, MD, privileges because of poor
interpersonal skills and difficulties working with subordinates,
according to New York Law Journal.
Five things to know:
1. The case was first brought to Manhattan Supreme Court Justice
Jennifer Schecter in 2016. Justice Schecter denied the hospital's
motion for summary judgement.
2. The hospital argued Dr. Karim's lack of interpersonal skills affect-
ed patient care, patient welfare and institutional objectives.
3. The panel of justices dismissed Dr. Karim's lawsuit, which sought
injunction relief to grant him medical staff privileges at the hospital.
4. Writing in the panel opinion statement, the judges said the hos-
pital's decision to deny the neurosurgeon privileges "was made in
good faith and on reasonable grounds," according to the report.
5. The judges also wrote the evidence related "to the core com-
petencies of patient care, interpersonal and communication skills
and professionalism set forth in the hospital's bylaws." n
Dr. Robert Watkins
performs spine surgery
on Dwight Howard: 4
highlights
By Mackenzie Garrity
R
obert Watkins, MD, operated on Wizards
center Dwight Howard's lower back Nov.
30, according to The Washington Post.
Four highlights:
1. In October 2018, Mr. Howard was diagnosed
with piriformis syndrome. He received injections
to relieve the pain and missed seven games fol-
lowing the diagnosis.
2. However, the pain did not subside. Dr. Watkins
performed an L4-L5 lumbar microdiscectomy. Mr.
Howard underwent a similar procedure in 2012;
Dr. Watkins also performed that surgery to repair
a herniated disc.
3. The Wizards do not have a set time for Mr. How-
ard's return. The team announced they would re-
evaluate the center in three months.
4. Dr. Watkins is a board-certified spine surgeon
and co-director of the Marina Spine Clinic in Mari-
na Del Rey, Calif. n
