Becker's Spine Review

25 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT Leaders of the top US orthopedic, neurosurgery residency programs By Carly Behm Doximity's 2021-2022 Residency Navigator ranks the top residency programs for multiple medical specialities in the U.S. Here are the program directors of the top three orthopedic and neu- rosurgery residency programs: Orthopedic surgery Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell Medical Center (New York City): Duretti Fufa, MD Dr. Fufa is a hand surgeon with additional expertise in reconstruc- tion and microsurgery. She has has traveled to Germany, China, In- dia, Honduras and Ethiopia for medical exchanges. She earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed her residency at Hospital for Special Surgery. Washington University in St. Louis: Alexander Aleem, MD Dr. Aleem's clinical interests include shoulder and elbow condi- tions. He received his medical degree and completed his residency at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. During his residency, he was an administrative chief resident. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester, Minn.): Jonathan Barlow, MD Dr. Barlow specializes in trauma surgery and elbow and shoulder surgery. He earned his medical degree from University of Wiscon- sin Medical School in Madison and completed his residency at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Neurological surgery University of California San Francisco: Philip eodosopoulos, MD Dr. eodosopoulos' clinical specialties include treating skull base lesions and minimally invasive approaches to the skull base. Before joining UCSF, he was the residency program director and director of skull base surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center (Phoenix): Francisco Ponce, MD Dr. Ponce is a known expert on deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease. He's published multiple articles on DBS and other procedures in peer-reviewed journals. In 2019, he completed his 1,000th DBS procedure. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore): Judy Huang, MD Dr. Huang specializes in cerebrovascular disorders in adults. Along with leading the neurosurgery residency program, she's on the board of directors of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Her research concentrates on treating strokes and vascular diseases. n 3 California orthopedic practices merge to create 60-physician network By Carly Behm T hree physician-owned orthopedic practices in California merged to form the third-largest spe- cialty group in the western U.S., San Francisco Business Times reported Nov. 18. Walnut Creek-based Muir Orthopaedic Specialists, Los Gatos-based OrthoNorCal and San Ramon-based Webster Orthopedics merged Jan. 1 to create Golden State Orthopedics & Spine. The group comprises 60 physicians and 19 locations. Together, the three practices serve 3,000 square miles and a population of about 3.5 million. The merger intends to help the practices' bottom lines and put them in better positions for loans. John Knight, MD, co-founder of Muir Orthopaedic Services, told the publication he sees potential to bring more practices into Golden State Orthopedics & Spine. The practices are creating C-suite positions. The merg- er did not result in any layoffs. n Geisinger plans $180M orthopedic complex By Carly Behm Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger is planning a $180 million orthopedic center. The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will be in Buck- horn, according to a Nov. 10 news release. The center will include specialized operating rooms, an inpatient unit focused on post-surgery recovery and an onsite outpatient clinic. "This project is more than a building," Michael Suk, MD, chair of the Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute, said in a news release. "This is a whole new patient experience. The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will be a one-of- kind facility in the region providing the highest level of orthopaedic care." Construction of the facility will begin this year and is expected to be completed in 2024. n

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