Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1477870
12 SPINE Wife of late neurosurgeon donates $100K to University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences By Claire Wallace U rmil Gupta, wife of late neurosurgeon Surinder Gupta, MD, donated $100,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock to create an award for neurosurgery residents in her husband's honor. e award will be named the Dr. Surinder Nath Gupta Legacy En- dowed Resident Award, and it will go to one third-year and one fourth-year resident, according to a July 28 news release. Dr. Gupta was the first graduate from the UAMS neurosurgery resi- dency program in 1973 and remained actively involved in the com- munity and hospital while working at his practice in Hot Springs, Ark. He died at the age of 42 from heart complications. "Dr. Gupta's commitment to world-class neurosurgical care, compas- sion for his patients and appreciation for exceptional mentoring and training helped to set the standard for our neurosurgery residency. Mrs. Gupta's generosity will carry his legacy forward for future gen- erations of Arkansas neurosurgeons and medical students," Susan Smyth, MD, PhD, executive vice chancellor and dean of the college of medicine, said in the release. Ms. Gupta also created the Urmil and Surinder Gupta, M.D. Scholar- ship in 2021 to assist UAMS medical students. n Neurosurgeon reprimanded for not disclosing denial of his medical license renewal By Alan Condon W ilson Asfora, MD, a former neurosurgeon with Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health, was reprimanded by the state medical board for failing to disclose his medical license renewal was denied in Florida, the Argus Leader reported July 27. Three notes: 1. The reprimand, filed July 26, states Dr. Asfora did not disclose to the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners that his bid to renew his medical license in Florida was denied in March because of his exclusion from all federal healthcare programs. 2. The reason he was banned from participating in federal healthcare programs stemmed from a 2021 settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve False Claims Act allegations against him. According to the settlement, Dr. Asfora is not permitted to participate in federal healthcare programs until 2027. 3. Dr. Asfora was dismissed from Sanford Health in 2019 during the investigation, but filed a wrongful termination suit against the health system in 2020, arguing that he was a victim of vindictive colleagues. n Dr. Ahmer Ghori performs 1st awake spinal fusion with Wenzel Spine implant By Alan Condon The first awake spinal fusion with Wenzel Spine's VariLift-LX interbody implant has been completed, the company said in a July 21 news release. The minimally invasive spine surgery was performed by Ahmer Ghori, MD, of Orthopaedics Northeast in Fort Wayne, Ind. VariLift-LX is the only FDA-cleared lumbar interbody fusion device that can be implanted without the need for supplemental fixation such as pedicle screw instrumentation, according to Wenzel Spine. "We will work with surgeons to refine the surgical indications for outpatient spinal fusion with the VariLift-LX," Wenzel Spine CEO Bill Wilson said. "This technology is demonstrating that through careful engineering and thoughtful application, patients are benefiting immensely from the reduced surgical time, potential elimination of general anesthesia and the ability to achieve same day discharge after a spine fusion in select patients." n