Becker's Spine Review

Sign up for Becker's Orthopedic, Spine Business & Pain Management E-Weeklies at www.BeckersOrthopedicandSpine.com or call (800) 417-2035 gical correction of scoliosis, the new development in anesthesia such as hypotension during surgery which significantly decreased blood loss, the new experience in the management of adult complex spine problems were just starting to be discussed, which almost ignored the past for the lack of knowledge." Ajay Jawahar, MD, is the director of medical research at the Spine Institute of Louisiana and is on the board of directors for the American College of Spine Surgery. He has a special interest in spine research and outcomes. He has obtained six grants and served as a principle investigator on several projects. James D. Kang, MD, is the vice chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery and director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a program of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is a member of the board of directors for the Cervical Spine Research Society. Christopher Kauffman, MD, is in private practice around Nashville, Tenn., and serves as the professional economic and regulatory committee chair for the North American Spine Society. He is the NASS representative to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Coding, Coverage and Reimbursement Committee. A. Jay Khanna, MD, is an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine with a research interest in the clinical and functional outcomes after spine surgery. "I chose to become a spine surgeon because spine is one of the few areas in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery that hasn't already been 'figured out'," says Dr. Khanna. "The spectrum of pathologies and treatment options are diverse and we are still trying to determine which treatment options are the best for which patients; I find this intellectually interesting and challenging." Larry Khoo, MD, is the director of the Spine Clinic of Los Angeles on the Good Samaritan Medical Center campus. He is on the board of directors for the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons and previously served as co-director of the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center. Choll W. Kim, MD, is director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Center at Alvarado Hospital and founder of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. He also serves as an associate professor at the University of California San Diego and trains specialists throughout the country on image-guidance and navigation techniques for spinal surgery. Carl Lauryssen, MD, is the co-director of spine research and development at Olympia (Wash.) Medical Center and past president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He practices at Tower Orthopaedics. He previously directed the advanced neurosurgical spine programs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Mesafin A. Lemma, MD, is the division chief of Johns Hopkins orthopedic and spine surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital and co-director of spine surgery. He was the first spinal reconstructive surgeon at Johns Hopkins Division at Good Samaritan and serves as a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Lawrence G. Lenke, MD, is the chief of spinal surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and director of the Complex Spinal Deformity Institute and fellowship at Washington University. He is on the board of directors for the Scoliosis Research Society, where he is a past president. Isador Lieberman, MD, is director of the scoliosis and spine tumor center at Texas Back Institute in Plano. He was instrumental in developing a robotic spine system and holds numerous other patents. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lieberman co-founded the Uganda Charitable Spine Surgeon Mission to treat underserved populations in Uganda. 33 these moments with our patients." William Mitchell, MD, is a neurosurgeon with the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute and on the board of directors for the North American Spine Society. He practices at CoastalSpine and is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Pierce D. Nunley, MD, is the director of the Spine Institute of Louisiana and chairman of the American Board of Spine Surgery. He also serves as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Louisiana State University Health Science Center and is on the board of directors for the American College of Spine Surgery. Patrick F. O'Leary, MD, is the former chief of spine service for Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he continues to serve as an associate attending spine surgeon. The hospital recently recognized him with a Lifetime Achievement Award and he is a member of several professional organizations. Stephen J. Parazin, MD, is the chief of spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Steven C. Ludwig, MD, is chief of spine surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center and co-director of the University of Maryland Spine Center. His research has earned him recognition from the Cervical Spine Research Society and the American Orthopaedic Association. "The most fulfilling aspect of my career has been the ability to help as many people as I have been able to," says Dr. Parazin. "Having a career now that has spanned over 15 years to come across the patients that I have helped previously or to help their family members is very rewarding. The ability to help and return a wholeness to patients' lives is a tremendous benefit." Robert Masson, MD, is founder and president of NeuroSpine Institute and a retired Lieutenant Commander of the United States Naval Reserve. He was the developer of the iMAS surgical principles for Synthes Spine and has treated several professional football and basketball players. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Masson is a member of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. John Peloza, MD, is a founding partner of the Center for Spine Care and Minimally Invasive Surgery Institute, an ambulatory surgery center. He is a pioneer in minimal access spinal surgery and was instrumental in launching the SEXTANT and among the first surgeons to use the coflex Interlaminar Technology for motion preservation. Robert F. McClain, MD, directs the Spine Research Program at Cleveland Clinic and is the former director of the Spine Care Center at the University of California, Davis. He was awarded the North American Traveling Fellowship. Charles Mick, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Pioneer Spine and Sports and currently serves as president of the North American Spine Society. "The most fulfilling aspect of my career is working with patients, particularly when a patient smiles and says 'thank you for giving me my life back'," says Dr. Mick. "As a physician, it reminds us what is most important and why we originally chose medicine as a profession. These days it is very easy to become distracted by the challenges of electronic records, rising costs, threats of liability, insurance authorizations, financial uncertainty and healthcare upheaval. In everything we do, we must remember Kenneth Pettine, MD, is co-founder of Rocky Mountain Associates and Loveland (Colo.) Surgery Center. "I remain most excited the last two and a half years of being involved in two FDA studies involving biologics to treat discogenic low back pain," says Dr. Pettine. "In addition we have injected over 130 patients with autogenous bone marrow concentrate. I believe biologics will soon change the practice of spine and am excited to be pioneering this advancement." Frank Phillips, MD, is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center and founding member of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush. He sits on the board of directors for the International Advocates for Spine Patients. Gregory Przybylski, MD, is the director of neurosurgery at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at the JFK Medical Center in Edison, N.J. He

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