Stephen Hochschuler, MD, founded Texas Back Institute in Plano in 1977 with Ralph Rashbaum, MD, and Richard Guyer, MD. During that time, consensus seemed to believe that the physician's role was to focus on taking care of patients and not to worry about the business of medicine, according to Dr. Hochschuler.

"There is a saying in spine — you never want to be the first, you never want to be the last [to do something new]," says Brian Massoud, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Spine Centers of America in Fair Lawn, N.J.

In order for a spine center to be successful, it is important to procure and maintain a high volume of patients. Marketing, advertising and other forms of outreach can attract patients to the center. However, developing relationships with local physicians and specialists is also an effective method for increasing patient traffic. Both methods work to bring patients to the center thus, both methods should be utilized — patients equal profits.

Here are four spine surgeons discussing opportunities for expanding ancillary revenue in their practices.

Here are 20 spine surgeons and specialists who are leaders with spine practices.

New Jersey Spine and Rehabilitation in Pompton Lakes, a spine practice and surgery center, was founded in 2003 by Richard A. Kaul, MD. Dr. Kaul uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat patients with back pain and spinal disorders.

Here are 16 spine surgeons discussing how their practice maintains patient satisfaction.

Five spine specialists discuss how they differentiate their spine practices.

Spine specialist Steven Svabek, DO, recently opened the doors to his new office at the Orthopedic and Spine Center in Margate, Fla., according to a news release.

Here are 10 spine surgeon leaders of their spine-focused practices.