Here are 10 spine surgeons and back pain specialists who hold leadership positions in spine-focused ethics committees and organizations.
J. Abbott Byrd, MD (Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, Virginia Beach, Va.). Dr. Byrd is the Ethics Committee chair of the Scoliosis Research Society. He currently practices with Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists and previously served as chief of spine surgery at West Virginia University in Morgantown. He has a professional interest in treating patients with complex spinal problems, scoliosis and trauma. During his career, he has focused on innovation and holds numerous patents, including one for the Syngery Spinal System. His research has been published in professional journals and he lectures nationally and internationally on spine-related topics. Dr. Byrd is an active member of the North American Spine Society. He earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine in Richmond and completed his residency training at Duke University Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Twin Cities Scoliosis Center in Minneapolis.
Jamie Baisden, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). Dr. Baisden is an associate professor at Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the Ethics Committee for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. She has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal tumors, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and fractures. She performs minimally invasive surgical procedures. During her career, Dr. Baisden has authored several professional articles published in journals such as The Spine Journal. Dr. Baisden earned her medical degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown and completed her fellowship in spine surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin affiliated hospitals. Her additional training includes a fellowship in spinal cord injury at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
Daniel Alexander Capen, MD (Rancho Spine, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.). Dr. Capen is an orthopedic spine surgeon with a special interest in spinal cord injury. He serves on the Professional Conduct and Ethics committee of the North American Spine Society and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In 1984, Dr. Capen served as the official spine surgeon for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. During his career, Dr. Capen has contributed to professional publications, including the Journal of Spinal Disorders and American Journal of Orthopedics. His topics of interest are spinal injuries, epidemiology of spinal cord injuries, spinal trauma and emergency medicine related to spinal trauma. Dr. Capen earned his medical degree at Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency at the University of California in San Francisco. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal cord injury at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, Calif.
Alexander Ghanayem, MD (Loyola Medicine, Maywood, Ill.). Dr. Ghanayem is the chief of spine surgery at Loyola Medicine and a member of the Ethics Committee of the Lumbar Spine Research Society. He is also a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society and North American Spine Society. Dr. Ghanayem has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal fractures, lower back pain and spondylolisthesis. During his career, Dr. Ghanayem has served as the medical director of orthopedic specialty clinics of Loyola University Health System. He earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
James Kang, MD (McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh). Dr. Kang is the vice chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a program of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also serves as the chair of the Ethics/Conflict of Interest Oversight Committee of the Cervical Spine Research Society. In addition to his other leadership roles, Dr. Kang is the director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research and endowed chair of orthopedic spine surgery at UPMC. He has a professional interest in practicing minimally invasive spine surgery and treating degenerative spinal disorders, scoliosis and spinal stenosis. During his career, Dr. Kang has authored nearly 300 professional publications and earned recognition from North American Spine Society and International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. Dr. Kang earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.
Tushar Patel, MD (Commonwealth Orthopaedics, Fairfax, Va.). Dr. Patel is an orthopedic spine surgeon with a special interest in treating complex cervical spine cases, practicing at Commonwealth Orthopaedics. He is the chair of the Conflict-of-Interest/Ethics Committee of the Lumbar Spine Research Society. He previously served as chief of staff of the section of spine surgery at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and has been involved in researching tissue regeneration as it applies to spinal conditions. In addition to a his clinical word, Dr. Patel serves as section editor for the Orthopaedics Knowledge Update of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Charles D. Rosen, MD (University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine). Dr. Rosen is a spine surgeon with the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and co-founder of the Association for Medical Ethics. The organization promotes financial transparency in medical research and the use of evidence-based medicine. Dr. Rosen testified in support of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2008 to establish a national database listing payments and other gifts physicians receive from device companies. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Rosen is an associate editor of the Journal of Ethics in Biology and focuses his research on the field of ethics and spinal biomechanics. Dr. Rosen earned his medical degree from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery and rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, Calif.
Jerome Schofferman, MD (Spine Care Medical Group/San Francisco Spine Center). Dr. Schofferman is an internal medicine and pain management physician with a special interest in treating spine pain. He currently serves as the chair of the ethics committee of the North American Spine Society. During his career, he has served as the medical director of Hospice of San Francisco and founded the first AIDS Hospice. He is currently the director of research and education at the San Francisco Spine Institute. He is also a member of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine and International Association for the Study of Pain. Dr. Schofferman earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and completed his residency in internal medicine at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, Calif.
Vincent C. Traynelis, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Traynelis is the director of the neurosurgery spine service and vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Rush University Medical Center. He is also on the Ethics/Conflicts of Interest Oversight Committee for the Cervical Spine Research Society. During his career, Dr. Traynelis has served as president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Cervical Spine Research Society, as well as chairperson of the Joint Section of Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Currently, he is the chairman of the editorial board of the Journal of Neurosurgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Traynelis' research interests have included spinal infections and spinal biomechanics. His clinical interests include spinal arthroplasty, spinal reconstruction and spinal cord tumors. Dr. Traynelis earned his medical degree from Western Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, where he also completed his residency in neurosurgery.
Richard Wohns, MD (South Sound Neurosurgery, Puyallup, Wash.). Dr. Wohns is a neurosurgeon with a special interest in spine surgery, including minimally invasive spinal procedures, complex spine surgery and lumbar disc arthroplasty. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and is past president of the Washington State Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Wohns was one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform the extreme lateral interbody fusion technique and has published several scientific papers on spinal procedures. Dr. Wohns earned his medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and completed his residency at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also obtained his JD from Seattle University School of Law.
If you would like to recommend a spine surgeon leader or practice to highlight in future weekly lists, please e-mail Laura at laura@beckersasc.com.
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J. Abbott Byrd, MD (Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, Virginia Beach, Va.). Dr. Byrd is the Ethics Committee chair of the Scoliosis Research Society. He currently practices with Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists and previously served as chief of spine surgery at West Virginia University in Morgantown. He has a professional interest in treating patients with complex spinal problems, scoliosis and trauma. During his career, he has focused on innovation and holds numerous patents, including one for the Syngery Spinal System. His research has been published in professional journals and he lectures nationally and internationally on spine-related topics. Dr. Byrd is an active member of the North American Spine Society. He earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine in Richmond and completed his residency training at Duke University Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Twin Cities Scoliosis Center in Minneapolis.
Jamie Baisden, MD (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). Dr. Baisden is an associate professor at Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the Ethics Committee for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. She has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal tumors, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and fractures. She performs minimally invasive surgical procedures. During her career, Dr. Baisden has authored several professional articles published in journals such as The Spine Journal. Dr. Baisden earned her medical degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown and completed her fellowship in spine surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin affiliated hospitals. Her additional training includes a fellowship in spinal cord injury at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.
Daniel Alexander Capen, MD (Rancho Spine, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.). Dr. Capen is an orthopedic spine surgeon with a special interest in spinal cord injury. He serves on the Professional Conduct and Ethics committee of the North American Spine Society and is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In 1984, Dr. Capen served as the official spine surgeon for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. During his career, Dr. Capen has contributed to professional publications, including the Journal of Spinal Disorders and American Journal of Orthopedics. His topics of interest are spinal injuries, epidemiology of spinal cord injuries, spinal trauma and emergency medicine related to spinal trauma. Dr. Capen earned his medical degree at Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency at the University of California in San Francisco. His additional training includes a fellowship in spinal cord injury at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, Calif.
Alexander Ghanayem, MD (Loyola Medicine, Maywood, Ill.). Dr. Ghanayem is the chief of spine surgery at Loyola Medicine and a member of the Ethics Committee of the Lumbar Spine Research Society. He is also a member of the Cervical Spine Research Society and North American Spine Society. Dr. Ghanayem has a professional interest in treating patients with spinal fractures, lower back pain and spondylolisthesis. During his career, Dr. Ghanayem has served as the medical director of orthopedic specialty clinics of Loyola University Health System. He earned his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School in Evanston, Ill., and completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
James Kang, MD (McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh). Dr. Kang is the vice chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a program of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also serves as the chair of the Ethics/Conflict of Interest Oversight Committee of the Cervical Spine Research Society. In addition to his other leadership roles, Dr. Kang is the director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research and endowed chair of orthopedic spine surgery at UPMC. He has a professional interest in practicing minimally invasive spine surgery and treating degenerative spinal disorders, scoliosis and spinal stenosis. During his career, Dr. Kang has authored nearly 300 professional publications and earned recognition from North American Spine Society and International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. Dr. Kang earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.
Tushar Patel, MD (Commonwealth Orthopaedics, Fairfax, Va.). Dr. Patel is an orthopedic spine surgeon with a special interest in treating complex cervical spine cases, practicing at Commonwealth Orthopaedics. He is the chair of the Conflict-of-Interest/Ethics Committee of the Lumbar Spine Research Society. He previously served as chief of staff of the section of spine surgery at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and has been involved in researching tissue regeneration as it applies to spinal conditions. In addition to a his clinical word, Dr. Patel serves as section editor for the Orthopaedics Knowledge Update of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His additional training includes a spine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Charles D. Rosen, MD (University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine). Dr. Rosen is a spine surgeon with the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and co-founder of the Association for Medical Ethics. The organization promotes financial transparency in medical research and the use of evidence-based medicine. Dr. Rosen testified in support of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2008 to establish a national database listing payments and other gifts physicians receive from device companies. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Rosen is an associate editor of the Journal of Ethics in Biology and focuses his research on the field of ethics and spinal biomechanics. Dr. Rosen earned his medical degree from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery and rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, Calif.
Jerome Schofferman, MD (Spine Care Medical Group/San Francisco Spine Center). Dr. Schofferman is an internal medicine and pain management physician with a special interest in treating spine pain. He currently serves as the chair of the ethics committee of the North American Spine Society. During his career, he has served as the medical director of Hospice of San Francisco and founded the first AIDS Hospice. He is currently the director of research and education at the San Francisco Spine Institute. He is also a member of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine and International Association for the Study of Pain. Dr. Schofferman earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and completed his residency in internal medicine at Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, Calif.
Vincent C. Traynelis, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Traynelis is the director of the neurosurgery spine service and vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Rush University Medical Center. He is also on the Ethics/Conflicts of Interest Oversight Committee for the Cervical Spine Research Society. During his career, Dr. Traynelis has served as president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Cervical Spine Research Society, as well as chairperson of the Joint Section of Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves. Currently, he is the chairman of the editorial board of the Journal of Neurosurgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Traynelis' research interests have included spinal infections and spinal biomechanics. His clinical interests include spinal arthroplasty, spinal reconstruction and spinal cord tumors. Dr. Traynelis earned his medical degree from Western Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, where he also completed his residency in neurosurgery.
Richard Wohns, MD (South Sound Neurosurgery, Puyallup, Wash.). Dr. Wohns is a neurosurgeon with a special interest in spine surgery, including minimally invasive spinal procedures, complex spine surgery and lumbar disc arthroplasty. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and is past president of the Washington State Association of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Wohns was one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform the extreme lateral interbody fusion technique and has published several scientific papers on spinal procedures. Dr. Wohns earned his medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and completed his residency at the University of Washington in Seattle. He also obtained his JD from Seattle University School of Law.
If you would like to recommend a spine surgeon leader or practice to highlight in future weekly lists, please e-mail Laura at laura@beckersasc.com.
Related Articles on Spine Surgeons:
10 Spine Surgeons for Professional Hockey Teams
10 Spine Surgeon Practice Leaders to Know
10 Spine Surgeons for Professional Basketball Teams