Here are 15 spine surgeon leaders at large public hospitals.
Bijan Bakhtian, MD (Lee Memorial Hospital, Fort Myers, Fla.). Dr. Bakhtian is the medical director of the department of neurosurgery at Lee Memorial Health System. He has a special interest in brain and spinal cord tumors and surgical treatment of spinal disorders. Previously, Dr. Bakhtian served as a clinical instructor in neurosurgery at Memphis Neuroscience Center and Methodist Hospital. Dr. Bakhtian has also served in the Imperial Iranian Air Force medical Corps in Tehran and earned the rank of First Lieutenant. Dr. Bakhtian earned his medical degree at Pahlavi University in Shiraz and completed his residency in neurological surgery at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.
Lawrence F. Cohen, MD (VCU Medical Center, Richmond, Va.). Dr. Cohen is a spine surgeon and associate professor at VCU Medical Center. Dr. Cohen is a fellow of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. His additional affiliations include the American College of Spine Surgery and Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Cohen earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and completed his residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center and Abbot-Northwestern Hospital and Graduate Hospital.
Domagoj Coric, MD (Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.). Dr. Coric is the chief of neurosurgery at Carolinas Medical Center and has served as president of the North Carolina Spine Society. He is a member of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and has a special interest in artificial disc replacement, spinal trauma, spinal tumors and degenerative diseases. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Coric is also affiliated with the North American Spine Society and the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerve of the AANS and CNS. Dr. Coric earned his medical degree at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Frank Eismont, MD (Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami). Dr. Eismont is chairman and chief of the Jackson Memorial Hospital orthopedics service, program director for the orthopedic residency training and director for the spine surgery fellowship. He has a special interest in treating cervical spine disorders. Dr. Eismont earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) School of Medicine and completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland. His additional training includes fellowships at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland V.A. Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland and The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
Mark N. Hadley, MD (UAB Hospital, Birmingham, Ala.). Dr. Hadley is the Patsy W. and Charles A. Collat Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery at UAB Hospital. Throughout his career, he has served as medical director of an active regional Think First Injury Prevention Program and team physician for the University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham athletic programs. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Hadley has served in editorial roles for several professional journals, including the Journal of Neurosurgery. Dr. Hadley has been on the executive committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. Dr. Hadley earned his medical degree at Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Joseph M. Kowalski, MD (Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, N.Y.). Dr Kowalski is director of the spine center at Erie County Medical Center and a member of UB Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He has also served as the interim chief of rehabilitation medicine and president of the medical and dental staff at ECMC. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kowalski is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He is also an assistant professor of clinical orthopedics at the school of medicine and biomedical sciences at State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Kowalski earned his medical degree at State University of New York at Buffalo, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes the Emory University Spine Fellowship in Atlanta.
H. Louis Harkey III, MD (University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson). Dr. Harkey is the neurosurgery department chair at the University of Mississippi Medical School. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harkey serves on the editorial board for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Bulletin and a senior member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a member of the Mississippi State Neurological Society and Research Society of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Harkey is on the executive faculty of the school of medicine at the University of Mississippi and has authored several articles on spine-related topics. He earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His additional training includes fellowships in London and West Germany.
Carole Miller, MD (Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus). Dr. Miller is the medical director of the OSU Comprehensive Spine Center and residency program director in the Ohio State University's department of neurological surgery. She also serves on the faculty emeritus of neurological surgery. During her career, Dr. Miller has authored articles for several professional publications. She is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Society of America and Association of Women Surgeons. She has a special interest in comprehensive spine pain management and earned her medical degree at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She completed her residency at Ohio State University and fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Ashvin I. Patel, MD (Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Fla.). Dr. Patel is the chief of surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and chief spinal consultant in the Spinal Cord Injury Center at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Sarasota. He is also a member of the Kennedy-White Orthopaedic Center. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Patel is a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Cervical Spine Research Society. Throughout his career, he has authored several professional publications and served as a clinical professor in the department of clinical sciences at the Florida State University School of Medicine. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic in Westminster, Colo.
Rakesh D. Patel, MD (University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers (Ann Arbor). Dr. Patel is a clinical instructor in orthopedic surgery with a special interest in adult spinal disorders, spinal fractures and reconstructive surgery. He performs minimally invasive surgery for the spine. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Patel conducts research related to minimally invasive spine surgery, spine trauma and biomechanics of internal fixation of the spine. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine in New York City and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
Charles A. Reitman, MD (Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston). Dr. Reitman is the chief of the orthopedic surgery service at Ben Taub General Hospital and interim director of the trauma fellowship program. He is also interim chair in the department of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Reitman has given national and regional presentations related to his research in spine surgery. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Reitman earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in spine surgery.
Joe Sam Robinson Jr., MD (The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon). Dr. Robinson has been chief of neurosurgery and chairman of the department of surgery at Medical Center of Central Georgia. During his career, he has had teaching assignments at several universities in the United States and around the world, including Thailand, Scotland, Honduras, Italy and China. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Robinson has lectured across the country abut spinal cord disorders and authored several articles for professional publications. He holds several patents pending for patient-monitoring techniques. Dr. Robinson earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Michael T. Stechison, MD (Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville, Ga.). Dr. Stechison helped found The Brain and Spine Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center. He has a special interest in brain tumors and cranial nerve disorders, and he treats cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal disorders. He previously served as an academic neurosurgeon at Ohio State University and was chief of neurosurgery at another large hospital in Georgia before founding his practice, Greater Atlanta Neurosurgery. Dr. Stechison earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto in Canada, where he also completed his residency training.
Michael P. Steinmetz, MD (MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland). Dr. Steinmetz is the medical director of the MetroHealth Spine Center and chair of the department of neurosciences. He also serves as an associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland and has a professional interest in complex spine surgery and adult spinal deformity surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Steinmetz conducts research related to axon regeneration, spinal cord injury, neuroprotection and spinal deformity. Dr. Steinmetz earned his medical degree at Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock and completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic. His additional training includes a fellowship in complex spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison.
Rudolph F. Taddonio, MD (Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, N.Y.). Dr. Taddonio is the section chief of spine surgery and scoliosis at Westchester Medical Center and a spine surgeon with Scoliosis & Spinal Surgery in White Plains, N.Y. During his career, Dr. Taddonio has also served as director of scoliosis and spine surgery at New York Medical College and director of orthopedic surgery at Stamford Hospital. He was among the first surgeons in the country to use and refine ScoliScore for patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Taddonio is a member of the North American Spine Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Taddonio earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at New York Medical College and Metropolitan Hospitals. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital and Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children and the University of Illinois in Chicago.
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Bijan Bakhtian, MD (Lee Memorial Hospital, Fort Myers, Fla.). Dr. Bakhtian is the medical director of the department of neurosurgery at Lee Memorial Health System. He has a special interest in brain and spinal cord tumors and surgical treatment of spinal disorders. Previously, Dr. Bakhtian served as a clinical instructor in neurosurgery at Memphis Neuroscience Center and Methodist Hospital. Dr. Bakhtian has also served in the Imperial Iranian Air Force medical Corps in Tehran and earned the rank of First Lieutenant. Dr. Bakhtian earned his medical degree at Pahlavi University in Shiraz and completed his residency in neurological surgery at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences and Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.
Lawrence F. Cohen, MD (VCU Medical Center, Richmond, Va.). Dr. Cohen is a spine surgeon and associate professor at VCU Medical Center. Dr. Cohen is a fellow of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. His additional affiliations include the American College of Spine Surgery and Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Cohen earned his medical degree at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and completed his residency at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center and Abbot-Northwestern Hospital and Graduate Hospital.
Domagoj Coric, MD (Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.). Dr. Coric is the chief of neurosurgery at Carolinas Medical Center and has served as president of the North Carolina Spine Society. He is a member of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and has a special interest in artificial disc replacement, spinal trauma, spinal tumors and degenerative diseases. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Coric is also affiliated with the North American Spine Society and the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerve of the AANS and CNS. Dr. Coric earned his medical degree at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Frank Eismont, MD (Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami). Dr. Eismont is chairman and chief of the Jackson Memorial Hospital orthopedics service, program director for the orthopedic residency training and director for the spine surgery fellowship. He has a special interest in treating cervical spine disorders. Dr. Eismont earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) School of Medicine and completed his residency at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland. His additional training includes fellowships at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland V.A. Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland and The Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
Mark N. Hadley, MD (UAB Hospital, Birmingham, Ala.). Dr. Hadley is the Patsy W. and Charles A. Collat Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery at UAB Hospital. Throughout his career, he has served as medical director of an active regional Think First Injury Prevention Program and team physician for the University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham athletic programs. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Hadley has served in editorial roles for several professional journals, including the Journal of Neurosurgery. Dr. Hadley has been on the executive committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and a member of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. Dr. Hadley earned his medical degree at Albany (N.Y.) Medical College and completed his residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.
Joseph M. Kowalski, MD (Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, N.Y.). Dr Kowalski is director of the spine center at Erie County Medical Center and a member of UB Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He has also served as the interim chief of rehabilitation medicine and president of the medical and dental staff at ECMC. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kowalski is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and North American Spine Society. He is also an assistant professor of clinical orthopedics at the school of medicine and biomedical sciences at State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Kowalski earned his medical degree at State University of New York at Buffalo, where he also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery. His additional training includes the Emory University Spine Fellowship in Atlanta.
H. Louis Harkey III, MD (University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson). Dr. Harkey is the neurosurgery department chair at the University of Mississippi Medical School. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harkey serves on the editorial board for the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Bulletin and a senior member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. He is also a member of the Mississippi State Neurological Society and Research Society of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Harkey is on the executive faculty of the school of medicine at the University of Mississippi and has authored several articles on spine-related topics. He earned his medical degree at Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His additional training includes fellowships in London and West Germany.
Carole Miller, MD (Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus). Dr. Miller is the medical director of the OSU Comprehensive Spine Center and residency program director in the Ohio State University's department of neurological surgery. She also serves on the faculty emeritus of neurological surgery. During her career, Dr. Miller has authored articles for several professional publications. She is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Neurosurgical Society of America and Association of Women Surgeons. She has a special interest in comprehensive spine pain management and earned her medical degree at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She completed her residency at Ohio State University and fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Ashvin I. Patel, MD (Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota, Fla.). Dr. Patel is the chief of surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and chief spinal consultant in the Spinal Cord Injury Center at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Sarasota. He is also a member of the Kennedy-White Orthopaedic Center. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Patel is a member of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society and Cervical Spine Research Society. Throughout his career, he has authored several professional publications and served as a clinical professor in the department of clinical sciences at the Florida State University School of Medicine. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at the Lakewood Orthopaedic Clinic in Westminster, Colo.
Rakesh D. Patel, MD (University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers (Ann Arbor). Dr. Patel is a clinical instructor in orthopedic surgery with a special interest in adult spinal disorders, spinal fractures and reconstructive surgery. He performs minimally invasive surgery for the spine. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Patel conducts research related to minimally invasive spine surgery, spine trauma and biomechanics of internal fixation of the spine. Dr. Patel earned his medical degree at New York University School of Medicine in New York City and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York City. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
Charles A. Reitman, MD (Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston). Dr. Reitman is the chief of the orthopedic surgery service at Ben Taub General Hospital and interim director of the trauma fellowship program. He is also interim chair in the department of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Reitman has given national and regional presentations related to his research in spine surgery. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Reitman earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he also completed his residency and fellowship in spine surgery.
Joe Sam Robinson Jr., MD (The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon). Dr. Robinson has been chief of neurosurgery and chairman of the department of surgery at Medical Center of Central Georgia. During his career, he has had teaching assignments at several universities in the United States and around the world, including Thailand, Scotland, Honduras, Italy and China. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Robinson has lectured across the country abut spinal cord disorders and authored several articles for professional publications. He holds several patents pending for patient-monitoring techniques. Dr. Robinson earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and completed his residency in neurological surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Michael T. Stechison, MD (Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville, Ga.). Dr. Stechison helped found The Brain and Spine Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center. He has a special interest in brain tumors and cranial nerve disorders, and he treats cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal disorders. He previously served as an academic neurosurgeon at Ohio State University and was chief of neurosurgery at another large hospital in Georgia before founding his practice, Greater Atlanta Neurosurgery. Dr. Stechison earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto in Canada, where he also completed his residency training.
Michael P. Steinmetz, MD (MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland). Dr. Steinmetz is the medical director of the MetroHealth Spine Center and chair of the department of neurosciences. He also serves as an associate professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland and has a professional interest in complex spine surgery and adult spinal deformity surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Steinmetz conducts research related to axon regeneration, spinal cord injury, neuroprotection and spinal deformity. Dr. Steinmetz earned his medical degree at Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock and completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic. His additional training includes a fellowship in complex spine surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in Madison.
Rudolph F. Taddonio, MD (Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, N.Y.). Dr. Taddonio is the section chief of spine surgery and scoliosis at Westchester Medical Center and a spine surgeon with Scoliosis & Spinal Surgery in White Plains, N.Y. During his career, Dr. Taddonio has also served as director of scoliosis and spine surgery at New York Medical College and director of orthopedic surgery at Stamford Hospital. He was among the first surgeons in the country to use and refine ScoliScore for patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Taddonio is a member of the North American Spine Society, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery and Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Taddonio earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at New York Medical College and Metropolitan Hospitals. His additional training includes a spine surgery fellowship at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital and Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children and the University of Illinois in Chicago.
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