Spine Surgery
Dr. Andrew Sama is co-chief of HSS Spine. Board certified in orthopedic surgery, he specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of all traumatic, degenerative, and deformity-related conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. His areas of interest include clinical and basic science research involving the biology and biomechanics of spine fusion and fusion alternatives. He has received a number of research grants, including funding from the National Institutes of Health for a study on surgical and nonsurgical approaches to the treatment of low back pain. Dr. Sama is involved in product development and has helped design orthopedic implant devices used in spinal surgery. He engages in research that will benefit patients and has published articles in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals. He co-edited a textbook titled, "Lateral Access Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery" published in 2016 and has authored chapters in several other medical textbooks. He is a spinal consultant with the medical staff of the United States Olympic Committee and serves as a reviewer for the journals Spine and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Harvinder Sandhu is Co-Chief Emeritus of HSS Spine and specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, microsurgery, computer-assisted surgery, and the study and use of spinal biologics. He has more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific publications in areas such as biologic enhancement of spinal surgery and the minimally invasive management of spinal disorders. He has received research grants from the North American Spine Society, the Orthopaedic Research Society, and the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, including the prestigious Volvo Award in Spinal Research. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Sandhu is actively engaged in the research, development, and invention of a variety of medical devices and instruments used in spinal surgery. He holds several patents involving the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Qureshi is co-chief of the Spine Service at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Patty and Jay Baker Chair in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at the hospital. He is a recognized leader and one of the premier surgeons in the field of minimally invasive and motion sparing spine surgery. He has one of the busiest clinical practices in the country, performing nearly 300 minimally invasive spine surgeries annually. His major research interests include outcomes related to minimally invasive spine surgery, cost-effectiveness and value of spinal surgery procedures, and comparative effectiveness of various treatments of spinal pathology. He has authored over 100 articles, book chapters, and text books. He helps design innovative surgical technology with leading spinal implant companies. As an educator, Dr. Qureshi has given over 100 invited lectures around the world. He has also contributed his surgical videos for surgeon education around the world. He has trained fellows nationally and internationally. Spine surgeons have visited his operating room to learn the newest techniques in minimally invasive spine surgery from China, Korea, Japan, Australia, England, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and India.
Spine Surgeon, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery
Hospital for Special SurgeryMinimally Invasive Spine Surgery, robotic-assisted surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Darren Lebl specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, the cervical spine, motion preserving spine procedures, and robotic computer-guided navigation surgery. His practice at HSS involves a customized approach to each individual patient to help maximize quality of life and musculoskeletal health. He incorporates innovative procedures, newer and less invasive surgical techniques, and biologic healing agents into his practice. He has written numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on complication avoidance in spinal surgery, cervical spine disorders, minimally invasive procedures, and motion preserving spine procedures. Dr. Lebl has participated in medical missions to The Gambia and Ghana in West Africa. Dr. Lebl was the director of the Complex Cervical Spine Symposium at HSS that brings leading international cervical spine surgeons to New York for an educational exchange in a CME accredited surgeon-training course. He also was the director of the Cervical Spine Motion Preservation Symposium at HSS. He works with several cutting-edge medical device companies on techniques to improve spine surgery and patient outcomes. He has been an invited lecturer at many regional, national, and international academic meetings around the world.
pediatric orthopedic surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Roger Widmann has served as Chief of the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Service at HSS since 2004. He specializes in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of pediatric spinal deformities and pediatric limb deformities. He focuses on providing state-of-the-art surgical and nonsurgical management for pediatric patients with these complex conditions. Dr. Widmann is a member of the Scoliosis Research Society, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society, and he has served on numerous national committees. As Chief of the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Service at HSS, Dr. Widmann has led a collaborative effort to build and staff the Lerner Children's Pavilion with highly regarded and nationally renowned pediatric orthopedic surgeons and pediatricians. With a focus on clinical and surgical excellence, academic productivity, and care for the underserved, the Lerner Children's Pavilion is the largest volume provider of pediatric orthopedic and pediatric spine surgery in the tristate area. Dr. Widmann is proud to serve as the Leon Root Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics at HSS and to support the ongoing critical missions of pediatric orthopedic clinical care, research and education.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgery, scoliosis surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Han Jo Kim is an attending spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and a professor of orthopedic surgery specializing in cervical spine and scoliosis surgery. Currently serving as the Director of the Spine Fellowship and Chair of the Fellowship Committee at HSS, he is also the lead investigator for numerous research studies and has won multiple awards in the national and international arena. He is actively involved in the education of residents, fellows, and physician assistants. Dr. Kim believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care. Working with internists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, radiologists, physiatrists and pediatricians, all avenues for alternatives to surgery are explored before surgery is considered. With individual patient goals in mind, if surgery is necessary, he will perform spine surgery utilizing the most effective and safe techniques tailored for each patient in an effort to minimize complications and recovery time, and optimize outcomes. He has a particular interest in surgery relating to adult and pediatric spinal deformity and scoliosis. With regard to the cervical spine, he specializes in cervical deformities and motion preserving (disc replacement, laminoplasty) procedures. Dr. Kim has dedicated his time as a volunteer surgeon at the FOCOS hospital in Ghana, West Africa where he has treated some of the most rare and complex spinal deformities in pediatric and adult patients, performing hundreds of successful operations. Dr. Kim has written more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than 35 book chapters, including his own textbook which he co-authored with Dr. K. Daniel Riew on cervical spine surgery titled "The Riew-Kim Manual for Cervical Spine Surgery." Through the AO Spine Foundation, he has been invited by international leaders in spine surgery to author surgical reference guides that teach other spine surgeons performing scoliosis surgery. He was selected by the Scoliosis Research Society for the prestigious Edgar G. Dawson Fellowship in 2013 and subsequently was selected for the Scoliosis Research Society Traveling Fellowship in 2017 and has also served as the IMAST Chair in 2020. He is also an active member of the Cervical Spine Research Society.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Spine Surgery
Dr. Frank Cammisa, chief emeritus of HSS Spine at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), specializes in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders. His areas of expertise include minimally invasive spinal surgery, computer-assisted spinal surgery, microsurgery, athletic spinal injuries and motion-preserving procedures, including artificial disc replacement. In addition to treating patients at HSS, Dr. Cammisa is a professor of clinical orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He has long been active in working with professional, scholastic and recreational athletes. Many professional athletes, including members of the Giants and Jets football teams and Knicks basketball team, have consulted with Dr. Cammisa for expert diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, if necessary. He is also the spine consultant for the National Hockey League Player Association. Dr. Cammisa conducts research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of complex spine conditions. Recognized as a pioneer in the use of new surgical techniques, procedures and modalities, he often participates as the principal investigator in major research studies. His areas of investigation include computer-assisted image guidance, demineralized bone matrix, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and the artificial disc as an alternative to spinal fusion for debilitating back pain. He has received a number of prestigious research grants. He was one of the lead investigators of a seven-year, multi-center national study funded by a $21 million dollar grant by the National Institutes of Health. The study was one of the first to directly compare the effectiveness of surgical versus nonsurgical approaches to treat herniated discs, spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis. Dr. Cammisa has published over 130 research articles and manuscripts in dozens of prestigious medical journals. One such study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was a multi-center trial to compare treatments for degenerative spondylolisthesis, which is caused when a vertebra slips out of alignment. The study followed 601 patients in 11 states over two years to compare surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Dr. Cammisa and his colleagues around the country found that surgery was twice as effective as nonsurgical approaches in reducing pain and restoring function. As a co-author of more than 30 chapters in medical textbooks, Dr. Cammisa has held numerous editorial appointments, and is a reviewer for several respected medical journals. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, and has lectured both nationally and internationally. He created The National Spinal Research Foundation and has been affiliated with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.
Neurosurgeon Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Academic Institute
Houston Methodistdisc replacement , Spinal Fusion, Spine Surgery
Dr. Meng Huang
Dr. Meng Huang completed his medical training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and a neurosurgery residency at Houston Methodist. His specialization in endoscopic and minimally invasive spine surgery resulted in a post-residency fellowship in the University of Miami Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship program. His clinical areas of expertise include endoscopic, awake and robotic spine surgery; disc replacement; adult scoliosis surgery; image guided spine surgery; spinal decompression; spinal fusion; and others. His research interests include longterm clinical outcomes of endoscopic spinal decompression and efficacy of endoscopic lumbar fusion.