Here are seven spine and neurosurgeons making the news this week:

Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo said the pandemic accelerated innovation with virtual conferencing and connections during The Constellation Forum on Aug. 6, and he plans to lean into these trends as well as the company's social responsibility in the future.

Heather Pinckard-Dover, MD, is the first female neurosurgeon to complete the residency program at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Press Argus-Courier reports.

During NuVasive's second-quarter earnings call, CEO Chris Barry said the timeline for its Pulse robotic system for spine surgery has been further delayed, according to Seeking Alpha.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons announced their opposition to CMS' Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule for 2021, which would reduce neurosurgeon reimbursement rates by at least 7 percent. 

The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to settlements to resolve allegations in four cases involving orthopedic surgeons this year:

Eight spine and neurosurgeons joined new practices or received new appointments in July:

Spine surgeon James Lin, MD, of New York City-based Mount Sinai Hospital has spearheaded a study that looks to provide a more reliable classification system for adult idiopathic scoliosis.

Scenarios like this unfold every day somewhere in America. A harried mother clocks out of work early to take her teenage son to get an MRI at a local orthopedist after he injured his knee in soccer practice.

Orthopedic implant manufacturer Wishbone Medical has strengthened its portfolio with the acquisition of two spine device companies — Back 2 Basics Direct and Orbbö Surgical.

Police in Mobile, Ala., are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed Samantha Alison Thomas, a third-year medical student at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL.com reports.

John Burleson, MD, recently graduated from the spine fellowship program at Texas Back Institute in Plano and is set to join Hughston Clinic in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 1.

Medical device company Life Spine has received FDA clearance for its Plateau-A Ti anterior lumbar spacer system, according to an Aug. 5 news release.

Here are nine orthopedic surgeons making headlines this week:

The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons has urged CMS to reconsider its Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule for 2021, which outlines significant cuts to reimbursement rates for orthopedic surgical services, among other specialties.

Zimmer Biomet paid $2 million upfront for the rights to distribute electrodes used in brain surgeries related to epilepsy treatment, according to Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Here are four key notes on spine and orthopedic device companies: 

In NuVasive's second-quarter earnings call Aug. 4, CEO Chris Barry said the spine device company remains uncertain whether its business will return to growth by the end of the year, according to Seeking Alpha.

Eleven orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians joined new practices or received new appointments in July:

Zimmer Biomet reported sharp sales declines across all product categories in the second quarter.