Spine surgery continues to evolve as new approaches to minimally invasive surgery, motion preservation, robotics and complex reconstruction reshape the specialty.
The following 20 spine surgeons are advancing the field through clinical innovation, research, leadership and education. Their work spans private practices, health systems and academic medical centers across the country.
Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive or ranked list. Becker’s does not endorse any individual featured. To nominate a physician for a future list, please contact Sophie Eydis at seydis@beckershealthcare.com.
- Sheyan Armaghani, MD. Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: Dr. Armaghani is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in degenerative spine conditions, including neck and back pain. His practice emphasizes nonsurgical treatment when possible, with surgical expertise in minimally invasive and motion-preserving techniques.
Dr. Armaghani has written more than 25 publications and presented research nationally on topics including postoperative pain management and spine care for patients with diabetes. His current research focuses on factors influencing surgical outcomes and reducing complications. Before joining Orlando Health, he practiced in the Tampa, Fla., area and served as co-director of a spine fellowship.
- G. Clay Baynham, MD. Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.): Dr. Baynham is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric spine surgery and complex spinal reconstruction. He has practiced for more than 25 years and has performed more than 7,000 major spine procedures.
Dr. Baynham has contributed to the development of spine surgery technologies and is credited on more than two dozen patents. He has held several hospital leadership positions, including chief of orthopedics, surgery and spine surgery, and previously served as president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society.
- Jennifer Bauer, MD. Seattle Children’s: Dr. Bauer is chief of spine surgery at Seattle Children’s and an associate professor specializing in pediatric spine care. Her practice is devoted to spine conditions, including adolescent idiopathic, congenital, neuromuscular and early-onset scoliosis, as well as cervical spine deformity, kyphosis and complex spinal conditions associated with skeletal dysplasia.
Dr. Bauer’s research focuses on spinal deformity and pediatric fractures, and she has presented her work nationally and internationally. She also serves as pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship director and has received research and leadership honors from the Scoliosis Research Society and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.
- Gino Chiappetta, MD. Alliance Orthopedics (Matawan, N.J.): Dr. Chiappetta is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery and orthopedic trauma. His spine practice includes degenerative conditions, spinal deformity, traumatic injuries, spinal tumors and sports-related spine injuries, with an emphasis on nonsurgical treatment before surgery when appropriate.
Dr. Chiappetta is also a clinical associate professor of orthopedic surgery at New Brunswick, N.J.-based Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He has been recognized by several physician rating organizations, including New Jersey Monthly magazine and Castle Connolly, and practices at Alliance Orthopedics locations in Fair Lawn, Union and Middletown, N.J.
- Stephen Courtney, MD. Advanced Spine Center (Plano, Texas): Dr. Courtney is an orthopedic spine surgeon with more than 28 years of experience. His practice includes spinal fusion, cervical and lumbar procedures and revision spine surgery, and he also owns Eminent Medical Center in Richardson, Texas, where he performs inpatient and outpatient procedures.
Dr. Courtney developed a line of FDA-approved spine surgery instruments through Eminent Spine and holds 18 patents and 15 trademarks. He also trains orthopedic surgeons across the country in the use of surgical technologies and is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Joel Edionwe, MD. South Texas Surgical and Specialty Group (San Antonio): Dr. Edionwe is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in surgical and nonsurgical treatment of cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine conditions. His surgical expertise includes decompression, spinal fusion, minimally invasive spine surgery, laminectomy and sacroiliac joint fusion.
Dr. Edionwe has a particular interest in advancing spine research and surgical innovation while incorporating conservative treatment options into patient care. His practice also includes treatment of neck and back pain, osteoporosis and general orthopedic conditions. He is additionally involved in community service, including medical mission trips, food banks and youth organizations.
- Christopher Good, MD. Virginia Spine Institute (Reston, Va.): Dr. Good is a spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery, motion preservation and nonsurgical spine treatments. He performed the first two-level disc replacement in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region and helped introduce Mazor X Stealth Edition robotic technology into spine surgery.
Dr. Good’s research focuses on surgical techniques designed to reduce radiation exposure and accelerate recovery. He has served as principal investigator for an FDA cervical disc replacement trial and helped develop Virginia Spine Institute’s comprehensive approach to preoperative preparation and postoperative recovery.
- Jessica Heyer, MD. Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City): Dr. Heyer is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric spinal deformity and fracture care. She treats spine conditions from birth through early adulthood, with a particular interest in early-onset scoliosis and maximizing nonoperative treatment when appropriate.
Dr. Heyer’s research focuses on scoliosis progression, determining appropriate treatment approaches and improving outcomes for patients with spinal deformity. She also treats fractures and osteogenesis imperfecta and has authored research articles and book chapters on fracture care and outcomes. She is a member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America and Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society.
- Megan Johnson, MD. Scottish Rite for Children (Dallas): Dr. Johnson is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal deformity, including complex deformities, and spine and lower-extremity conditions associated with spina bifida. She also serves as medical director of ambulatory care at Scottish Rite for Children and as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Dallas-based UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Johnson serves as program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis, one of the nation’s oldest and largest pediatric orthopedic fellowships. She oversees its educational curriculum, fellow recruitment and training and ongoing program evaluation and improvement.
- Taryn LeRoy, MD. New England Baptist Hospital (Boston): Dr. LeRoy is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine conditions. Her expertise includes degenerative conditions, complex spinal deformity, trauma and revision spine surgery, with a particular interest in treating scoliosis in late adolescents and adults.
Dr. LeRoy is an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Boston-based Tufts University School of Medicine and has written and contributed to numerous scientific publications. She is also an active member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Richard Menger, MD. USA Health (Mobile, Ala.): Dr. Menger is vice chair of neurosurgery, director of the USA Health Spine Institute and chief of complex spine surgery. He specializes in complex spinal reconstruction and pediatric and adult spinal deformity, including scoliosis, and has fellowship training spanning neurological and orthopedic spine surgery.
Dr. Menger has built a combined neurosurgery-orthopedic deformity program at USA Health and was lead editor of the 2026 textbook “Mastering Pediatric Spinal Deformity.” His research also examines spine surgery outcomes, healthcare policy and economics, and he serves as an assistant professor of political science at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
- Hamadi Murphy, MD. Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: Dr. Murphy is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive, robotic and endoscopic spine surgery. His practice includes treatment of herniated discs, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, with an emphasis on conservative treatment when surgery is not necessary.
Dr. Murphy also practices at the Orlando Health Spine Center and uses advanced surgical technologies and minimally invasive approaches designed to promote recovery and improve mobility. His clinical approach spans nonsurgical management through surgical treatment tailored to patients with a range of spine conditions.
- Farah Musharbash, MD. Atlantic Brain and Spine (Morristown, N.J.): Dr. Musharbash is a spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, adult and pediatric spinal deformity and motion-preserving procedures. His practice spans cervical, thoracic and lumbar disorders and includes robotic navigation, artificial disc replacement and complex spinal reconstruction.
Dr. Musharbash has written more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, including research on new endoscopic spine surgery techniques. He is an American Orthopaedic Association Emerging Leader and serves as a peer reviewer for The Spine Journal, Global Spine Journal and The Bone & Joint Journal.
- Elizabeth Picinic Norheim, MD. Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.): Dr. Norheim is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in adult and pediatric spine surgery. Her practice spans cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral conditions involving the bones, discs, joints and ligaments, with expertise ranging from minimally invasive procedures to complex spinal reconstruction.
She joined Southern California Permanente Medical Group in 2014 and practices with the spinal surgery department at Kaiser Permanente’s Garden Medical Offices in Downey, Calif.
- Daniel Park, MD. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago): Dr. Park is an orthopedic spine surgeon and professor specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery and cervical spine conditions. He joined Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in 2026 after 14 years at Royal Oak, Mich.-based Corewell Health-William Beaumont Hospital, where he directed minimally invasive orthopedic spine surgery and the orthopedic spine research lab.
Dr. Park was the first U.S. surgeon to perform biportal endoscopic spine surgery and has published extensively on its outcomes. He co-founded the World Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic America Society and has presented research at major national spine and orthopedic meetings.
- Neil Patel, MD. Spine Team Texas (Southlake): Dr. Patel is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive spine surgery. His practice includes treatment of acute spinal sports injuries and degenerative conditions, with expertise in cervical and lumbar decompression, fusion, total disc replacement and scoliosis surgery.
Dr. Patel has published numerous spine research papers and serves as a reviewer for Global Spine Journal. He has presented his work nationally and internationally, including at the Global Spine Congress and North American Spine Society meetings, and has contributed to a widely used textbook on spinal anatomy and disorders.
- Julian “JP” Price, MD. Athens (Ga.) Orthopedic Clinic: Dr. Price is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and reconstructive surgery of the neck and spine. He has practiced with Athens Orthopedic Clinic since 2011 and performs procedures at the practice’s surgery centers in Athens and Loganville Ga.
Dr. Price serves as chief of orthopedic surgery at the Athens-based St. Mary’s Hospital and as a clinical associate professor at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership in Athens. He has presented spine surgery research nationally and internationally and is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- Comron Saifi, MD. Houston Methodist: Dr. Saifi is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in pediatric and adult spinal deformity, minimally invasive spine surgery and cervical disc replacement. He holds the C. James and Carole Walter Looke Chair in Orthopedic Spine Surgery and serves as chief of orthopedic surgery at Houston Methodist Baytown (Texas) Hospital.
Dr. Saifi is also an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at New York City-based Weill Cornell Medical College and previously directed clinical spine research at the Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania. He is co-founder and co-CEO of ClinicFlow, a voice AI company focused on automating patient communications and workflows for surgical specialty practices.
- Sonal Sodha, MD. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles): Dr. Sodha is an orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in surgical and nonsurgical management of spinal disorders. Her expertise includes microsurgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, motion preservation, complex spine surgery and cervical and lumbar artificial disc replacement. She also has extensive experience using robotic navigation in spine surgery.
Dr. Sodha has a background in biomedical engineering and remains involved in clinical research focused on advancing spine care and surgical technology. She has published in peer-reviewed medical journals and presented her work at national meetings. She was also named to SpineLine’s 2024 “20 Under 40” class.
- Mohamed Salar, MD. Synergy Health Partners | Mendelson Orthopedics & Spine (Sterling Heights, Mich.): Dr. Salar is an orthopedic spine surgeon and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery specializing in motion-preserving and minimally invasive spine procedures. His expertise includes cervical and lumbar disc replacement, spinal decompression, interbody fusion and nonsurgical pain management.
Dr. Salar is involved in research and medical education at Michigan State University in East Lansing and has published research spanning orthopedic surgery, trauma and musculoskeletal conditions. His work has received several research and academic honors, including the Eastern Orthopaedic Association Traveler Award. He is also a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
