Three spine surgeons share the accomplishments they are most proud of in 2017.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: What excites you most about 2018?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: What has been your biggest professional achievement this year?
Payam Farjoodi, MD. Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center (Fountain Valley, Calif.): Expanding my knowledge and skill to continue improving care for my patients. Spine surgery is an evolving field and it is necessary to evolve with it.
Richard Kube, MD. Founder and CEO of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute (Peoria, Ill.): I was able to work with my COO, Colleen Ingraham, to get the Illinois Chapter of the Free Market Medical Association to the next level. We founded it together last December, and we have been engaging increasing numbers of members and are promoting healthcare as it should be. Introducing price transparency empowers patients as true consumers in a way seldom seen in healthcare today. It also helps to cut enormous amounts of red tape for the provider so that the patient is king and they receive the greatest value for their healthcare dollars.
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: My biggest professional achievement has been that I was asked to serve on the NASS Advocacy Council. Helping effect policy change and meeting real-life stakeholders in the legislative process was a real thrill. I only hope we made some sort of change.