Russel C. Huang, MD (Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City). Dr. Huang is the director of the Spine Surgery Clinic at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He has an expertise in minimally invasive spinal surgery, treating cervical disc herniations and spinal cord compression and disc replacement. In addition to his practice, Dr. Huang is an attending professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and regularly lectures on spinal surgery topics. His previous research has been awarded the J. William Fielding Award from the Cervical Spine Research Society and the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation research award. His current research focuses on investigating postoperative pain associated with posterior iliac crest bone graft harvesting in spine surgery. Dr. Huang earned his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and completed his residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He also completed a fellowship at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Gordon Bell, MD (Cleveland Clinic, Ohio). Dr. Bell is the head of the section of spinal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and the vice-chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery. His practice interests include treating patients with cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, athletic spinal injuries and spinal tumors. Dr. Bell’s research has been awarded the Volvo Award in Low Back Pain Research from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. During his career, Dr. Bell has held leadership positions in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is also a member of North American Spine Society and the American Orthopaedic Association. In addition to his practice, Dr. Bell has served as co-editor of two spine textbooks and associate editor for Spine. Dr. Bell earned his medical degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine in Ontario, Canada, and completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic. He also completed a spine fellowship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
Richard Spiro, MD (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Penn.). Dr. Spiro is the director of the adult spine services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has a professional interest in treating spinal disorders using minimally invasive techniques and incorporates real-time CT guidance for complex spine surgery. He also has an expertise in spinal reconstruction, spinal tumors and spinal fusion. In addition to his practice, Dr. Spiro is an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. He has published several articles in professional journals, including Neurosurgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, North American Spine Society and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Spiro earned his medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and completed his residency in neurosurgery at UPMC.
Eugene Carragee, MD (Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Redwood City, Calif.). Dr. Carragee is the chief of the spinal surgery division, medical director of the service quality and director of the Orthopaedic Spine Center at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. He has also served as the spine consultant for Stanford University’s NCAA teams. In addition to his practice, Dr. Carragee has served as the editor in chief of The Spine Journal and on the Neck Pain Task Force in Toronto, Canada. During his career, Dr. Carragee has published his research in several professional journals, including The Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques and Spine. His current research interests include outcomes assessment of rehabilitative treatment for the cervical and lumbar intervertibral disc herniation, diagnosis and treatment of spine infections and pain management. His research has previously received the Leon Wiltse Award from the North American Spine Society and the Volvo Clinical Research Award from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine. Dr. Carragee completed his residency at SUMC in Canada and a fellowship at the University of Hong Kong.
Robert Eastlack, MD (Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif.). Dr. Eastlack is a spine surgeon with the Scripps Clinic division of orthopedic surgery. He has a professional interest in treating cervical spine disorders, fractures, osteoporosis, scoliosis and herniated discs. His research interests include cervical spine injuries and minimally invasive surgeries. Dr. Eastlack has been awarded the Jacqueline Perry Award from the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association. He is a founding member of the Minimally Invasive Spine Society as well as a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the North American Spine Society. Dr. Eastlack earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He also completed a fellowship in spine surgery at the Mayo Clinic.
Mesfin A. Lemma, MD (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore). Dr. Lemma is the division chief of Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Surgery and co-director of spine surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore. He has also served as the assistant residency director at Johns Hopkins Orthopaedic Surgery. He has a professional interest in treating spinal conditions and disorders using minimally invasive techniques. In addition to his practice, Dr. Lemma has published his research in several professional journals, including Neurosurgery and Spine. His current research interests include spinal conditions in the elderly population. Dr. Lemma is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Maryland Orthopaedic Association. He earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also completed his fellowship in spine surgery at Johns Hopkins.
Frank M. Phillips, MD (Rush University Medical Center, Chicago). Dr. Phillips is the director of the section of minimally invasive spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center. He has a professional interest in cervical and lumbar reconstructive surgery as well as motion preserving and minimally invasive surgical techniques. In addition to his practice, Dr. Phillips conducts research on the biomechanics of spinal reconstruction and the biologic strategies for treating spinal conditions. He is interested in the utilization of gene therapy to promote spinal fusion and invertebral disc regeneration. Dr. Phillips has previously served as the director of The Spine Center at the University of Chicago and currently serves as a professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush. He is also the vice president of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and a member of the North American Spine Society and the Spine Arthroplasty Society. Dr. Phillips earned his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand Medical School in South Africa and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals. He also completed a fellowship in orthopedic surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Robert E. Isaacs, MD (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.). Dr. Isaacs is the director of spine surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. He has previously served as the fellowship director and head of minimally invasive spine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Florida Spine Institute. He has a professional interest in performing minimally invasive spinal fusions, endoscopic spine surgery and thoracoscopic spine surgery. During his career, Dr. Isaacs has been involved in several clinical trials investigating minimally invasive surgical techniques, image guidance, endoscopic spinal surgery and outcomes for patients undergoing spinal surgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the North American Spine Society. Dr. Isaacs earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He also received training at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and completed a fellowship at Arizona State University in Tempe. Dr. Isaacs’ additional training includes a clinical spine fellowship at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch at Rush University.
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