John C. Chiu, MD (California Spine Institute Medical Center, Los Angeles). Dr. Chiu has conducted several courses in endoscopic spine surgery and is considered a pioneer in the field. He is president of the California Spine Institute Medical Center and founding chairman of the American Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery and Medicine. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Chiu participates in minimally invasive spine surgery research, development and education. He has also served as president of the International Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and a professor of minimally invasive spine surgery at several institutions internationally. He was involved in development of robotic surgery and telesurgery, and advocates for redefining the algorithm for treating degenerative spinal disorders and spinal segmentation motion preservation with minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Ghiu earned his medical degree at Baylor University College of Medicine in Houston and completed his neurosurgical training at Mayo School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn. His additional training includes fellowships at State University of New York, University of Zurich and University of Lund in Sweden.
Richard Fessler, MD (Northwestern Memorial Hospital). Dr. Fessler is a member of the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation and former chief of neurological surgery at the University of Chicago. He has extensive experience in minimally invasive spine surgery and pioneered endoscopic techniques such as microendoscopic discectomy with applications for the anterior and posterior cervical spine. He has authored and edited textbooks on spine surgery techniques and outpatient procedures, as well as published more than 60 peer reviewed papers. He has served on the board of two neurosurgical and spine journals and directs several spine surgery courses each year. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Fessler directs research projects on topics such as technique development for minimally invasive spine surgery and human embryonic spinal cord treatment for spinal cord injury. Dr. Fessler earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago and completed his fellowship in neurosurgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Melvin Field, MD (Orlando Neurosurgery). Dr. Field has served as an instructor at nation-wide forums for teaching advanced minimally invasive endoscopic neurosurgery, complex spine surgery and image-guided stereotactic neurosurgery. His research interests include neurosurgical management of elite athletes and treatment of sports-related concussions. He is currently involved in developing a less-invasive surgical procedure for athletes to return to play quicker after spine surgery and another project to better understand the biomechanics of golf-related spinal disorders. Dr. Field is a member of North American Spine Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at the University of Florida and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Choll W. Kim, MD (Spine Institute of San Diego). Dr. Kim is a spine surgeon with Spine Institute of San Diego and director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Center at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego. He has a professional interest in minimally invasive spine surgery using image guidance and navigation technologies, and he has been instrumental in educating other spine surgeons on endoscopic technique. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Kim is a founder of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and a member of North American Spine Society. Previously, he was a voting member of the FDA Orthopaedic Devices Panel and past president of the San Diego Chapter of Western Orthopaedic Associations. Dr. Kim earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston and completed his fellowship in complex spine surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, MD (Center for Advanced Spinal Surgery of Southern Arizona, Tucson). Dr. Lewandrowski is in private practice at the Center for Advanced Spinal Surgery of Southern Arizona and has spent time instructing surgeons on endoscopic spine surgery technique. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Lewandrowski has authored several papers and book chapters on spine-related topics. He holds patents for his innovations and is constantly focused on improving clinical outcomes while minimizing the impact of spine surgery. Dr. Lewandrowski earned his medical degree at Ruhr University in Germany and Boston University. His additional training includes the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program and a spine surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
Bryan J. Massoud, MD (Spine Centers of America, Fair Lawn, N.J.). Dr. Massoud founded Spine Centers of America and has performed thousands procedures using endoscopic techniques for spinal surgery, including for patients with disc herniations, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, infections and failed back surgery. He also spends time conducting workshops for other surgeons on endoscopic technique. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Massoud is a member of the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his medical degree at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Texas Back Institute in Plano and further experience in endoscopic spine surgery under Dr. Martin Knight in England.
Tony Mork, MD (Newport Beach, Calif.). Dr. Mork has performed more than 8,000 endoscopic spine surgeries in his career as well as designed specialized tools for spinal procedures. He was instrumental in developing current endoscopic spine surgery techniques and was the founder of the Endoscopic Spinal Academy. Throughout his career, Dr. Mork has instructed other surgeons in endoscopic techniques and continues looking ahead to new procedures and techniques. He now does spinal mapping to diagnose his patients before treatment. Dr. Mork earned his medical degree at Creighton University in Omaha.
Said Osman, MD (American Spine, Frederick, Md.). Dr. Osman is an orthopedic surgeon with a special interest in spine surgery. His mission has been to pioneer micro-spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery and endoscopic spine surgery, and he participates as an instructor in an Advanced Transforaminal Endoscopic Spine Training Workshop on the maxMorespine System. During his career, he has been involved in the development of the Uni-directional Dynamic Spinal Fixation Device and Biologic Intramedullary Fixation device. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Osman participates in research and has been recognized by several professional organizations. Dr. Osman earned his medical degree at the University of Nairobi in Kenya and completed fellowship training at The Royal College of Surgeons
Noel Perin, MD (NYU Langone, New York City). Dr. Perin is the director of spine and minimally invasive surgery in the department of neurosurgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. He has served on the faculty of a hands-on course for endoscopic spine surgery approaches and director of a course on minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Perrin engages in spine-related research and has presented his research nationally. He is a member of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and American College of Surgeons. Dr. Perin earned his medical degree at the University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine in Sri Lanka and completed his neurosurgery residency at New York University Medical Center. His additional training includes spine surgery fellowships at New York University Medical Center and in West Germany.
William O. Reed, Jr., MD (Merriam, Kan.). Dr. Reed travels nationally and internationally to instruct and educate surgeons in minimally invasive and laparoscopic spine surgery techniques. He is a clinical instructor and consultant for many companies and has a professional interest in advancing spinal surgery techniques. He performs endoscopic spine surgery and outpatient surgery for herniated lumbar discs. Dr. Reed earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School and completed his residency at Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. His additional training includes a fellowship at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C.
Farhan N. Siddiqi, MD (Trinity Spine Center, Odessa, Fla.). Dr. Siddiqi is a fellowship-trained endoscopic and reconstructive spine surgeon. He instructs on his technique in courses across the country and is a member of several professional societies, including North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is the co-founder of Trinity Spine and an assistant professor at the University of Southern Florida Medical School in Tampa. Dr. Siddiqi earned his medical degree at Cornell University Medical College in New York City and completed his residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. His additional training includes a fellowship at Desert Institute for Spine Care in Phoenix.
Anthony T. Yeung, MD (Desert Institute for Spine Care, Phoenix). Dr. Yeung is the founder of Desert Institute for Spine Care and developer of the Yeung Endoscopic Spine System. The system includes multi-channel spine endoscopes and related instruments by Richard Wolf Surgical Instrument Company. He has instructed surgeons on his endoscopic technique from around the world. During his career, Dr. Yeung has served in leadership positions with the North American Spine Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, as well as president of the American Academy for Minimally Invasive Spinal Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Yeung earned his medical degree at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Maricopa County General Hospital in Phoenix.
