Spine Surgery Fellowship

29

Active Clinical Trials

285,908

Patient Encounters in 2023

73

Peer-Reviewed Publications in 2023

24,018

Surgical Cases in 2023

About the Fellowship

The spine surgery fellowship offers a one-year of extensive training in the evaluation and treatment of diverse spinal disorders for both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons. Specific rotations provide comprehensive assessment and treatment of degenerative disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine, adult and pediatric spinal deformities, tumors of the spinal cord and spinal column, pain management, and spinal column trauma. Fellows rotate to locations within the Houston area with pain management specialists, neurosurgeons and orthopedic spine surgeons.

The purpose of this fellowship is ambitious and thorough—To provide fellows with maximum surgical and clinical experience from occiput to sacrum, with minimally and maximally invasive procedures in all aspects of the spine.

Highlights of the program include:
  • Specific rotations that emphasize cervical and lumbar degenerative disorders
  • Rotations in adult and pediatric deformity
  • Other rotations include spinal column trauma, spinal column and spinal cord tumors
  • Develop expertise in microscopic discectomy, ACDF, TLIF, transthoracic and retroperitoneal corpectomy reconstruction, en bloc spondylectomy, direct lateral and anterior psoas reconstruction, ALIF, anterior and posterior spinal reconstruction

Houston Methodist Hospital has been ranked the #1 hospital in Texas by U.S. News & World Report for 12 years in a row. It is nationally ranked in 10 specialties, including orthopedics where it is ranked #16 in the nation. Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is one of the largest, most active programs in the nation. Our skilled team of orthopedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians, physical and occupational therapists and athletic trainers use the latest innovative techniques and pioneer new technology to deliver exceptional care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries.
Our Program Faculty
Mark L. Prasarn, MD
Program Director, Spine Surgery Fellowship
Orthopedic Surgery Faculty
Mark L. Prasarn, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Darrell S. Hanson, MD
Orthopedic Surgery Faculty
Paul Holman, MD
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery Faculty
Karim A. Shafi, MD
Orthopedic Surgery Faculty
Jeffrey Ratusznik, MD
Orthopedic Surgery Faculty
Comron Saifi, MD
C. James and Carole Walter Looke Chair in Orthopedic Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Laurence D. Rhines, MD
Professor Department of Neurosurgery
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Eligibility and Application

Thank you for your interest in our Spine Surgery Fellowship program. Our program participates in the Spine Fellowship Match administered by the San Francisco Match (SFMatch) for the application, interview and selection process:

To be eligible for a fellowship position, certain criteria must be met:


Criteria
  • Have successfully completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited orthopedic surgery residency training program
  • Good professional character with at least three letters of recommendation attesting to your academic and personal qualifications
  • A graduate of a U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), or a college of osteopathic medicine in the U.S. accredited by the AOA, or a medical school outside the U.S. and Canada with a current valid certificate from the ECFMG prior to appointment, or have completed a Fifth Pathway program through an LCME-accredited medical school.
  • Be licensable in the State of Texas and obtain before beginning training a physician-in-training (PIT) permit or a valid Texas medical license
  • Permanent resident status or be eligible for a J-1 visa, if a non-U.S. citizen
  • We will not be accepting applications of Foreign Medical Graduates, unless they have met the above criteria (www.acgme.org).

Houston Methodist is committed to improving the health of our patients, employees, and communities around us. As a health care provider, it’s our responsibility to promote a healthier environment for our employees.


Responsibility
  • Drug and Tobacco Screening- Job seekers will be tested for nicotine and drug usage during the post-offer physical. If a job seeker tests positive for nicotine use, including nicotine gum and patches, the offer will be rescinded, and individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in a free Houston Methodist-provided tobacco cessation program. Job seekers wishing to reapply after testing positive for nicotine may do so 90 days after the date the initial offer was rescinded. If the job seeker tests positive for drug use, the offer will be rescinded. Job seekers wishing to reapply after the drug screening is positive may do so one year after the date the initial offer was rescinded.
  • Background Check - Prior to employment start date, job seekers must complete a criminal background check.

To begin the application process, you must submit the necessary materials through San Francisco Match: 


Materials
  • Complete MATCH application
  • Personal statement
  • Wallet-sized color photograph
  • USMLE transcript
  • ECFMG status report (International Medical Graduates (IMGs) only)
  • Three letters of recommendation (including letter from program director of current training program)
Our Fellows
Zachary Diltz, MD
Residency: Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee
Derek Moody, MD
Residency: University of Texas Health Science Center
Our Alumni
Class of 2024
Adam Green, DO
Lee Kripke, MD

Class of 2023
Varan Haghshenas, MD
Syed Mehdi, MD

Class of 2021
John Eager, MD
Alexander Molinari, DO
         Class of 2020
Venkat Kavuri, MD
Aymen Rashid, MD

Class of 2019
Daren McCalla, MD
Zackery Witte, MD

Class of 2018
Joseph Brindise, DO
Ronak Desai, MD

Class of 2017
Adedayo Ashana, MD
Charles Hogan, MD

Class of 2016
Husain Bharmal, MD
Michael Glover, MD
David Stockwell, MD 		        Class of 2015
Alan Muns, MD
Desh Sahni, MD

Class of 2014
Heidi Hullinger, MD
Jeffrey Ratusznik, MD

Class of 2012
Justin Bird, MD
Robert Woodruff, MD

Class of 2011
Alfonso Fuentes, MD
Dapo Ojeyemi, MD
Ryan Stuckey, MD

Class of 2009
Zeeshaan Khan, MD  		        Class of 2008
Clinton Howard, IV, MD

Class of 2007
Rebecca Kuo, MD
Kevin James, MD

Class of 2006
Milan Mody, MD

Class of 2005
Ramin Raiszadeh, MD

Class of 2004
Steve Lasser, MD

Get In Touch

Program Coordinator

Jessica Q. Walsh, MFA
Education Manager
6445 Main St., Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77030
Tel: 713.441.3892
Fax: 713.793.7107
Email: jqwalsh@houstonmethodist.org

Program Director

Mark L. Prasarn, MD

Upcoming Academic Events

Grand rounds, tumor boards, regularly scheduled series and case presentations are offered in multiple clinical disciplines and Houston Methodist locations.
Fundamentals of Responsible Conduct of Research
Houston Methodist Research Institute

Feb 24 @ 11AM

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Statistical Rx: Powered by R

Ahmad Ibrahim, MD

Feb 24 @ 12PM

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55

Grand Rounds conducted in 2023
These educational events are held according to varying schedules by departments and divisions within the Houston Methodist Academic Institute

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