Private Practice, Academics, and the Future of Spine Surgery with Alan H. Daniels, MD

In this episode, Alan H. Daniels, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics and Chief of Spine Surgery at The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, discusses balancing private practice autonomy with academic medicine, navigating reimbursement pressures, and growing complex spine programs. He also shares insights on innovations in spinal deformity care, including data driven decision making, specialized teams, and alignment focused technologies.

In this episode, Dr. Morgan Lorio shares why declining reimbursement, policy driven efficiency measures, and consolidation are reshaping spine surgery and threatening physician autonomy. He discusses his analysis The Price of Silence, the impact on surgeons and patients, and what meaningful reform must address next.

In this episode, Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, a board certified spinal and orthopedic surgeon based in New York City, discusses common misconceptions about spine surgery, advances in minimally invasive and robotic techniques, and how technology is improving outcomes.

In this episode, Roger Hartl, MD, Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery, Director of Neurosurgery Spine at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Neurosurgical Director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, shares key trends shaping spine care, including AI, biologics, minimally invasive surgery, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and patient communication.

In this episode, Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, President of Rothman Orthopaedics, joins the podcast to discuss how agentic AI is making spine surgery safer and more precise. He shares his priorities heading into 2026, including supporting professional and organic growth, expanding geographically, and navigating the evolving landscape of medical malpractice while continuing to advance high-quality spine care.

In this episode, Daniel Goldberg, SVP of Sales and Growth at United Musculoskeletal Partners, shares how reducing friction across the patient journey and improving access can accelerate new patient growth. He also discusses the growing role of AI, market specific strategies, and measuring marketing ROI to support sustainable practice expansion.

In this episode, Rachel Bratescu, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon and member of the GW Spine and Pain Center at George Washington University Hospital, discusses her goals for expanding endoscopic spine surgery and building a comprehensive, multidisciplinary spine center. She also shares perspectives on emerging spine technologies, mentorship, and navigating payer challenges while improving patient outcomes.

In this episode, Xiaofei Zhou, MD - Associate Program Director, Neurosurgery, Section Chief of Neurosurgery, Southwest General Hospital, Director of Endoscopic Spine Surgery, discusses how surgical innovation should be guided by patient outcomes and real data, not just flashy trends. They also explore the early role of AI in spine surgery, plus the financial forces shaping care including insurance, spine coding, bundled models and the need for broader systems and medical training education. 

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Chamberlain, orthopedic surgeon and Senior Medical Director for the Musculoskeletal Clinical Program at Intermountain Health, discusses the evolution of shoulder surgery and how the Intact subscapularis sparing technique is reshaping anatomic shoulder arthroplasty and patient recovery.This episode is sponsored by DePuy Synthes.

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Chamberlain, orthopedic surgeon and Senior Medical Director for the Musculoskeletal Clinical Program at Intermountain Health, discusses the evolution of shoulder and elbow surgery, the rapid shift to ASC settings, and how innovation and patient expectations are reshaping orthopedic care.This episode is sponsored by DePuy Synthes.