“What makes our new center unique is that we offer a ‘one stop shop’ where a patient can be seen by a surgeon and other experts as needed, get updated imaging and other tests, receive a diagnosis and be given a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs all on the same day,” says Han Jo Kim, MD, director of the new center and HSS spine surgeon. He adds that other centers could take weeks or even months to line up all the necessary appointments and provide a care plan recommendation.

Spine care at the CSSC is bolstered by a combination of highly specialized experts across multiple specialties and a decade of HSS-led research on advanced surgical techniques and recovery pathways. This has helped them transform the most challenging spine surgeries into much more straightforward operations with lower complication rates and faster recovery times.

“We have shortened the time it takes to do these surgeries, reduced complications, decreased patients’ length of stay in the hospital and shortened their recovery time, allowing patients to get back to what they love most,” says Dr. Kim.

The range of specialties the CSSC offers include anesthesiology, infectious disease, interventional radiology, metabolic bone, neurology, pain management, physical therapy, physiatry, and spine surgery. Care navigators help make the care experience easier by guiding patients through next steps, coordinating appointments and when possible, arranging visits with the appropriate physicians and receive any necessary imaging on the same day.

“We are integrating clinical triage so we can get the right patient to the right physician the first time for the care they need, as well as ensure a smooth experience for the patient and the physicians involved,” says HSS spine surgeon Andrew Sama, MD, co-chief of HSS Spine.

This streamlined approach is particularly helpful for the over 1,000 patients who travel to HSS annually from out of state or out of the country to see our surgeons, nearly 500 of whom receive surgery here.

“We want to meet patients where they are, and if they’re traveling a far distance, it’s especially important to make the most of their time here,” says HSS spine surgeon Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA, co-chief of HSS Spine.

CSSC care is available to adult and pediatric patients at HSS locations in Manhattan, Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, and Connecticut. “HSS has invested a lot into our regional sites so that we can bring complex spine care to the communities we serve,” adds Dr. Qureshi. This builds on the recently opened multidisciplinary Spine Center in Paramus, which expands access to world-class spine care through a collaborative approach and state-of-the-art facilities.”

Another focal point of the CSSC at HSS is the development of a clinical registry to detect and study genetic indicators of risk for a variety of postoperative complications.

“This is next-level precision medicine, where we are using a person’s genetic makeup to mitigate certain risks or complications that they are likely to face after surgery,” explains Dr. Kim. “For example, if we find that somebody is genetically prone to infection or blood clots, we can give them medication to minimize or prevent those risks and ensure they have the smoothest recovery possible.”

To learn more or to request an appointment by submitting your case to the CSSC at HSS, please visit: https://www.hss.edu/departments/spine/complex-spine-and-scoliosis-center

Patient Success Story:

For 20 years, Long Island resident Susan had been living with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), an osteoarthritic condition that causes ligaments and tendons in the spine to calcify, leading to stiffness and pain. In 2023, after two traumatic falls, Susan endured a spinal cord injury, leaving the 57-year-old unable to lift her head. She scheduled an appointment with Dr. Kim for an evaluation for reconstructive surgery.

“I was totally looking down, and I couldn’t lift my head to see ahead of me. I was very limited, and it was challenging to get around with my walker. I would have been miserable if I had to live the rest of my life like that,” says Susan.

“I knew from my research that Dr. Kim was a superior surgeon, but I was also impressed with how he spoke to me and not at me, and used words I could understand,” Susan recalls. “I felt a connection with him right away and was relieved when he said he could help me.”

Susan had surgery in June of 2025 and after six weeks of recovery and rehabilitation, she says her life has changed for the better.

“Dr. Kim corrected my posture immensely so I can stand up straight, look forward, and see people ahead of me now. My chin is up!” she says. “He changed my appearance and made me look healthier, so I don’t appear distorted or in pain. I’m deeply grateful for what he’s done. Dr. Kim and the care team at HSS made such a meaningful difference in my life.

While Susan has some lingering weakness from the prior spinal cord injury and DISH, having surgery with Dr. Kim has improved her quality of life, allowed her to continue living independently and given her the chance to help care for her aging parents.

The new Spine Center joins two additional facilities HSS recently opened to expand its footprint in Northern New Jersey: HSS Paramus – Midland Ave, a full-service outpatient center; and the HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah, which marks the first-ever HSS surgery center dedicated to ambulatory procedures in the state. Together, these facilities provide Bergen County residents and beyond with greater access to world-class surgical and non-surgical care across a broad range of specialties.

“HSS has long set the standard for excellence and innovation in spinal care,” said HSS President and CEO and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus, Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA. “Together with the HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center and HSS Paramus – Midland Avenue, the Spine Center reflects our commitment to making high-quality care accessible to local communities as well as the growing need for spine services in New Jersey.”

A key feature of the center is its integrated approach to spinal health. A multidisciplinary team of experts—including specialists in spine surgery, pain management, neurology, physiatry, and radiology—work together to deliver consistent, first-rate care.  

“Each of our physicians specializes in treating people with conditions and injuries affecting the spine,” said Anil S. Ranawat, MD, a sports medicine surgeon and medical director of the HSS Spine Center in Paramus. “This high degree of expertise and collaboration ensure that each patient receives an individualized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs, supporting optimal outcomes and continuity of care.”

The spine center, located at 140 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Suite 175S, spans 14,000 square feet and includes 11 exam rooms.

“The HSS Spine Center provides specialized care for all types of conditions and injuries affecting the back and neck, from the most common problems to the highly complex, including scoliosis,” said Andrew A. Sama, MD, a spine surgeon and co-chief of HSS Spine. “Our team includes physicians with expertise in the latest nonsurgical approaches, as well as skilled spine surgeons with advanced training and special expertise.”

At HSS, conservative treatment is always the first line of care, while surgery is the last resort, said Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA, a spine surgeon and co-chief of HSS Spine. “A variety of therapies are available to address pain, prevent further damage and help patients regain mobility without the need for surgery,” he explained. “However, if it is needed, HSS spine surgeons are at the forefront of robotic-assisted and minimally invasive procedures that are beneficial for patients.”

Surgeries are performed at the HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah or at the main hospital in Manhattan.

For more information about the HSS Spine Center, please visit: www.hss.edu/njspine

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the academic medical center specialized in musculoskeletal care since 1863, today announced the appointment of Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA as co-chief of HSS Spine, effective October 1, 2022. Dr. Qureshi will succeed Harvinder S. Sandhu, MD, MBA, and joins Andrew A. Sama, MD, as co-chief of HSS Spine. Dr. Sandhu will become Co-Chief Emeritus of HSS Spine and Medical Director of HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health, succeeding Charles “Chip” Cornell, MD, who will retire next month. 

Dr. Qureshi joined HSS in April 2017. His clinical practice focuses on minimally invasive and motion-sparing spine procedures using the latest technologies. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, given more than 100 invited lectures and contributed to educational videos, and trained surgical fellows nationally and internationally.  Dr. Qureshi also works with leading implant manufacturers, pioneering innovations in disks and implants for restoring height and proper spinal alignment.

“Dr. Qureshi is an exceptional spine surgeon, researcher and educator,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, surgeon-in-chief and medical director of HSS. “I look forward to working with him and Dr. Sama as they take HSS Spine to even higher levels of excellence.”

“I’m excited to lead HSS Spine together with Dr. Qureshi, with a shared vision to expand our services with a laser focus on the patient journey from initial diagnosis to rehabilitation,” said Dr. Sama.  “Our team will continue to pioneer advances in spine care, conduct rigorous research, and adopt new technologies and techniques when they are proven to provide better care and achieve better outcomes.”

“I’m honored to join Dr. Sama in leading the specialists who have already made HSS the nation’s most popular and successful spine treatment center,” said Dr. Qureshi, who also serves as the Patty and Jay Baker Chair in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and was recently promoted to professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine.  “Our multidisciplinary team personalizes for each patient the latest evidence-based options, from conservative, nonsurgical therapies to surgical treatment for the most complex conditions.”

More than 22,000 patients a year are treated for back and neck pain by the HSS Spine team.  While the majority are treated non-surgically, HSS performs 138% more spine surgeries than the next leading hospital. 

“Our spine service is a key reason why HSS has been ranked the #1 orthopedic program in the world, and in the United States for 13 consecutive years,” said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO at HSS. “I know that Drs. Qureshi and Sama and the HSS Spine team will continue to advance the field and create new possibilities for our patients.”

Drs. Sandhu and Sama succeed Frank Schwab, MD, who will continue his practice as chief emeritus of HSS Spine. Under Dr. Schwab’s leadership, HSS Spine continued to advance its clinical and academic reputation and bolstered its position as the international leader in complex and minimally invasive spine procedures.

“HSS is world-renowned for its innovative and research-based evaluation and treatment of people with all levels of musculoskeletal disease and injury, including afflictions of the spine,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, surgeon-in-chief and medical director at HSS. “We look forward to Drs. Sandhu and Sama’s leadership to continue to elevate our spine program to even higher levels of patient care excellence.”

“HSS has been ranked the # 1 Orthopedic program for 10 consecutive years. Our spine service is a key part of that amazing achievement and is one of the best in the world,” said Louis A. Shapiro, president and CEO at HSS. “The combined leadership and experience of Drs. Sama and Sandhu will take us to the next level.”

Dr. Sandhu focuses on minimally invasive spine surgery, microsurgery, computer-assisted surgery and spinal biologics. Previously chief of the spinal service at UCLA, and a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Sandhu joined HSS in 1997. He is actively engaged in the research, development and invention of a variety of devices and instruments and holds several patents on the diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders.

“HSS is unique in that we have a bench-to-bedside approach and are able to directly translate our innovative research into appropriate and customized patient care,” said Dr. Sandhu. “Sometimes this means not doing surgery when you don’t need to. Other times it means ensuring the right kind of procedure. I am looking forward to this new opportunity to build on the strong foundation of our service and continue our mission to provide the highest quality spine care.”

Dr. Sama specializes in the evaluation and surgical management of all traumatic, degenerative and deformity-related conditions of the spine. A member of numerous spine and orthopedic societies, he lectures at scientific conferences internationally. He is also involved in innovative product development, helping to design orthopedic implant devices for spinal surgery. A graduate of the University of Miami, Dr. Sama completed his fellowship at HSS before beginning his practice in 2001.

“I am honored to co-lead our dedicated multidisciplinary team, who are so experienced that complex procedures have become routine,” said Dr. Sama. “Our high volume and incredible team allows us to continue to advance our expertise, leading to optimal patient care and outcomes.”

Andrew A. Sama, MD, spine surgeon at HSS, who has not treated Wentz, explains that breaks in the spine can be considered stable or unstable.

"If considered unstable, these breaks usually require surgery to stabilize the spine to allow healing. Stable breaks are usually treated with rest and sometimes bracing," says Dr. Sama. 

Read the full article at APNews.com.

"The best way to avoid compression fractures and kyphosis is to prevent or slow the development of osteoporosis," said Dr. Sama.

He explained that measuring your bone density, reviewing your current prescriptions and assessing your vitamin D levels could be helpful.

"Medications, including steroids, proton pump inhibitors to treat gastroesophageal reflux, and some anti-depressive medications can increase the risk of osteoporosis," Dr. Sama noted.

If a person is diagnosed with osteoporosis, Dr. Sama recommended avoiding activities that include spinal flexion such as crunches or slouching at your desk.

Read the full article at health.usnews.com.

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HSS spine surgeon Andrew A. Sama, MD, who did not treat Woods, explained that the surgery does not require cutting muscles in the back. "You can put a support in the most favorable area of the spine without having to deal with scar tissue near the nerves," he said.

"When you take away that movement [between the vertebrae] that was causing pain, the patient actually feels like he can move better," Dr. Sama added.

This article appeared in the March 26, 2018 print issue.