Yusuf Rafiqzad serves as NSHF’s Clinical Research Assistant. He graduated with a degree in Clinical Neuroscience with Magna Cum Laude distinction from Virginia Tech in 2022, and has prior experience working in both direct patient-facing roles and research. Prior to joining NSHF, he worked at the Virginia Spine Institute as an EMG technician and medical
I was born in New Zealand in 1958, and have lived there most of my life, but for the past 7 years, I’ve been living in Ireland. At the age of 13, I fractured my neck at C3. Because of that injury, I gradually started losing feeling from my waist down many years later, and
Dr. Samdani is a Pediatric Spine Specialist at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia. Since joining Shriners Children’s Philadelphia in 2005, he specialized in innovative, fusionless treatments for children with spine issues, including vertebral body tethering. He values working at Shriners Children’s, where the focus on quality care is unimpeded by financial considerations, providing immense job satisfaction and
Dr. Newton is the Chief of Orthopedics & Scoliosis and Surgeon-in-Chief at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego; Clinical Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine After obtaining a degree in bioengineering, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School. He completed his residency at UC San Diego and a pediatric orthopedics
Dr. Mummaneni is a Joan O’Reilly Distinguished Professor in Spinal Surgery and Vice Chair, UCSF Department of Neurosurgery. He earned his BA/MD through Boston University’s accelerated program and completed his neurosurgery residency at UCSF, where he also undertook a complex spine fellowship. After faculty positions at Emory University (2002-2006), he returned to UCSF in 2006. In 2020,
Dr. Miyanji – Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of British Columbia; Pediatric Spinal Deformity Specialist at British Columbia Children’s Hospital Dr. Miyanji is an esteemed Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia, specializing in pediatric spinal deformity. He completed an Orthopedic and Neurosurgical adult spine fellowship at the Toronto Western Krembil Neurosciences Center. He
Dr. Elder is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with expertise in complex spinal surgery, spinal deformity surgery, and spinal oncology. He specializes in the treatment of adult spinal deformities, scoliosis, revision spine surgery, and conditions such as spinal tumors, spinal stenosis, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Dr. Elder employs a patient-centered approach to develop personalized, minimally invasive treatments
Dr. Daubs is the Professor and Chairman of Orthopedics at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is an esteemed spine surgeon specializing in treating spinal disorders such as fractures, herniated discs, stenosis, and scoliosis in children and adults. He holds the prestigious Optum Dr. Tony and Renee Marlon Endowed Chair in Orthopaedics and is a board-certified
Dr. Anand is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and the Director of the Spine Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay’s Topiwala National Medical College. He has undergone extensive training at prestigious institutions, including the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Hospital
Born and raised in Austin, Texas, I developed an interest in wellness in 1994 after breaking my leg in a rock-climbing accident. Ending up in a wheelchair, I had to re-develop trust in my body to support me. I began practicing yoga, and ultimately it was a holistic approach to health that helped me to
I’ve had some discomfort in my low back since my college days and throughout my early 30’s. While packing for a trip over a decade ago, I unexpectedly injured my back just as I was headed with some friends for a trip to Florida. I was finished packing, had my suitcases at the door, and
