The Emory University Departments of Neurological Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery offer a one-year, advanced clinical fellowship in spinal surgery under the co-direction of Daniel Refai, MD, Chief, Division of Spinal Oncology, and Gerald Rodts, MD.
The Emory Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship offers a premier, high-volume training experience designed to transition senior neurosurgery residents into skilled complex spine surgeons. Fellows gain comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of spinal pathology, with a dedicated emphasis on complex degenerative disease, spinal deformity, spinal oncology and state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques. Our institution is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery, performing over 200 cases annually. Fellows will achieve true proficiency in both uniportal and biportal endoscopy, as well as endoscopic fusions, equipping them with the most advanced minimally invasive surgical skill sets in the field today.
Beyond degenerative and endoscopic pathology, our program provides robust, hands-on operative experience in complex spinal oncology. Fellows manage a remarkably high volume of primary intradural and extradural tumors and routinely collaborate with our orthopedic oncology colleagues on multidisciplinary resections, including sacrectomies and hemipelvectomies. This fellowship delivers the extensive clinical exposure and operative autonomy required to confidently handle the most challenging spinal pathologies in both academic and private practice environments.
Clinical Experience
As a junior faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery, the fellow has an opportunity to interact with neurosurgical residents and faculty in a very dynamic clinical atmosphere primarily at Emory University Hospital-Midtown, Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University Hospital. The fellow is expected to have complete knowledge of the inpatient spine census and determine proper management of these patients in coordination with Dr. Refai and Dr. Rodts. Outpatient clinic is held two days each week for spine attendings. Approximately 20-25 patients are seen per attending physician each of these days. All patients are reviewed by Dr. Refai and Dr. Rodts with ample time allowed for discussion and teaching. Since 2025, the spine surgery team has performed over 1100 surgeries per year.
The fellow also has the option to participate in patient care at Emory University, Grady Memorial and Egleston Children's Hospital. A high frequency of traumatic and degenerative spine injuries are seen at Grady Memorial Hospital, where a fellow may actively participate and staff cases on an elective basis. The spine fellow will take general neurosurgery on-call responsibilities in the regular rotation of attendings, providing for additional surgical experience in intracranial surgery.
Teaching Experience
Combined Neuro/Ortho Spine Complex Case Conference is held each month at the Emory Spine Center. Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds are held every Thursday morning at The Emory Clinic Building B. The fellow is encouraged to aid the residents in their research interests, as well as teaching. A cadaveric dissection lab is held annually where the fellow has the opportunity to teach residents, as well as participate in anatomical exposure, stabilization, and instrumentation. The amount of time dedicated for research is flexible and determined by the fellow and Dr. Refai and Dr. Rodts. The fellow is funded for any meetings in which research or data has been accepted for publication. At least two peer-reviewed papers should be submitted each calendar year.
Qualifications/Eligibility
Requirements for beginning this post-graduate fellowship include:
- Completion of a U.S. ACGME-accredited residency in neurological surgery
- A Georgia state license
- A commitment to a career in spine surgery
In-folded spine rotations for residents-in-training can be arranged on an individual basis but are not considered a true post-graduate fellowship in spine surgery.
Application
For consideration, fellowship applicants need to email a CV, personal statement and two letters of recommendation to:
Lacairla Turner, MBA | Email
Senior Administrative Assistant
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Neurosurgery
Faculty
Current Fellows
Alumni
- 2025-26 Joravar Dhaliwal, MD
- 2025-26 Rohit Mauria, MD
- 2024-25 Christopher Talbot, DO
- 2024-25 Nelson Sofoluke, MD
- 2023-24 Christian Mustroph, MD
- 2022-23 Christopher Banerjee, MD
- 2022-23 Juanmarco Gutierrez, MD, PhD
- 2019-20 Geoff Stricsek, MD
- 2018-19 Christine Hammer, MD
- 2017-18 Osama Kashlan, MD
- 2015-16 Steven Spitz, MD
- 2007-08 Michele Johnson, MD
- 2006-07 Jason Highsmith, MD
- 2004-05 David Walker, MD
- 2003-04 Jeff Pan, MD
- 2003-04 Jay Chun, MD
- 2002-03 Maxwell Boakye, MD
- 2002-03 Harel Deutsch, MD
- 2001-02 Amory Fiore, MD
- 2001-02 Praveen Mummaneni, MD
- 2000-01 Michael Kaiser, MD
- 2000-01 Brian Subach, MD
- 1999-2000 Mark McLaughlin, MD
- 1999-2000 Steve Houston, MD
- 1998-99 Barry Birch, MD
- 1997-98 Christopher Comey, MD
- 1996-97 Joseph Alexander, MD
- 1995-96 Scott Erwood, MD
- 1994-95 Gerald Rodts, MD
- 1993-94 Richard Berkmann, MD