Surgeons Who Treat Back Pain

Primary care physicians are often the first to treat symptoms of back pain. However, it is important to be evaluated at an advanced spine center as soon as possible, since early and expert intervention can keep some conditions, like compression fractures, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs from getting worse. At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, we have some of the most advanced facilities and work with experts in spine care from a wide range of disciplines,

The medical team at the spine center — expert spine surgeons along with their team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists — provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with pain associated with conditions of the spine. Patients receive a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.

We generally begin with nonsurgical, noninvasive treatment options. For patients who do need surgery, we offer the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques, using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients recover faster, have less pain, and get back to their normal daily activities sooner than they could with older surgical methods.

Our neurosurgical faculty includes some of the very best world-renowned specialists. A complete listing is below.

At the 59th Street spine center are:

Roger Härtl, MD, named as one of the top 50 spine surgeons in the United States, is the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery and Director of Spinal Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, as well as Neurosurgical Director, Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is the founder and director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care and the official neurosurgeon for the New York Giants. Dr. Härtl's clinical and research expertise is in simple and complex spine surgery, neurotrauma, and neurocritical care medicine. Dr. Härtl believes that surgery for herniated discs should be a part of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, and he works very closely with other specialists in a team effort to achieve the best outcome for his patients. (Read more about Dr. Härtl.)

Kai-Ming Fu, MD, PhD., obtained his undergraduate degrees from Stanford University and his medical and graduate training in the MD/PhD program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Fu specializes in minimal access surgery as well as having advanced training in reconstructive, deformity,   and oncological spine surgery. (Read more about Dr. Fu.)

At our main campus on East 68th Street are:

Srikanth Boddu, MD, MSc, is an interventional neuroradiologist who specializes in minimally invasive endovascular treatments for cerebrovascular and spinal disorders. In addition to back pain, Dr. Boddu’s specialties include aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, compression fractures, tumors, stroke, pseudotumor cerebri, and tinnitus. Dr. Boddu sees patients and performs surgery at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and Weill Cornell Medical Center on the upper east side on Manhattan. (Read more about Dr. Boddu)

See our complete roster of spine surgeons below.

Our Care Team

  • Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery
  • Director of Spinal Surgery
Phone: 212-746-2152
  • Associate Professor of Radiology in Neurological Surgery (Manhattan and Queens)
  • Director of Neurointervention (NewYork-Presbyterian Queens)
Phone: 212-746-2821 (Manhattan) or 718-303-3739 (Queens)
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Surgery
  • Co-Director, Spinal Deformity and Scoliosis Program
  • Director, Spinal Trauma/Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery
Phone: 212-746-2260
  • Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery 
  • Leonard and Fleur Harlan Clinical Scholar
Phone: (888) 922-2257
  • Chief of Neurological Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
  • Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery
  • Co-director, Weill Cornell Medicine CSF Leak Program
Phone: (718) 670-1837
  • Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in Neurological Surgery
  • Director, Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Phone: 212-746-1164
  • Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Phone: 646-962-3388
  • Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery
Phone: 718-780-5176
  • Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Phone: 866-426-7787 (Manhattan) / 646-967-2020 (Brooklyn) / 718-780-3070 (Brooklyn CCH)
  • Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Phone: (718) 670-1837
  • Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery, Spine Surgery
Phone: 718-780-3070

Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery 525 East 68 Street, Box 99 New York, NY 10065 Phone: 866-426-7787