Ep. 09 Mentorship Meets Innovation in Spine Surgery: Creating a Path to Better Care, Richard V. Chua, MD, FAANS, FACS

In this episode of The Spine Pod, hosts Courtney Schutze and Brady Riesgraf explore the transformative power of technology in spine surgery with Dr. Richard Chua. As a leading neurosurgeon and professor at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, AZ, Dr. Chua discusses how minimally invasive surgery (MIS), robotics, and motion preservation are changing the landscape of spine care, offering patients quicker recoveries and improved long-term outcomes. He shares his personal journey into medicine, from his early years being inspired by his father to becoming a pioneer in the field of spine surgery. Dr. Chua also highlights the importance of clinical education and training in the adoption and advancement of new technologies in spine care.

Dr. Chua continues the conversation by discussing how spine surgery is becoming more personalized to match the treatment options to patients’ individual needs. The conversation wraps up with Dr. Chua talking about the philanthropic endeavours he is currently pursuing overseas with the Nepal Spine Foundation, founded by Richard Wohns, which provides education and training for local medical providers to improve access to care to the local population of Nepal.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

• How multiple technologies, including robotics, navigation, and motion preservation, are coming together to provide a higher level of patient care in spine surgery
• The importance of clinical education and training in the adoption of novel technologies
• How introspection and self-reflection can help improve surgical care
• The necessity of data aggregation and pre-operative planning to provide more personalized treatment options for spine patients
• Where spinal fusion fits into the modern spine care continuum and where motion-preserving implants provide a viable alternative
• The value of role models and mentors in advancing spine surgery outcomes

Whether you’re seeking out information on innovative technologies, spine treatment options, or life advice - Dr. Chua provides a wealth of knowledge and insight that you won’t want to miss.

Learn more about Dr. Chua and Banner University Medical Center:

• Website: https://doctors.bannerhealth.com/provider/richard-chua/2117141
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-v-chua-md-faans-facs-051b7940/

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