About the Spine Surgery Fellowship

Louis A. Goldstein MD, is the name sake of the spine surgery fellowship at the University of Rochester.  Dr. Goldstein was one of the founders and leaders of the Scoliosis Research Society.  At the Scoliosis Research Society annual meeting the Louis A. Goldstein award is given for the best clinical poster.   Dr. Goldstein led the Orthopaedic Surgery division at the University of Rochester from 1969-1974.  He was one of the pioneers of Harrington Instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and authored a textbook titled "The Surgical Treatment of Scoliosis".  More than 40 fellows have completed the spine surgery fellowship.

Spine article on Louis A. Goldstein.

Our Spinal Surgery Fellowship is a year long departmental program that encompasses a full range of spinal surgery with additional opportunities in clinical and basic science research. Our Fellows are trained by surgeons renowned in surgery of the spine with an emphasis on

• Cervical and lumbar degenerative conditions
• Fractures, infections, and tumors of the spine
• Adult and pediatric spinal deformity, including corrective osteotomy
• Spinal cord injury
• Minimally-invasive and microscope-assisted techniques
• Early-onset scoliosis

The fellowship offers a comprehensive experience spanning all aspects of adult and pediatric spinal surgery.  The University of Rochester Medical Center is the Level I trauma center, regional cancer center and spinal cord injury center for the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Emphasis is on the management of degenerative conditions of the spine incorporating open techniques as well as minimally invasive techniques/cervical arthroplasty as indicated. There is exposure on the use of the operative microscope for cervical and lumbar spine conditions. The fellow is also exposed to the management of adult and pediatric spinal deformity, spine trauma, and spinal tumors.  

Over 850 surgical cases are performed annually with the following percentage: Degenerative (50%), Deformity (20%), trauma (20%), Tumor (10%).  The fellow will have progressive responsibilities and will be exposed to a variety of procedures and instrumentation techniques from the occiput to pelvis.   There is no in-house call.  

Complex spinal surgery including anterior/posterior reconstructions, revision procedures, posterior based three column osteotomies are performed.  Additional cadaver training is provided throughout the year. Fellows are encouraged to attend several national meetings per year and can attend courses as needed.  

The Fellow is exposed to clinic and non-operative management of spinal disorders at our comprehensive spine center. Weekly fellow teaching conferences and a fellow core educational curriculum are provided. Participation in clinical research resulting in a paper suitable for peer-reviewed publication/national presentation is strongly expected.

Spinal Fellowship Faculty

• Varun Puvanesarajah, MD, Fellowship Director
• Ashley Rogerson, MD, Co-Fellowship Director
• Robert W. Molinari, MD, Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
• Susan Nelson, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
• Paul T. Rubery, MD, Chair, Orthopaedic Surgery

Our Fellows will work closely with faculty to

• Manage a spinal clinic with faculty support
• Gain valuable spinal trauma experience at a Level-1 Trauma Unit
• Participate in a busy surgical spine center
• Learn injection and interventional physiatry techniques

Surgical venues include the Strong Memorial Hospital/Golisano's Children Hospital, Highland Hospital, FF Thompson Hospital. Our fellowship begins August 1 each year.

The Louis A. Goldstein Spine Surgery Fellowship is an AO Spine Fellowship and the fellow participates in AO Spine education activities and the annual AO Spine fellows forum. OMeGA Medical Grants Association and Industry partners have provided funding to the fellowship as well.

Louis A. Goldstein Fellows Since 2009

• Omar Fareedi, DO, 2022-2023, Faculty, Orthopaedic Associates of Allentown
• Andrew Megas DO, 2021-2022, Faculty, University of Rochester Orthopaedic Spine Surgery
• Shalin Shah DO, 2020-2021 Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
• Jarren Section MD, 2019-2020 Faculty, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX
• Sherif Sherif MD, 2018-2019, Faculty, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
• Eric Emanksi MD, 2017-2018, Spine Surgery Associates, Chattanooga, Tennessee 
• Kenneth Foxx MD, 2016-2017, Mercy Clinic, Fort Smith Arkansas 
• Ahmed Saleh MD, 2015-2016, Faculty, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
• Brandon Raudenbush DO, 2014-2015, WellSpan Orthopaedics, Chambersburg, PA
• Kenneth Lingenfelter DO, 2013-2014, First State Orthopaedics, Delaware & Pennsylvania
• Vedant Vaksha MD, 2011-2012, Complete Orthopedics, Long Island NY
• Oner Khera MD, 2010-2011, Willis-Knighton Physician Network, Shreveport, Louisiana 
• Mark Prasarn MD, 2009-2010, Faculty UT Houston, Texas

Living in Rochester

Application Requirements

We participate in the Spine Fellowship Match through SF Match. The SF Match Fellowship Application includes

• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Current CV
• Personal Statement

Please apply through the SF Matching Program at www.sfmatch.org

Please contact our Spine Fellowship Program Coordinator with any questions at: 

Jackie Cotto
601 Elmwood Ave., Box 665 
Rochester, NY 14642 
(voice) 585-602-4400
(fax) 585-756-4726

Related Links

URMC Spine Center