What Do Spine Surgeons & Professional Athletes Have in Common? - Choll Kim, MD, PhD

Ep 06 - What Do Spine Surgeons & Professional Athletes Have in Common? - Choll Kim, MD, PhD

In this episode of The Spine Pod, hosts Courtney Schutze and Brady Riesgraf sit down with Choll Kim, MD, PhD, from the Excel Spine Center in San Diego, CA. A leading expert in Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) and endoscopic spine surgery, Dr. Kim shares his journey to becoming a pioneering spine surgeon, merging novel techniques and devices to provide the highest quality spine care to his patients. Dr. Kim delves into the importance of minimally invasive techniques and motion-preserving implants, discussing how the convergence of these innovations reduces post-operative recovery times and improves patient outcomes by preserving and restoring natural physiologic function and movement. He also highlights the necessity of advanced technologies like navigation and robotics in enhancing precision and pre-operative planning for surgeons.

Dr. Kim goes on to emphasize the current advancements in motion preservation technologies that are providing alternatives to spinal fusion. He explains how the integration of MIS, navigation, and motion-preserving devices is transforming the field of spine care, offering patients less invasive options with better long-term outcomes. He advocates for transparency in medicine and surgical care and highlights the importance of social media in providing credible information for patient education. Dr. Kim wraps up by noting how technology, data collection, and AI will come together to provide patients with customized solutions for their treatment needs. Looking to the future, he expresses his excitement about the convergence of various technologies and the move towards more personalized, patient-centered care.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The importance of Minimally-Invasive Surgery (MIS) and its impact on preserving physiologic function
• The newest motion-preserving spine implants and the importance of restoring natural motion in the spine
• How robotics and navigation in the operating room are providing enhanced precision for surgeons
• The need for more tailored patient-centered treatment options
• How social media is playing a role in driving the adoption of new techniques for both patients and surgeons
• The interplay between MIS techniques, motion-preservation, and navigation and how they are all aligning to create the future of spine care

As a Harvard graduate and double-board-certified spine surgeon, Dr. Choll Kim provides a wealth of insight into the future of spine care. Join us for this can’t miss episode with the former president and founder of SMISS (Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery) and world leader in Laser Endoscopic Spine Surgery (LESS) as we dive into the technologies and surgical approaches coming together to drive the future of spine care forward.

Learn more about Dr. Kim and Excel Spine Center:

• Website: https://excelspine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchollkim?igsh=MXY0eXdjMTZ1OWYxag==
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drchollkim
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drchollkim?_t=8nrGbhBiCNy&_r=1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchollkim
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chollkim/

Watch this episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and stay tuned for more enlightening conversations on The Spine Pod.

• YouTube:

  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcA8vODr8pDabWImOrHv3ZQ 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0DBzWfVt1ExQE0qTjhOERa?si=P2WUmAbFSmORUvd3PH0s5A&nd=1&dlsi=842b910ca7704b44
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-spine-pod/id1745442311
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/98fd41ad-75ee-4371-bb70-c5b274324a47/the-spine-pod?ref=dm_sh_MQE4wl3lyb6590VX9msjWdqkn
• iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-spine-pod-174320414/?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=true