TREATMENT OF SPINAL DISORDERS
Honors and Awards

Recognitions from the major academic Spine Surgery Societies

1. Russell Hibbs Award for Best Basic Science Paper
SCOLIOSIS RESEARCH SOCIETY, Salt Lake City, UT 2008.
"Transient short-term local bone remodeling effects of high doses of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a novel preclinical interbody spine fusion model."
.
2. Elected to the AOA Emerging Leaders Program
AMERICAN ORTHOPAEDIC ASSOCIATION, Rosemont, IL 2006.
Director of Clinical Research and Spine Surgery Fellowship Applications, The Spine Institute of Santa Monica (now Cedars Sinai medical center).
.
3. New Investigator Recognition Award, Finalist
ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH SOCIETY, San Diego, CA 2007.
"3 and 4-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2, allograft, and dynamic plate: fusion rates, subsidence, radiographic incorporation, and complications."
.
4. Russell Hibbs Award for Best Basic Science Paper, Finalist
SCOLIOSIS RESEARCH SOCIETY, Monterey, CA 2006.
"Worst case scenario for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 mediated gene therapy in posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion."
.
5. Leon Wiltse Best Clinical Paper Award
SPINAL ARTHROPLASTY SOCIETY, New York, NY 2005.
"Lumbar total artificial disc replacement: A 2 to 3-year report from the 2 largest centers in the United States FDA clinical trial for the ProDisc-L prosthesis."
.
6. John Moe Best Basic Science Exhibit Award
SCOLIOSIS RESEARCH SOCIETY, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004.
"Controlling recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 stimulated bone growth using fibrin glue."
.
7. CSRS Basic Science Paper Award
CERVICAL SPINE RESEARCH SOCIETY, San Diego, CA 2005.
"Worst case scenario for rhBMP-2 mediated gene therapy in spinal fusion."
.
8. IMAST Top Scientific Poster Award
INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR ADVANCED SPINAL TECHNIQUES, Athens, Greece 2006.
"Dynamic posterior lumbar stabilization with the non-fusion motion-preserving Dynesys device."
.
9. CSRS Top Clinical Paper Award
CERVICAL SPINE RESEARCH SOCIETY, San Diego, CA 2005.
"Cervical artificial disc replacement: Longer-term (2-year) range of motion and clinical outcomes follow-up with the ProDisc-C prosthesis."
.
10. Thomas Whitecloud Basic Science Research Award, Finalist
INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR ADVANCED SPINAL TECHNIQUES, Athens, Greece 2006.
"Bone marrow enhances the performance of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2."
.
11. Thomas Whitecloud Basic Science Research Award, Finalist I
INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR ADVANCED SPINAL TECHNIQUES, Banff, Canada 2005.
"Cellular environments can alter the performance of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and induce pseudarthrosis."
.
12. Thomas Whitecloud Basic Science Research Award, Finalist II
INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR ADVANCED SPINAL TECHNIQUES, Banff, Canada 2006.
"Recovery of function following experimental lumbar spinal cord injury in rats with the use of growth factors."
.
13. American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Board Certified
In top 20 among national board examinees, 2003
.
14. UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
- Honors Thesis Program, 1998
- Recognized as Dean’s Scholar, 1998
- Nominated for Alpha Omega Alpha, Biomechanics Research Award, 1997
- UCLA Short Term Training Program Research Award, Orthopaedic Biomechanics, 1995
.
15. UCLA Graduate School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Most Outstanding Graduate Student Nominee, 1994
- University of California Chancellor’s Fellowship Recipient, 1992
- UC Departmental CAMP Fellowship for Engineering, 1993
- Hortense Fishbaugh Memorial Fellowship, 1993
.
16. Princeton University School of Engineering and Applied Science, Princeton, NJ
- Graduated with honors, 1992
- Thesis Honors – Sigma Chi National Research Honor Society, 1992
- Nominated to Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, 1991
- Dean’s List, Department of Aerospace Engineering
- McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Scholar, 1991
- US Air Force ROTC Scholarship, 1990
- Princeton University Scholarship, 1988 - 1992
.
17. Washington International School, Washington, DC
- Class Valedictorian, 1988
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- District of Columbia Mayor’s Award for Academic Distinction
- Headmaster’s Award and Best Science Student Award
- National Merit Scholar Finalist