About the Spine Program

 

Introduction

The University of Toronto has a rich history in spinal care and the 2008-2009 academic year has marked a time of program strengthening aimed towards enhancing the functional integration of clinical care, research, teaching, and educational activities. The University of Toronto Spine Program implements a framework that provides an opportunity for broader trans-disciplinary academia spanning the fundamental sciences through to the clinic. The academic spine calendar includes both ongoing and new initiatives driven by the Programs' vision of "innovation and excellence in the delivery of spine care with a unique collaborative program of clinical expertise, research, teaching, and education."

The Spine Program is co-governed by the Divisions of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery at the U of T Department of Surgery. Under the Co-Directorship of Dr Michael Fehlings (Professor, Neurosurgery) and Dr Albert Yee (Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery) the program brings together abroad interdisciplinary array of clinicians, researchers, and educators focused on disorders of the spine and spinal cord. The Program is unique and draws from about 30 interdisciplinary faculty with areas of interest spanning the continuum from bench to bedside to community to include: Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Medical Biophysics, Medical Imaging, Medicine, Molecular Genetics, Pediatrics, Physiatry, Injury Prevention, Pain Management, and a broad variety of relevant research and disciplines.

Driven by the guidelines which have risen from the program’s 2010 Strategic Planning and 2007 External Review, the program continues boundless efforts in collaboration with the local and external spine communities to maximize the impact in education and teaching, clinical care and research, as well as in advocacy and global outreach.

The U of T Spine Program has been recognized by external reviewers as  "the premier research and educational program for spine in the world”.

UofT Spine Program About Us.pdf 

Tree of Spine