Ankylosing Spondylitis Doctors in New York | WCM Center for Comprehensive Spine Care

Ankylosing Spondylitis Doctors

Primary care physicians are often the first to see patients with symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis; however, if ankylosing spondylitis is suspected it is important to be evaluated at an advanced spine center as soon as possible, since early and expert intervention can keep the condition from getting worse.

The spine team at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center — expert spine surgeons along with their team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists — provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with ankylosing spondylitis and many other conditions of the spine. Patients receive a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.

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Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques

We generally begin with nonsurgical, non-invasive options (see Diagnosing and Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis). For patients who do need surgery, we offer the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques using state-of-the-art equipment. Patients recover faster, have less pain, and get back to their normal daily activities sooner than they could with older surgical methods.

Surgical Faculty

Our surgical faculty includes some of the very best world-renowned specialists:

Roger Härtl, M.D.

Roger Härtl, M.D., named as one of the top 50 spine surgeons in the United States, is Co-director of the Weill Cornell Spine Center and Director of Spinal Surgery and Neurotrauma at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center. He’s also the official neurosurgeon for the New York Giants. Dr. Härtl’s clinical and research expertise is in simple and complex spine surgery, neurotrauma, and neurocritical care medicine. Dr. Härtl believes that surgery for ankylosing spondylitis should be a part of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, and he works very closely with other specialists in a team effort to achieve the best outcome for his patients. (Read more about Dr. Härtl.)

Eric Elowitz, M.D.

Eric Elowitz, M.D., is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive spinal surgery. Routinely named to national lists of top doctors, Dr. Elowitz is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art care with individual attention to each patient’s unique needs. Dr. Elowitz has developed a special expertise in new XLIF (lateral-access) procedures. (Read more about Dr. Elowitz.)

Kai-Ming Fu, M.D., Ph.D.

Kai-Ming Fu, M.D., Ph.D., obtained his undergraduate degrees from Stanford University and his medical and graduate training in the M.D./Ph.D. program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Fu specializes in minimal access surgery as well as having advanced training in reconstructive, deformity, and oncological spine surgery. (Read more about Dr. Fu.)

Ali Baaj, M.D.

Dr. Ali Baaj is a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in spinal surgery, with advanced training and expertise in spinal oncology and complex reconstructive surgery for spinal deformity. He is accomplished in both minimally invasive spinal surgery and open complex spine surgery, having had formal training in both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery. (Read more about Dr. Baaj)

Other Specialists

At the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, patients with ankylosing spondylitis may also be seen by:

Physiatrists

These rehabilitation physicians specialize in treating injuries or illnesses that affect movement. They manage non-surgical approaches to back pain, including the pain of ankylosing spondylitis.

Physical Therapists

These specialists have expertise in a wide range of non-surgical techniques to help prevent or overcome pain and build strength to help prevent future injuries. A physical therapist may work with a patient as an alternative to surgery, or after surgery to help rebuild strength.

Pain Management Specialists

Advanced pain management techniques allow many patients to avoid surgery altogether. Our specialists work with patients to develop an individual treatment plan that can get them back to their daily lives, without pain and without surgery. Pain management specialists can also help patients recover more quickly, or with less pain, after surgery.

Award-Winning Team

The spine surgeons at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center are fortunate to be part of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital team. The 2013-14 “America’s Best Hospitals” ranking in US News and World Report placed NewYork-Presbyterian as the #1 hospital in New York, and our Neurology and Neurosurgery program ranks as the #1 program in New York (and #3 nationwide). Together, the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center team is the best choice for your back.