Spine Surgery Program | Neurosurgery | Michigan Medicine

The University of Michigan Spine Surgery Program provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive, patient-centered services to individuals affected by spinal disorders that may require surgical intervention. Patients referred to the spine surgery program may suffer from significant pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling due to degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, spinal tumor, or traumatic injury.

We offer a broad spectrum of advanced therapeutic options performed by experienced, fellowship trained experts in the field of spinal surgery. Surgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery also work closely with colleagues in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Anesthesiology Pain and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to ensure that each patient receives optimal surgical or medical therapy for their spine problem.

Surgical treatment options may range from outpatient minimally invasive procedures such as discectomy, laminotomy, kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty to minimally invasive fusion and artificial spinal disk surgery in addition to more complex surgeries including multi-level instrumentation and fusion for traumatic fracture stabilization, spinal deformity correction, and resection of tumors. Each therapy is custom-tailored to suit the individual patient’s specific condition. With such a broad array of treatment options, the program takes pride in its ability to provide comprehensive care in a compassionate and informed manner.

Physicians/Providers

Jacob Joseph, M.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery

Clinical Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine

Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

Department Profile

Dr. Joseph’s clinical interests are in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, and spinal cord injury. He is also dedicated to the treatment of patients with spinal disorders requiring complex spinal reconstructive surgery or minimally invasive spinal surgery. His research focuses on understanding the biomechanics of traumatic brain injury in sports, diagnosing concussion using novel biomarkers and imaging techniques, and developing new therapeutics for victims of TBI and spinal cord injury. Dr. Joseph serves as an Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant for the National Football League and is committed to the prevention of brain and spine injuries in athletes.

Osama Kashlan, M.D., M.P.H.

Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery

Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery

Department Profile

Dr. Kashlan attended the Georgia Institute of Technology to study chemical and biomolecular engineering. He subsequently obtained his medical degree from Emory University. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Michigan before returning to Emory University for further training in spine surgery. While a resident at U of M, Dr. Kashlan also obtained a master of public health degree in epidemiology. After completing his spine fellowship, Dr. Kashlan returned to U of M where his practice focuses on all aspects of spinal disease with a special interest in minimally-invasive spinal surgery.

Emily Levin, M.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery

Department Profile

Dr. Levin was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. Graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 2002, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with her Doctor of Medicine. Following completion of her surgical internship and residency in Neurosurgery at the University of Michigan, she completed a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Levin has a particular interest in the use of technology to improve outcomes and the patient experience during neurosurgical procedures. She has training in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and treats patients with spinal stenosis, claudication, radiculopathy, and spondylolisthesis.

Parag G. Patil, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery

Associate Professor, Neurology

Associate Professor, Anesthesiology

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

Department Profile

A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Patil obtained a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT. After graduation, he was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to study philosophy and economics at Magdalen College, Oxford University in the UK. Upon returning to the U.S., Dr. Patil pursued combined medical and doctoral studies in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University as a fellow of the Medical Scientist Training Program of the NIH/NIGMS. Dr. Patil completed his residency at Duke University. Following residency, Dr. Patil obtained additional clinical expertise through a fellowship in functional and deep brain stimulation surgery at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Patil’s clinical interests include brain tumors, epilepsy surgery, hydrocephalus, neurovascular disorders, spasticity surgery, neurosurgery for pain, peripheral nerve surgery, radiosurgery, spine surgery, and movement disorders surgery. His research interests include brain-machine interface, neuroprosthetic devices, intraoperative electrophysiology, motor and cognitive human systems, neuroscience mechanisms of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), and clinical outcomes in functional neurosurgery.

Thomas Schermerhorn, M.D.

Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery

Department Profile

Dr. Schermerhorn was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. He received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. After serving in the U.S. Army Infantry, Dr. Schermerhorn received his medical degree from Wayne State University. He then completed a neurological surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Schermerhorn obtained sub-specialty training in complex spine surgery at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

In addition to a comprehensive adult neurosurgical practice, Dr. Schermerhorn's clinical focus is on the surgical treatment of degenerative and traumatic spinal disorders and spinal oncology.

Yamaan Saadeh, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery

Director, University of Michigan Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Program

734-936-7010

Nicholas Szerlip, M.D.

Director, Spine Oncology

Clinical Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery

Department Profile

Dr. Nick Szerlip is originally from New York, just north of Manhattan, but lived many places around the country while growing up. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Columbia University and then attended Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he obtained his medical degree. Dr. Szerlip completed his residency training in at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He completed additional fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he examined the origins of cancer cells and effective drug delivery to treat cancer, followed by a fellowship in neurosurgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Clinically, Dr. Szerlip specializes in surgical and radiation treatment of spine tumors. His goal at the University of Michigan is to continue to build a clinical and translational spine oncology program that will enable the clinic and the laboratory to work together as partners to rapidly advance care for spine cancer. This model will foster synergy among physicians and researchers, affording patients access to the latest clinical trials and outstanding, compassionate care; it will also accelerate new therapies for future patients.