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Although patient care is the primary focus of the Center, research and education are integral dimensions of the Twin Cities Spine Center. The Center is one of the outgrowths of the pioneering work of John H. Moe, MD, regarded as the founder of modern scoliosis research and treatment. His work led to the development of the Scoliosis Research Society and the first comprehensive textbook on spinal deformities. Today the physicians and staff of Twin Cities Spine Center continue to build on Dr. Moe's groundbreaking legacy and continue to recognize the importance of research and education in patient care.
The focus of the Research Department is to explore and substantiate operative and non-operative treatments, diagnostic methods and the natural history of spine problems, specifically related to clinical, radiological and surgical outcomes. The patient's opinion on treatment results is incorporated into many studies through the use of questionnaires concentrated on functionality, pain and satisfaction. Patient participation often results in expanding the information base available for specific diseases or treatment options. This knowledge provides physicians and future patients with the most appropriate expectations possible. The results of just a few of these studies are available within this website.
Results of research enhances spine care within the center as well as outside of the organization through the publication of study results in prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals, such as Spine and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. To date, the surgeons of the center collectively have published more than 500 medical papers.
Confidentiality Statement: Information provided for research purposes is strictly confidential and is treated like any other part of the patient's medical record. Name and identity are never disclosed in studies.
The third emphasis at the Center is education. The Center has two formal programs dedicated to education - the Fellowship Program and the Visiting Physician Program. In addition to being active lecturers both nationally and internationally, all of the surgeons hold teaching positions with the University of Minnesota.
The organization's Fellowship Program is one of only 12 programs for training spinal surgeons approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Board eligible orthopedic surgeons enter the Fellowship Program to obtain an intensive and multi-faceted submersion into the field of spinal pathology. The program encompasses the study of spinal deformities, fractures, tumors, infections, degenerative and metabolic diseases. All areas of the spine - cervical, thoracic and lumbar - are covered as well as both surgical and non-surgical treatments.
An Visiting Physician Program has been in place and highly active at the Center since the early 1970's. Foreign physicians routinely visit for a time-period between one and twelve months to observe clinical and surgical practices in order to enhance their own patient care upon return to their home country. The visitors observe surgery and attend clinics. At no time is the visitor allowed to become involved in direct patient care. Physicians who visit for a period of six months or more are invited to participate in a research project. Recent visiting physicians have come from Brazil, Korea, China, England, Spain, Turkey, Japan, Chile, Thailand and Germany.
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