12th World Congress on
Spine and Spinal Disorders

Dr. DePalma serves as the President and Medical Director of Virginia iSpine Physicians, where he focuses on interventional treatments for spinal conditions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, graduating magna cum laude, along with a certificate in Foundations of Medicine from the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh, earned in 1995. In 1999, he obtained his medical degree with cum laude honors from the Medical University of South Carolina. He later completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at The Ohio State University Medical Center

Innovative Approaches to Intervertebral Disc Repair

Dr. Aladine A. Elsamadicy, MD, is a resident physician specializing in neurosurgery, currently based in New Haven, Connecticut. He is affiliated with Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he is gaining extensive clinical and surgical training in the management of complex spine disorders. Dr. Elsamadicy is committed to advancing patient outcomes through both clinical excellence and research in spinal care.

Spine Surgery and Innovation in Neurosurgical Techniques

Prof. Dr. Ali Fahir Ozer earned his medical degree from Atatürk University School of Medicine in 1976 and completed his neurosurgery residency at Hacettepe University in 1982. He achieved the rank of associate professor in 1988 and was promoted to full professor in 1994. He briefly led the Department of Neurosurgery at Kocaeli University before joining the American Hospital in 1995, where he continues to practice. He is also a faculty member at Koç University School of Medicine. In 2018, he was appointed Adjunct Professor in Bioengineering and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Toledo. Prof. Dr. Ozer is known for his research on spinal biomechanics and dynamic stabilization, and he holds patents for innovative spinal surgical devices.

Spinal Biomechanics and Dynamic Stabilization Techniques

Dr. Bruce McCormack is a San Francisco-based neurosurgeon with a distinguished career in spine surgery. He graduated from Brown University in 1982 and received his medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1986. Following a six-year neurosurgery residency at NYU, he completed advanced fellowships in spinal surgery at both the University of Florida and the University of New Mexico. In 1994, he joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as an Assistant Professor in Neurosurgery and later served as Director of the Spine Neurosurgery Service. A prolific contributor to academic literature, Dr. McCormack has authored numerous publications in spine surgery. He established his private practice in 1998 and is also the founder of two medical device startups, with ongoing involvement as an angel investor in health technology ventures

Neurosurgical Management of Degenerative Disc Disease

Dr. Nils D. Haberland is a highly experienced German neurosurgeon specializing in spine and brain disorders, with over 33 years in the field. Renowned for his innovative work, he was among the earliest to integrate spinal navigation with intraoperative CT imaging, a technique he introduced internationally in 2000 in the United States. A trailblazer in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS), Dr. Haberland also ranks among Germany’s pioneers in utilizing robotic systems for brain surgery. He is the creator of the Spongioplasty technique, designed to stabilize vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis or other pathological conditions.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Advanced Spinal Navigation Techniques