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Frank P. Cammisa Jr., MD

Spine Surgery
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About Dr. Cammisa

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Dr. Frank Cammisa, Chief Emeritus of HSS Spine at Hospital for Special Surgery, specializes in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders. His areas of expertise include minimally invasive spinal surgery, computer-assisted spinal surgery, microsurgery, athletic spinal injuries and motion-preserving procedures, including artificial disc replacement.

In addition to treating patients as an Attending Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Cammisa is a Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. He has long been active in working with professional, scholastic and recreational athletes. Many professional athletes including members of the Giants and Jets football teams and Knicks basketball team are among the pro-athletes who consult with Dr. Cammisa for expert diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, if necessary. He is also the spine consultant for the National Hockey League Player Association.

In surveys of his peers, Dr. Cammisa is consistently named as one of the best doctors in his field. He is listed among a select group of surgeons in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" issue year after year.  He is also named in the Castle Connolly Medical Guide, How To Find The Best Doctors in New York and is among the physicians named as America's Top Doctors.

Dr. Cammisa is often called on by the media for his expertise and he has appeared in countless print and broadcast reports. He was recognized by New York magazine as one of "12 Doctors Who are Reinventing Medicineā€ in an article focusing on his research in artificial discs to relieve debilitating back pain.

Dr. Cammisa engages in research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of complex spine conditions. Recognized as a pioneer in the use of new surgical techniques, procedures and modalities, he often participates as the principal investigator in major research studies. His areas of investigation include computer-assisted image guidance, demineralized bone matrix, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and the artificial disc as an alternative to spinal fusion for debilitating back pain.

He has received a number of prestigious research grants. He was one of the lead investigators of a seven-year, multi-center national study funded by a $21 million dollar grant by the National Institutes of Health. The study was one of the first to directly compare the effectiveness of surgical versus nonsurgical approaches to treat herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Dr. Cammisa has published over 130 research articles and manuscripts in dozens of prestigious medical journals, including The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). One such study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was a multi-center trial to compare treatments for degenerative spondylolisthesis, which is caused when a vertebra slips out of alignment. The study followed 601 patients in 11 states over two years to compare surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Dr. Cammisa and his colleagues around the country found that surgery was twice as effective as nonsurgical approaches in reducing pain and restoring function.

As a co-author of more than 30 chapters in medical textbooks, Dr. Cammisa has held numerous editorial appointments, and is a reviewer for several respected medical journals. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, and has lectured both nationally and internationally. 

Dr. Cammisa created The National Spinal Research Foundation and has been affiliated with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Dr. Cammisa is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also a member of such distinguished medical societies as the North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, Scoliosis Research Society, International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine, American Spinal Injury Association and Spine Arthroplasty Society.

For more information, visit www.spinecareofny.com

Profile Video

Departments

Specialized Centers

Integrated Spine Research Program
Performing Arts Medicine Collaborative

Special Expertise

Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Robotic-Assisted Spinal Surgery
Microsurgery
Athletic Spinal Injuries
Motion Preservation
Biologics - Disc Regeneration
Cervical and Lumbar Herniated Disc
Cervical Stenosis
Lumbar Stenosis
Spondylolisthesis

Patient Stories

Videos

Patient ratings for Dr. Cammisa

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Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Senior Scientist, Clinical Research, Hospital for Special Surgery
Chief Emeritus, Spine Surgical Service, Hospital for Special Surgery
Professor of Clinical Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Consultant in Spinal Surgery, Spinal Cord Injury Service, Burke Rehabilitation Center
Medical Staff, New York Football Giants 
Consultant, NHL Players Association

Affiliations

North American Spine Society
International College of Surgeons
Fellow American College of Surgeons
Cervical Spine Research Society
International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine

Certification

National Board of Medical Examiners
American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, ABOS

Awards

Castle Connolly Top Doctor - 20 Years
Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors 2003ā€“2020
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2002-2022
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2002-2016, 2021-2022
New York Magazine Top Minimally Invasive Doctor 2002
Guide to Americaā€™s Top Surgeons, Consumer Research Council of America, 2002- Present
Nancy Kane Bischoff Award for Teaching, 2006
International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Sofamor Danek Paper Award, 2006
Spinal Research Award, Eastern Orthopaedic Association
Fellow Scholar Award, Eastern Orthopaedic Association    
International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques, Whitecloud Award Finalist-Best Basic Science Paper, 2011 
Eastern Orthopaedic Association, Founders Award, 2012
Spine Across the Sea, Best Poster Award, 2012
Cervical Spine Research Society ā€“ Asia Pacific Section, Best Podium Award, 2013
Cervical Spine Research Society ā€“ European Section, Best Poster Award, 2013
European Society of Anesthesiology, Best Abstract Award, 2013
North American Spine Society Outstanding Paper Award for Surgical Science, 2013
Spine Across the Sea, Best Papers, 2015
American Orthopaedic Association, North American Traveling Fellowship
North American Spine Society, Best Paper Measurement of Surgical Outcomes, 2015
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Best Poster: Spine, 2016
International Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (IAO), The Leading Physicians of the World, Publication, 2016
National Consumer Advisory Board, America's Best Physicians, 2017
Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Whoā€™s Who, 2017
Lumbar Spine Research Society, Best Paper Award, 2018
Il Leone di San Marco Award in Medicine, Italian Heritage and Culture Committee, 2019
 

Education

Medical: College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York
Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, New York
The Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, General Surgery, New York
Fellowship: University of Miami, Jackson-Memorial Medical Center, Fellow in Spinal Surgery

State Licensure

Languages

English

For My Patients

Publications by Dr. Cammisa

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

Research

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

Below are the healthcare industry relationships reported by Dr. Cammisa as of April 06, 2023.

  • 4WEB Medical- Advisory Board, Consultant, Ownership Interest, Research Support
  • Accelus-Consultant; Royalties
  • Camber Spine- Research Support
  • Centinel Spine, Inc. (Formerly Cell Medica) - Research Support
  • Synexis, LLC-  Consultant
  • HealthPoint Capital Partners, LP- Ownership Interest; Scientific Advisory Board
  • ISPH II, LLC- Ownership Interest
  • ISPH 3 Holdings, LLC (related to Integrity Implants)- Ownership Interest
  • Ivy Healthcare Capital Partners LLC - Ownership Interest
  • Medical Device Partners III, LLC- Expanding Innovations- Ownership Interest
  • NuVasive, Inc. - Consultant, Research Support; Royalties
  • Orthobond Corporation- Ownership Interest; Advisory Board
  • Spine Biopharma, LLC- Consultant, Ownership Interest
  • Tissue Differentiation Intelligence, LLC- Ownership Interest
  • VBVP VI, LLC (Partnership is in Centinel)- Ownership Interest
  • VBVP X, LLC (formerly Centinel Spine, Inc.)- Ownership Interest
  • Woven Orthopedic Technologies- Advisory Board; Ownership Interest

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.

Patients should feel free to ask their HSS physicians questions about these relationships.

Dr. Cammisa in the News