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About Dr. Kazarian
Dr. Gregory S. Kazarian is a fellowship-trained Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Instructor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. His expertise spans the full spectrum of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar conditions, including disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, cervical myelopathy, and spinal deformity.
Dr. Kazarian is highly experienced in the full spectrum of surgical techniques of the spine, from ultra-minimally invasive endoscopic procedures and disc arthroplasty to complex spinal reconstruction and deformity correction. As a result, his treatment philosophy is not limited to any single technique or approach. This breadth of surgical techniques allows him to select the treatment that truly addresses each individual patient's pathology and goals. He applies a conservative-first philosophy, reserving surgery for patients who have not responded to non-operative management.
Dr. Kazarian completed the Spine Surgery Fellowship at HSS, the No. 1 orthopedic training hospital in the United States, with subspecialty training in complex and minimally invasive techniques. Additionally, he has completed the Arthrex Ultra-MIS Endoscopic Surgical Fellowship with advanced training in the latest endoscopic spine techniques. He completed the Orthopaedic Residency Program at HSS and earned his medical degree from the prestigious Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, where he was honored with the Robert Carter Award for outstanding academic and research performance. He studied molecular biology at Princeton University.
Dr. Kazarian is actively involved in research and innovation to improve surgical techniques and patient outcomes. His research has yielded hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, podium and poster presentations at national and international spine conferences, and book chapters. He has received research funding from the HSS Surgeon-in-Chief Research Grant, the Cervical Spine Research Society, and the Louis and Rachel Rudin Foundation, and has been recognized with first-place presentation awards at the AO Spine Fellow Forum and the Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting.
Special Expertise
Cervical
Cervical Disc Herniation
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical Stenosis
Cervical Myelopathy
Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease
Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical Instability
Lumbar
Lumbar Disc Herniation
Sciatica
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Neurogenic Claudication
Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolysis / Pars Defects
Lumbar Spondylosis
Other
Sports-Related Spine Injuries
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome / Revision Spine Surgery
Vertebral Compression Fractures
Procedures
Lumbar Procedures
Lumbar Discectomy
MIS Tubular Microdiscectomy
Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy
Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy
Lumbar Decompression
MIS Tubular Laminotomy / Decompression
Biportal Endoscopic Decompression
MIS Lumbar Fusion
MIS Robotic-Assisted Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF / LLIF)
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
Lumbar Disc Arthroplasty/Replacement
Cervical Procedures
Cervical Disc Arthroplasty (CDR)
Posterior Cervical Laminoforaminotomy (LF)
MIS Posterior Cervical LF
Endoscopic Posterior Cervical LF
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Cervical Laminoplasty
Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion
Other Procedures
Kyphoplasty / Vertebroplasty
Pars Repair (Spondylolysis)
Patient ratings for Dr. Kazarian
Insurance
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Credentials
Appointments
Attending Spine Surgeon, Hospital for Special Surgery
Attending, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Instructor, Weill Cornell Medical College
Affiliations
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
AO Spine North America
Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS) — Candidate Member
Certifications
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) — Part I Certified
Awards
AO Spine Fellow Forum, 1st Place Podium Presentation, 2026
Education
Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 2016–2020
Internship: Hospital for Special Surgery, 2020–2021
Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery, 2021–2025
Fellowship: Hospital for Special Surgery, 2025–2026
State Licensure
New York
Languages
EnglishFor My Patients
Publications by Dr. Kazarian
Selected Presentations
Kazarian, G.S., Mok, J.K., Dekhne, M., Owusu-Sarpong, S., Hirase, T., Morse, K.W., Nayagam, V., Lewis, T., Giattino, N., Farmer, J., Huang, R., Kim, H.J., Iyer, S., Dowdell, J., Albert, T., Qureshi, S. Endplate Undercoverage Predicts Location and Severity of Heterotopic Ossification After Cervical Disc Arthroplasty. 24th Annual AO SNA Fellows Forum, March 26–29, 2026, Banff, Canada. Presenter.
Kazarian, G.S., Kishan, A., Khela, H.S., Manriquez, A.H., Singh, M., Lebovic, J., Dekhne, M.S., Mok, J.K., Schoenfeld, A.J., Passias, P.G., Kim, H.J., Daniels, A.H., Qureshi, S.A., Iyer, S. Preoperative Risk Stratification by Comorbidity for Revision After Single-Level Degenerative Spinal Fusion: A Nationwide U.S. Cohort Study Among Over 399,000 Patients (2010–2023). Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons 2026, Napa Valley, CA, Apr 8–12.
Kazarian, G.S., Heyer, J.H., Thakur, A., Groisser, B.N., Du, J., Cunningham, M., Widmann, R.F., Qureshi, S., Dowdell, J. Accuracy of Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement Using Robotic Assisted Navigation: A Cadaveric Study. Cervical Spine Research Society 2024, Chicago, IL. Presenter.
Kazarian, G.S., Mok, J.K., Jordan, Y., Johnson, M., Hirase, T., Lovecchio, F., Kim, H.J. Perioperative Infection Prophylaxis with Vancomycin is a Significant Risk Factor for Deep Surgical Site Infection in Spine Surgery. International Society of Spine Surgery (ISASS) Annual Meeting, April 2024, Miami, FL
Kazarian, G.S., Steinhaus, M.E., Iyer, S., Lebrun, D., Lovecchio, F., Ross, T., Albert, T.J., Lebl, D., Huang, R., Sandhu, H., Rawlins, B., Schwab, F., Lafage, V., Kim, H.J. Baseline NDI and PROMIS PF predict postoperative return to normal in cervical spine surgery. North American Spine Society, Boston, MA, September 29-October 2, 2021. Presenter.
Halayqeh, S., Wang, Z., Simon, C.Z., Kwas, C., Asada, T., Tuma, O., Kazarian, G.S., Kaidi, A., Albert, T.J., Farmer, , Huang, R.C., Sandhu, H., Kim, H.J., Lovecchio, F.C., Dowdell, J.E., Qureshi, S.A., Iyer, S. Return to Activities Following Two-Level Cervical Disc Replacement Versus Fusion: A Matched Comparative Study. SMISS 2025, Las Vegas, NV, Oct 3–6.
Simon, C.Z., Omurzakov, A.M., Kwas, C., Kazarian, G.S., Zhang, J., Asada, T., Qureshi, S., Iyer, S. A Novel Joint-Awareness Outcome Tool Differentiates Cervical Disc Replacement from Fusion: The Forgotten Spine Surgery Score–Cervical (FS3-C). SMISS 2025, Las Vegas, NV, Oct 3–6.
Kazarian, G.S., Jordan, Y., Mok, J., Kaidi, A., Durbas, A., Subramanian, T., Simon, C., Allen, M.R.J., Araghi, K., Samuel, J.T., Kwas, C., Hirase, T., Kim, H.J., Lovecchio, F. The Impact of Bone Graft Volume on Risk of Pseudarthrosis, Screw Loosening, and Rod Breakage in Surgical Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity. Spine Summit 2025, Tampa, FL. Presenter.
Kim, H.J., Morse, K., Kazarian, G.S., Mazzucco, M., Steinhaus, M.E., Gruskay, J., Owusu-Sarpong, S., Lovecchio, F. Topical Tranexamic in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery (TTADS): A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Controlled Trial. Spine Summit 2025, Tampa, FL. Presenter.
Outcomes of One Versus Two level MIS Decompression with Adjacent Level Stenosis. Subramanian, T., Hirase, T., Kaidi, A., Kazarian, G.S., Signh, S., Araghi, K., Boddapati, V., Song, J., Simon, C., Mai, E., Korsun, M., Vaishnav, A.,
Zhang, J., Kwas, C., Allen, M., Kim, E., Heuer, A., Singh, N., Zhao, E., Tuma, O., Lovecchio, F., Sheha, E., Dowdell, J., Qureshi, S., Iyer, S. SMISS, September 2024, Las Vegas, NV
Research
Dr. Kazarian's research focuses on improving surgical techniques and outcomes in spine surgery, with particular emphasis on cervical disc arthroplasty, robotic-assisted spine surgery, and minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques. His work in cervical disc arthroplasty has examined the role of implant positioning, endplate coverage, and heterotopic ossification in long-term outcomes following disc replacement, with the goal of optimizing implant selection and surgical technique to improve durability and motion preservation. In the area of robotic-assisted surgery, he has published cadaveric and clinical studies validating the accuracy and safety of robotic pedicle screw placement in both the cervical and thoracolumbar spine. He has also contributed to outcomes research in adult spinal deformity, minimally invasive lumbar fusion, and endoscopic spine surgery.
Dr. Kazarian's research has been supported by grants from Hospital for Special Surgery Surgeon-in-Chief Research Fund, the Cervical Spine Research Society, and the Louis and Rachel Rudin Foundation. He has been recognized with first-place presentation awards at the AO Spine Fellow Forum and the Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting.
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.
As of , Dr. Kazarian reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.
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.