The PITT Department of Neurosurgery made a notable impact at the 23rd Annual AO Spine North America Fellows Forum. Several members of our Spine Computational Outcomes Learning Institute (SCOLI) participated. The event was held in Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada this past weekend.
Key Presentations and Research
SCOLI was well represented at the AO Spine North America Fellows Forum by Drs. D. Kojo Hamilton, Nitin Agarwal, and Ricardo “Ricky” Fernandez-de Thomas, who joined colleagues from across the neurosurgical community to share groundbreaking research and clinical insights.
Dr. Agarwal presented his innovative research on “Investigating the Efficacy of Romosozumab in Augmenting Bone Density & Muscle Mass to Enhance the Outcomes of Spine Surgery.” This cutting-edge work explores new pharmacological approaches to improving surgical outcomes by addressing bone density and muscle mass—two critical factors in spine surgery success and recovery.
Dr. Hamilton delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “Is It Post Operative Deficit? or ‘Par for the Course‘” drawing from his extensive experience at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His work continues to advance our understanding of post-operative outcomes in complex spine surgeries.
The forum featured several other notable presentations, including an “International Expert Delphi Consensus on Defining the Optimal Surgical Composite Outcome in Primary Malignant Bone Tumors of the Spine” led by Dr. Mark A. MacLean and colleagues from the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor.
Advancing the Field Through Collaboration
Another significant presentation explored the role of Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPT) in surgical fields, highlighting both the potential applications and current limitations of this emerging technology in patient care. The discussion examined how AI tools might assist with answering patient questions while addressing concerns regarding medical accuracy and liability.
Research posters presented at the forum included work on lumbar and thoracic spine procedures, with analysis of length of stay and other clinical outcomes—representing the kind of evidence-based approach that defines SCOLI’s mission.
Building on SCOLI’s Reputation
The strong showing by our SCOLI faculty at this prestigious international forum underscores the University of Pittsburgh’s continued leadership in neurosurgical education, research, and clinical excellence. By participating in events like the AO SNA Fellows Forum, our team continues to share knowledge, build collaborative relationships, and bring cutting-edge techniques and insights back to benefit our patients.
For more information about SCOLI and our faculty’s ongoing research, please visit our main website or contact us directly.