Dean Chou Appointed Chief of Spine Division in Neurological Surgery

Dean Chou, MD, a renowned neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques and complex spine surgery, has been named chief of the spine division in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Chou, professor of neurological surgery, also was named vice chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery. He will lead the neurosurgical spine program at Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital.

Before joining Columbia, Chou was a professor of neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery and associate director of the Neurospine Center in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco. In his new role, he will work alongside surgical and nonsurgical spine care specialists from Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine to enhance the world-class spine care provided by Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian.

“Dr. Chou is an internationally recognized neurological spine surgeon with a wealth of experience in treating both routine and complex spine conditions,” says Sander Connolly, MD, chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at VP&S and neurosurgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “We are thrilled to have his depth of knowledge to build upon our reputation as one of the leading spine centers in the country.”

With his expertise in scoliosis, spinal deformity, spinal tumors, and degenerative conditions of the spine, Chou will focus on further enhancing the acclaimed Och Spine program. A specialist in minimally invasive surgery treatments for adult scoliosis and spinal deformities, he has published numerous papers showing that minimally invasive surgery for scoliosis and deformity surgery may result in quicker recovery times and less blood loss than open surgery. He is a member of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of the International Spine Study Group and is an expert in traditional open surgery for scoliosis and other spine conditions.

In addition to treating patients, Chou will focus on conducting spine clinical research and further strengthening the collaboration among the Och Spine care teams.

Chou attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, and completed his residency in neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in complex spinal surgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and has been elected by his peers for 10 consecutive years to the list of “Best Doctors in America.”