Han Jo Kim, MD

Dr. Han Jo Kim is an Attending Spine Surgeon and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery specializing in Cervical Spine and Scoliosis Surgery. After his residency at HSS, he completed a spine fellowship in adult and pediatric spinal deformity and scoliosis surgery followed by a sub-specialized fellowship in cervical spine surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis. Currently serving as the Director of the Complex Spine and Scoliosis Center, Spine Fellowship Director and Chair of the Fellowship Committee at HSS.  He currently holds the David B. Levine Endowed Chair in Scoliosis at HSS.

Dr. Kim believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care. Working with internists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, radiologists, physiatrists and pediatricians, all avenues for alternatives to surgery are explored before surgery is considered. With individual patient goals in mind, if surgery is necessary, he will perform spine surgery utilizing the most effective and safe techniques tailored for each person in an effort to minimize complications, recovery time and optimize outcomes. He has a particular interest in surgery relating to adult and pediatric spinal deformity and scoliosis. With regard to the cervical spine, he specializes in cervical deformities and motion preserving (disc replacement, laminoplasty) procedures.  He has also spear headed enhanced recovery pathways developed at HSS to allow patients to have even the most complex spine surgery with faster recovery times and minimized complication rates, all in an effort to optimize outcomes.

Dr. Kim has dedicated his time as a volunteer surgeon at the FOCOS hospital in Ghana, West Africa where he has treated some of the most rare and complex spinal deformities in pediatric and adult patients, performing hundreds of successful operations.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the FOCOS Hospital.

Dr. Kim has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles and more than 65 book chapters and He is actively involved in the education of residents, fellows, and physician assistants.  He has trained over 50 fellows and residents in his tenure as the Fellowship Director at HSS and has mentored over 35 international research fellows from 12 different countries.  Through the AO Spine Foundation, he has been invited by international leaders in spine surgery to author surgical reference guides that teach other spine surgeons performing scoliosis surgery. He was also selected by the Scoliosis Research Society for the prestigious Edgar G. Dawson Fellowship in 2013 and subsequently was selected for the Scoliosis Research Society Traveling Fellowship in 2017 and has also served as the IMAST Chair in 2020. He is also an active member of the Cervical Spine Research Society and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Scoliosis Research Society. *

His research Interests include topics in Adult Spinal Deformity, Pediatric Scoliosis, Cervical Spine Pathologies and the integration of genomics into patient specific treatment plans with the used of machined-learning and Artificial Intelligence.  He is particularly interested in optimizing efficiencies in the patient care continuum to improve the patient experience and optimize outcomes.