Why did you decide to become a spine surgeon?

In the third year of my residency, while I was an assistant surgeon for my teachers, I developed an admiration for precision and surgical skills, as well as the knowledge needed for the management of spine pathologies. That made me very interested in the subject and led me to get more involved. Resulting in a very long-lasting career in spine surgery.

 

Where did you get trained?

I studied my 4-year of Trauma and Orthopedics residency at the Mexican Social Security Institute, at the “Magdalena de las Salinas Hospital” in Mexico City. I got trained in spine surgery at this Hospital at the spinal trauma department.

 

Who inspired you?

It wasn’t only one person, but it was the whole spine surgery department teachers, their knowledge and their surgical skills and capability that led me to continue working and loving spine treatments and surgery.

 

Can you tell a bit in general about spine surgery in your country?

Spine surgery can be widely divided in two great groups in my country: public and private spine surgery. Public spine surgery has a wide influential variety in each different school, ranging from European or North American influence, with most common procedures still being done with open techniques, this due to the economic infrastructure that this kind of institution handle. On the other side, private practice spine surgery has very innovative and 1st world surgery techniques, with minimal invasive techniques such as endoscopic surgery and other techniques, being performed by very well experienced surgeons.

 

What are the biggest challenges in your job/what do you consider the biggest challenges for spine surgeons in your country?

In my opinion, the economic aspect is the biggest challenge in the development of a spine surgery management in my country.

 

What does be a member of AOSpine mean to you, how has AOSpine influenced your career?

The spine surgeon formation facilitated by AOSpine. Its academical knowledge has been the greatest influence in my career.

 

 

 

 

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Biography

 

Name: Gustavo Casas Martinez

Hospital: Hospital de Trauma y Ortopedia Magdalena de la Salinas, Mexico Cit

Department: Spine trauma surgery

Country and city: Mexico City, Mexico

Born: July 27, 1961. Mexico Cty, Mexico