2024 Baptist Health Spine Symposium
The Baptist Health Spine Symposium will present state-of-the-art, evidence-based spine care, utilizing clinical trial data from the last 18 months. Symposium attendees will benefit from short, goal-directed lectures from experts across multiple subspecialties, with the opportunity for direct feedback. We encourage all interested healthcare professionals who treat patients with common spinal disorders to join us for a full morning of interactive lectures and lively panel discussions.
Agenda
7:30 a.m. | Registration & Exhibits |
7:55 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions Robert J. Rothrock, M.D. Melissa M. Guanche, M.D. |
Evaluation and Conservative Treatment Options for Spine Pain Moderator: Melissa M. Guanche, M.D. | |
8:00 a.m. | The Importance of Core Strengthening to Prevent Low Back Pain Radomir Kosanovic, M.D. |
8:10 a.m. | Pain in the Butt - What Is It? Richard Morgan, D.O. |
8:20 a.m. | Electrodiagnosis in Lumbar Radiculopathy Jose Andres Restrepo, M.D. |
8:30 a.m. | Steroid Use for Spine Pain - The Evidence Melissa M. Guanche, M.D. |
8:40 a.m. | Spine Procedures: Epidurals, Facet Injections and Neurotomies Armando Alvarez, M.D. |
8:50 a.m. | Indications & Evidence for Spinal Epidural Steroid Injections Justin M. Thottam, M.D. |
9:00 a.m. | Panel with Questions & Answers |
9:20 a.m. | Basivertebral Nerve Ablation: Treatment for Vertebrogenic Back Pain- An Evidence Based Approach Jose Mena, M.D. |
9:30 a.m. | Ankylosing Spondylitis German Ojeda-Correal, M.D. |
9:40 a.m. | Pain in the SCHNECK Ronald B. Tolchin, D.O. |
9:50 a.m. | Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Akshay Goyal, M.D. |
10:00 a.m. | Genicular Nerve Ablation Eduardo Icaza, M.D. |
10:10 a.m. | Panel with Questions & Answers |
10:25 a.m. | Break & Visit Exhibits |
Surgical Management Moderator: Robert J. Rothrock, M.D. | |
10:45 a.m. | Mythbusters: Spine Surgery Robert J. Rothrock, M.D. |
10:55 a.m. | Isthmic Spondylolisthesis Michael E. Gomez, M.D. |
11:05 a.m. | Effects of Prolonged Lumbar Symptom Duration on Surgical Outcomes Raul A. Vasquez, M.D. |
11:15 a.m. | Cervical Laminoplasty for Compressive Myelopathy Jason Liounakos, M.D. |
11:25 a.m. | Vertebral Body Augmentation for Osteoporotic Fracture Justin M. Sporrer, M.D. |
11:35 a.m. | Intramedullay Spinal Cord Tumors Vitaly Siomin, M.D. |
11:45 a.m. | Panel with Questions & Answers |
12:00 noon | Adjourn |
NOTE: Schedule subject to change.
Symposium Directors

Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Director, Interventional Spine
Miami Neuroscience Institute Spine Center
Baptist Health Surgery Center at Kendall and South Miami
Baptist and South Miami Hospitals
Miami, Florida

Spinal Neurosurgeon and Director, Spinal Oncology
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist and South Miami Hospitals
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Miami, Florida
Faculty

Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Miami, Florida

Director, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist, Doctors and South Miami Hospitals
Miami, Florida

Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Miami, Florida

Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida

Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Miami, Florida

Director, Outpatient Spine Surgery
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida

Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida

Director, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Miami Neuroscience Institute Spine Center
Baptist Health Medical Group
Miami, Florida

Medical Director, Outpatient Rehabilitation
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
Miami Neuroscience Institute Spine Center
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist and South Miami Hospitals
Miami, Florida

Neurosurgeon and Medical Director, Brain Tumor Program
Director, Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
Co-Director, Skull Base Surgery
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Miami Cancer Institute
Baptist Hospital of Miami
Miami, Florida

Neurosurgeon and Director, Functional Neurosurgery
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist, Doctors and South Miami Hospitals
Miami, Florida

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Interventional Spine Physician
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health South Florida
Miami, Florida

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Medical Director, Miami Neuroscience Institute Spine Center
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist Hospital of Miami
Miami, Florida

Director, Complex Spine Neurosurgery
Miami Neuroscience Institute
Baptist Health Medical Group
Baptist Health Quality Network
Baptist, Doctors and South Miami Hospitals
Miami, Florida
Disclosures And Resolution Of Conflict Of InterestDisclosure Policy and Disclaimer
Accreditation
Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.
Baptist Health South Florida designates this live activity for a maximum of 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity has been approved for a total of 3.75 credit hours, CE Broker Course #20-1136398, by the Florida Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and by the Florida Council of Physician Assistants.
This activity has also been approved for 3.5 credit hours for Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and Respiratory Therapists and 3.75 for Pharmacists and techs. Baptist Health South Florida CE Broker Provider #50-182.
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) accepts CEs accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCB for further guidelines.
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ claimed by physicians attending live events certified and organized in the United States for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ can be claimed through the agreement on mutual recognition of credits between UEMS and AMA, considered as being equal to the European Continuous Medical Education Credits (ECMEC©) granted by the UEMS. One AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is equivalent to one (1) hour of European EACCME Credit (ECMEC©). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.
Disclaimer
Baptist Health South Florida presents this CME activity for use by healthcare professionals for educational purposes only. Opinions, perspectives and information presented by the faculty represent their ideas and views, and participants should carefully consider all available scientific data before acting on knowledge gained through this activity. Additionally, participants should consult the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approved uses prior to prescribing medications or utilizing medical devices discussed in this activity.
While Baptist Health makes reasonable efforts to ensure that accurate information is presented, no warranty, expressed or implied, is offered. Participants should rely on their own clinical judgment, knowledge and experience before applying information acquired to their professional use.
Available Credit
- 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 3.75 General certificate of attendance
- 3.50 Nurse Practitioners
- 3.50 Florida Board of Nursing
- 3.75 Florida Board of Pharmacy
- 3.50 Florida Board of Respiratory Therapy
Price
⚠ | COVID-19 Protocols Notice for All Attendees, Exhibitors and VendorsSelf-screening is required for all in-person attendees. If you have any symptoms of respiratory illness, you must refrain from attending in person. Please be sure to read our COVID Protocols for all in-person education prior to registering for this activity. |