Research Summary

Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery
Director of Spinal Deformity & Spine Tumor Surgery
Co-director, Spinal Surgery and UCSF Spine Center
Director, California Deformity Institute
Director, Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory

Dr. Ames is the director of spinal deformity and spine tumor surgery and co-director of the combined high risk spine service, the Neurospinal Disorders Program, and the UCSF Spine Center. He is board certified in neurosurgery. He was named to the 2015-2022 Top Doctors lists in San Francisco Magazine, and among America’s Top Doctors for both neurosurgery and cancer from 2010 to 2022. His tumor practice focuses on en bloc tumor resection for chordoma, chondrosarcoma, giant cell tumor, soft tissue sarcoma, sacral tumors, and other primary and metastatic tumors. While at UCSF, Dr. Ames developed and published the transpedicular approach to previously unresectable cervical and cervical thoracic tumors. He serves as Spine Section Lead editor for Operative Neurosurgery.

Dr. Ames serves as the UCSF site director for the International Spinal Deformity Study Group and the AO Scoli-Risk Study. He also directs the neurosurgical spinal deformity service, which performs over 200 cases per year for correction of scoliosis, kyphosis, flat back, and chin-on-chest deformity in ankylosing spondylitis. His research work in spinal deformity has won the prestigious Hibbs award three times, as well as the Moe award, the Goldstein award, and Whitecloud awards from the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr Ames developed and published the first ever classification for cervical spine deformity and cervical osteotomy with the international spine study group. He is known for developing many innovative concepts to allow safer treatment planning and risk characterization for complex spine surgery such as the adult deformity frailty index, the adult deformity invasiveness index and pioneering the use of Artificial Intelligence Decision Support Tools for Adult Scoliosis and Deformity Surgery. In 2019 Dr Ames published the first Machine Learning based Adult Scoliosis Classification. In 2021 Dr Ames won the Hibbs Award for the first ever use of telomeric aging to predict risk of spine surgery.

He is internationally recognized for his work in spine tumor, deformity, scoliosis and cervical kyphosis and has published over 600 peer-reviewed publications. He has been the honored international guest lecturer of the Australian Spine Society, the Argentine Spine Society, Berlin Spine Society, Brazilian Spine Society, the Japanese Orthopedic Association and the Japanese Neurosurgical Society, the Korean Spine Society, and the Asian Pacific Spine Society. He has served as chairman for over 200 national and international courses to teach advanced tumor and deformity techniques to neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons around the world and has been visiting professor at Hospital for Special Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, UCLA, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Research Funding

  • October 9, 2023 - October 9, 2023 - ROSE Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • October 9, 2023 - October 9, 2023 - Telomere Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • October 9, 2023 - October 9, 2023 - PON Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • October 9, 2023 - October 9, 2023 - Myers Briggs Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:

Education

Dartmouth College, BA, 1989
University of California, Los Angeles, MD, 1994
University of California, San Diego, 1994-1995, Surgical Internship
University of California, San Diego, 1995-2000, Resident, Neurological Surgery
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, 2001-2002, Spine Fellow

Honors & Awards

  • 2017
    Scoliosis Research Society GOLDSTEIN Award
  • 2015 - 2017
    Top Doctors in Neurosurgery - San Francisco Magazine
  • 2015
    North American Spine Society Value Award
  • 2010 -2016
    Americaʻs Top Surgeons, Castle Connolly
  • 2010 -2016
    Americaʻs Top Doctors for Cancer, Castle Connolly
  • 2011 -2012
    US News and World Report Top 1% Neurosurgeons in Country
  • 2001
    University of California, San Diego, Chairmanʻs Prize
  • 1994
    University of California, Los Angeles, CAAlpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
  • 1989
    Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, Cum Laude

Selected Publications

  1. Wick JB, Blandino A, Smith JS, Line BG, Lafage V, Lafage R, Kim HJ, Passias PG, Gum JL, Kebaish KM, Eastlack RK, Daniels A, Mundis G, Hostin R, Protopsaltis T, Hamilton DK, Kelly MP, Gupta M, Hart RA, Schwab FJ, Burton DC, Ames CP, Lenke LG, Shaffrey CI, Bess S, Klineberg E, International Spine Study Group. The ISSG-AO Complication Intervention Score, but Not Major/Minor Designation, is Correlated With Length of Stay Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Global Spine J. 2023 Sep 19; 21925682231202782.  View on PubMed
  2. Passias PG, Ahmad W, Dave P, Lafage R, Lafage V, Mir J, Klineberg EO, Kabeish KM, Gum JL, Line BG, Hart R, Burton D, Smith JS, Ames CP, Shaffrey CI, Schwab F, Hostin R, Buell T, Hamilton DK, Bess S. Economic burden of nonoperative treatment of adult spinal deformity. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 Sep 15; 1-6.  View on PubMed
  3. Ani F, Ayres EW, Soroceanu A, Mundis GM, Smith JS, Gum JL, Daniels AH, Klineberg EO, Ames CP, Bess S, Shaffrey CI, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Protopsaltis TS, International Spine Study Group. Functional Alignment Within the Fusion in Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) Improves Outcomes and Minimizes Mechanical Failures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Sep 12.  View on PubMed
  4. Bess S, Line BG, Nunley P, Ames C, Burton D, Mundis G, Eastlack R, Hart R, Gupta M, Klineberg E, Kim HJ, Kelly M, Hostin R, Kebaish K, Lafage V, Lafage R, Schwab F, Shaffrey C, Smith JS, International Spine Study Group. Postoperative Discharge to Acute Rehabilitation or Skilled Nursing Facility Compared to Home Does Not Reduce Hospital Readmissions, Return to Surgery or Improve Outcomes Following Adult Spine Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Sep 11.  View on PubMed
  5. Passias PG, Williamson TK, Mir JM, Smith JS, Lafage V, Lafage R, Line B, Daniels AH, Gum JL, Schoenfeld AJ, Hamilton DK, Soroceanu A, Scheer JK, Eastlack R, Mundis GM, Diebo B, Kebaish KM, Hostin RA, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Klineberg EO, Ames CP, Hart RA, Burton DC, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Bess S. Are We Focused on the Wrong Early Postoperative Quality Metrics? Optimal Realignment Outweighs Perioperative Risk in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. J Clin Med. 2023 Aug 26; 12(17).  View on PubMed
  6. Ye J, Gupta S, Farooqi AS, Yin T, Soroceanu A, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Kelly MP, Kebaish K, Hostin R, Gum JL, Smith JS, Shaffrey CI, Scheer JK, Protopsaltis TS, Passias PG, Klineberg EO, Kim HJ, Hart RA, Hamilton DK, Ames CP, Gupta MC. Predictive role of global spinopelvic alignment and upper instrumented vertebra level in symptomatic proximal junctional kyphosis in adult spinal deformity. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 Aug 04; 1-11.  View on PubMed
  7. Daniels AH, Alsoof D, McDonald CL, Zhang AS, Diebo BG, Eberson CP, Kuris EO, Lavelle W, Ames CP, Shaffrey CI, Hart RA. Longitudinal Assessment of Modern Spine Surgery Training: 10-Year Follow-up of a Nationwide Survey of Residency and Spine Fellowship Program Directors. JB JS Open Access. 2023 Jul-Sep; 8(3).  View on PubMed
  8. Passias PG, Tretiakov PS, Smith JS, Lafage R, Diebo B, Scheer JK, Eastlack RK, Daniels AH, Klineberg EO, Khabeish KM, Mundis GM, Turner JD, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Schwab F, Bess S, Lafage V, Ames CP, Shaffrey CI. Are we improving in the optimization of surgery for high-risk adult cervical spine deformity patients over time? J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 Jul 28; 1-8.  View on PubMed
  9. Passias PG, Ahmad W, Williamson TK, Lebovic J, Kebaish K, Lafage R, Lafage V, Line B, Schoenfeld AJ, Diebo BG, Klineberg EO, Kim HJ, Ames CP, Daniels AH, Smith JS, Shaffrey CI, Burton DC, Hart RA, Bess S, Schwab FJ, Gupta MC, International Spine Study Group. Efficacy of Varying Surgical Approaches on Achieving Optimal Alignment in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Jul 25.  View on PubMed
  10. Protopsaltis TS, Ani F, Soroceanu A, Lafage R, Kim HJ, Balouch E, Norris Z, Smith JS, Daniels AH, Klineberg EO, Ames CP, Hart R, Bess S, Shaffrey CI, Schwab FJ, Lenke LG, Lafage V, Gupta MC. Clinical outcomes and proximal junctional failure in adult spinal deformity patients corrected to normative alignment versus functional alignment. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 Jul 21; 1-8.  View on PubMed
  11. Diebo BG, Tataryn Z, Alsoof D, Lafage R, Hart RA, Passias PG, Ames CP, Scheer JK, Lewis SJ, Shaffrey CI, Burton DC, Deviren V, Line BG, Soroceanu A, Hamilton DK, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Kim HJ, Gum JL, Smith JS, Uribe JS, Kelly MP, Kebaish KM, Gupta MC, Nunley PD, Eastlack RK, Hostin R, Protopsaltis TS, Lenke LG, Schwab FJ, Bess S, Lafage V, Daniels AH,
    the International Spine Study Group
    . Height Gain Following Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2023 09 20; 105(18):1410-1419.  View on PubMed
  12. Passfall L, Imbo B, Lafage V, Lafage R, Smith JS, Line B, Schoenfeld AJ, Protopsaltis T, Daniels AH, Kebaish KM, Gum JL, Koller H, Hamilton DK, Hostin R, Gupta M, Anand N, Ames CP, Hart R, Burton D, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Klineberg EO, Kim HJ, Bess S, Passias PG. The impact of baseline cervical malalignment on the development of proximal junctional kyphosis following surgical correction of thoracolumbar adult spinal deformity. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 Jul 21; 1-9.  View on PubMed
  13. Passias PG, Pierce KE, Dave P, Lafage R, Lafage V, Schoenfeld AJ, Line B, Uribe J, Hostin R, Daniels A, Hart R, Burton D, Kim HJ, Mundis GM, Eastlack R, Diebo BG, Gum JL, Shaffrey C, Schwab F, Ames CP, Smith JS, Bess S, Klineberg E, Gupta MC, Hamilton DK, International Spine Study Group. When Not to Operate in Spinal Deformity: Identifying Subsets of Patients with Simultaneous Clinical Deterioration, Major Complications, and Reoperation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Jul 20.  View on PubMed
  14. Passias PG, Ahmad W, Tretiakov PS, Lafage R, Lafage V, Schoenfeld AJ, Line B, Daniels A, Mir JM, Gupta M, Mundis G, Eastlack R, Nunley P, Hamilton DK, Hostin R, Hart R, Burton DC, Shaffrey C, Schwab F, Ames C, Smith JS, Bess S, Klineberg EO, International Spine Study Group. Critical Analysis of Radiographic and Patient Reported Outcomes Following Anterior/Posterior Staged vs. Same Day Surgery in Patients Undergoing Identical Corrective Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Jul 13.  View on PubMed
  15. Habboub G, Berven S, Ames C, Peterson T, Mroz T. Real-World Implementation of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning for Managing Surgical Spine Patients at 2 Academic Health Care Systems. Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Jun; 17(S1):S11-S17.  View on PubMed
  16. Ye J, Gupta S, Farooqi AS, Yin TC, Soroceanu A, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Kelly MP, Kebaish K, Hostin R, Gum JL, Smith JS, Shaffrey CI, Scheer JK, Protopsaltis TS, Passias PG, Klineberg EO, Kim HJ, Hart RA, Hamilton DK, Ames CP, Gupta MC. Use of multiple rods and proximal junctional kyphosis in adult spinal deformity surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 09 01; 39(3):320-328.  View on PubMed
  17. Tretiakov PS, Lafage R, Smith JS, Line BG, Diebo BG, Daniels AH, Gum J, Protopsaltis T, Hamilton DK, Soroceanu A, Scheer JK, Eastlack RK, Mundis G, Nunley PD, Klineberg EO, Kebaish K, Lewis S, Lenke L, Hostin R, Gupta MC, Ames CP, Hart RA, Burton D, Shaffrey CI, Schwab F, Bess S, Kim HJ, Lafage V, Passias PG. Calibration of a comprehensive predictive model for the development of proximal junctional kyphosis and failure in adult spinal deformity patients with consideration of contemporary goals and techniques. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 09 01; 39(3):311-319.  View on PubMed
  18. Ames C, Berven S. Editors' Introduction: Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Analytics, Present and Future. Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Jun; 17(S1):S1-S2.  View on PubMed
  19. Gupta A, Oh IY, Kim S, Marks MC, Payne PRO, Ames CP, Pellise F, Pahys JM, Fletcher ND, Newton PO, Kelly MP, Harms Study Group. Machine Learning for Benchmarking Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery Outcomes. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2023 Aug 15; 48(16):1138-1147.  View on PubMed
  20. Semonche A, Scheer JK, Shah VN, Fung M, Tan LA, Chou D, Mummaneni PV, Berven SH, Ames CP, Deviren V, Theologis AA, Clark AJ. Duration of neurological deficit and outcomes in the surgical treatment of spinal coccidioidomycosis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2023 09 01; 39(3):419-426.  View on PubMed

Go to UCSF Profiles, powered by CTSI