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
Founder International Spine Biomarker and Tissue Bank
Board Member Scoliosis Research Society

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 2015-2025 Top Doctors lists in San Francisco Magazine, and among America’s Top Doctors for both neurosurgery and cancer from 2010 to 2025. 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 on the board of the Scoliosis Research Society and on the steering committee of the AO Knowledge Forum for Adult Spinal Deformity. He is also 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 and tumor and deformity fellowship program, 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 5 times, as well as the Moe award, the Goldstein award, and several 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. Furthermore he has published the largest series of three column spinal osteotomies for both the cervical spine and the thoracic and lumbar spine in the United States and Europe. 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. In 2024 he won both the clinical and basic science Hibbs awards for his work on DNA methylation and surgical risk and for the 8 year long term outcomes of adult scoliosis surgery.

While at UCSF, Dr Ames founded the largest adult spinal deformity biomarker and tissue bank in the world to discover novel strategies for risk stratification and outcome optimization for spinal surgery in the aging population. In addition, Dr Ames has pioneered the use of custom implant technologies for spinal deformity surgery and has over 1000 cases utilizing custom patient specific rods and custom interbody devices which have substantially improved realignment accuracy rates and decreased the rates of reoperation.

He is internationally recognized for his work in spine tumor, deformity, scoliosis and cervical kyphosis and has published over 800 peer-reviewed publications with an H index of 98. He has been the honored international guest lecturer of the German Spine Society, Swiss Spine society, Dutch Spine Society, Australian Spine Society, the Argentine Spine Society, Berlin Spine Society, European Cervical Spine Research Society, Brazilian Spine Society, the Japanese Orthopedic Association and the Japanese Neurosurgical Society, the Korean Spine Society, Koren Orthopedic Association and the Asian Pacific Spine Society. He has served as chairman for over 300 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

  • - - Pain Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: unknown, Sponsor Award ID: unknown
  • - - Telomere Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: unknown, Sponsor Award ID: unknown
  • - - PON Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: unknown, Sponsor Award ID: unknown
  • - - ROSE Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: unknown, Sponsor Award ID: unknown
  • - - Myers Briggs Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: unknown, Sponsor Award ID: unknown

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. Mikula AL, Hellwig S, Pennington Z, Semonche AM, Wozny TA, Scheer JK, Clark AJ, Deviren V, Ames CP. Patient-specific Rods Reduce the Rate of Mechanical Complications Following Adult Thoracolumbar Spinal Deformity Surgery. Oper Neurosurg. 2026 Feb 18. View on PubMed
  2. Protopsaltis T, Ezeonu S, Ani F, Lafage R, Soroceanu A, Gum J, Gupta M, Hamilton K, Smith JS, Eastlack R, Mundis G, Passias P, Kim HJ, Hostin R, Kebaish K, Diebo B, Daniels A, Klineberg E, Hart R, Shaffrey C, Lafage V, Schwab F, Bess S, Ames C, and the International Spine Study Group (ISSG). Analysis of Success Versus Poor Realignment in Patients with Cervical Deformity: In-Construct Angles Provide Novel Targets for Correction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2026 Feb 05. View on PubMed
  3. Fisher MR, Bartlett AM, Lafage R, Lafage V, Diebo B, Daniels AH, Hamilton DK, Jones KE, Than KD, Kim HJ, Chou D, Shaffrey CI, Schwab F, Ames CP, Smith JS, Bess S, Passias PG. Does baseline thoracolumbar shape influence patterns of cervical decompensation following surgical adult spinal deformity correction? J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 Jan 30; 1-6. View on PubMed
  4. Protopsaltis T, Galetta MS, Ani F, Ayres E, Eastlack RK, Smith JS, Hamilton DK, Daniels A, Klineberg E, Neuman B, Hart R, Bess S, Shaffrey C, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Ames C, International Spine Study Group (ISSG). When are Short Fusions Successful in Cervical Deformity Surgery? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2026 Jan 28. View on PubMed
  5. Singleton Q, Bhan R, Zhang Y, Diaz C, Kotzur T, Ames C, Gupta M, Kelly MP, Zhang B, Pallotta N, Neuman B. Epigenetic Age Versus Chronologic Age in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2026 Jan 21. View on PubMed
  6. Khalife M, Lafage R, Daniels AH, Diebo BG, Elysee J, Ames CP, Bess SR, Burton DC, Eastlack RK, Gupta MC, Hostin RA, Kebaish K, Kim HJ, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Okonkwo DO, Gille O, Guigui P, Ferrero E, Skalli W, Assi A, Vergari C, Shaffrey CI, Smith JS, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Spine Study Group I. Lower limb compensation in adult spinal deformity: can we identify different patterns? Eur Spine J. 2026 Jan 20. View on PubMed
  7. Hassan FM, Sardar ZM, Lenke LG, Mohanty S, Passias PG, Klineberg EO, Lafage V, Smith JS, Hamilton DK, Gum JL, Lafage R, Mullin J, Kelly MP, Diebo BG, Buell TJ, Kim HJ, Kebaish K, Eastlack R, Daniels AH, Mundis G, Protopsaltis TS, Gupta MC, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Ames CP, Bess S. Association between cell saver transfusion to estimated blood loss ratio and risk of pulmonary embolism after adult spinal deformity surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 Jan 16; 1-11. View on PubMed
  8. Mikula AL, Scheer JK, Kumar R, Turner JD, Mullin JP, Lafage R, Lafage V, Kebaish KM, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Daniels AH, Eastlack RK, Lewis SM, Protopsaltis TS, Soroceanu A, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Kelly MP, Lenke LG, Shaffrey CI, Bess S, Smith JS, Ames CP. Predictors of achieving Neck Disability Index minimum clinically important difference following cervical deformity surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2026 Jan 16; 1-8. View on PubMed
  9. Smith JS, Yen CP, Kent R, Berven S, Mundis GM, Robinson R, Nicolau RJ, Osorio JA, Asghar J, Fisher JR, Howell KM, Tantorski M, Blaskiewicz D, Mullin JP, Gjolaj J, Small J, Ames CP. Personalized Spine Surgery in Adult Deformity: Reoperation Rates and Mechanical Complications Following Customized Planning and Interbody Implant Use. Global Spine J. 2025 Dec 20; 21925682251409696. View on PubMed
  10. Mikula AL, Eastlack RK, Turner JD, Mullin JP, Scheer JK, Lafage R, Lafage V, Kebaish KM, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Daniels AH, Lewis SJ, Passias PG, Protopsaltis TS, Uribe JS, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Kelly MP, Smith JS, Lenke LG, Shaffrey CI, Bess S, Ames CP. Incidence of de novo sacroiliac joint pain following adult spinal deformity surgery with pelvic fixation. J Neurosurg Spine. 2025 Dec 12; 44(3):449-456. View on PubMed
  11. Ashjaee N, Semonche A, Mikula AL, Kiss L, Anderson DE, Ignasiak D, Brown SHM, Street J, Fels S, Ward SR, Ames C, Oxland TR. Subject-Specific Musculoskeletal Modeling: The Future of Predicting and Preventing Proximal Junctional Failure in Adult Spinal Deformity. JOR Spine. 2025 Dec; 8(4):e70142. View on PubMed
  12. Joseph K, Vogl S, Yahanda AT, Mikula AL, Ames CP, Goodwin ML, Sciubba DM, Molina CA. Column, Line-of-Sight, Margins, Ring: A Framework for Planning En Bloc Spondylectomies. Oper Neurosurg. 2025 Nov 24. View on PubMed
  13. Finoco M, Sivaganesan A, Lafage R, Passias PG, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Protopsaltis TS, Shaffrey CI, Bess S, Kim HJ, Ames CP, Schwab FJ, Smith JS, Lafage V. Are there distinct patterns of clinical deficits in cervical deformity? A discriminant analysis of health-related quality of life measures. J Neurosurg Spine. 2025 Nov 14; 44(2):242-252. View on PubMed
  14. Nayak P, Hostin R, Klineberg EO, Lafage R, Lizardi AC, Oreilly BT, Line B, Passias PG, Bess S, Kebaish K, Lenke LG, Shaffrey CI, Daniels AH, Diebo B, Ames C, Burton D, Lewis S, Eastlack RK, Mundis GM, Nunley P, Hart RA, Mullin J, Hamilton DK, Lafage V, Gupta M, Kelly M, Protopsaltis TS, Kim HJ, Schwab F, Smith JS, Gum JL, ISSG. Impact of Complications on DRG Assignment for Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Using the ISSG-AO Classification System. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2025 Nov 12. View on PubMed
  15. Bui TT, Joseph K, Yahanda AT, Findlay AR, Theologis AA, Yagi M, Pizones J, Walker C, Lord E, Eastlack RK, Pellisé F, Osorio JA, Jones K, van Hooff M, Blakemore L, Shah SA, Hu S, de Kleuver M, Kelly M, Ames C, Molina CA. General and Spine-Specific Sarcopenia in Adult Spinal Deformity: a Narrative Overview of Current Strengths and Limitations. Global Spine J. 2025 Oct 29; 21925682251393636. View on PubMed
  16. Khalifé M, Lafage R, Diebo B, Daniels A, Gupta M, Ames C, Bess S, Burton D, Kebaish K, Kelly M, Kim HJ, Klineberg E, Lenke L, Lewis S, Passias P, Shaffrey C, Smith JS, Schwab F, Lafage V, ISSG. The contribution of lower limbs to Pelvic Tilt: A baseline and postoperative full-body analysis. Gait Posture. 2026 Jan; 123:110013. View on PubMed
  17. Passias PG, Mir JM, Schoenfeld AJ, Yung A, Smith JS, Lafage V, Lafage R, Diebo B, Daniels AH, Line BG, Eastlack RK, Mundis GM, Kebaish KM, Mullin JP, Fessler RG, Mummaneni PV, Chou D, Hamilton DK, Lee SH, Soroceanu A, Scheer JK, Protopsaltis T, Kim HJ, Buell TJ, Hostin RA, Gupta MC, Klineberg EO, Riew KD, Burton DC, Schwab FJ, Bess S, Shaffrey CI, Ames CP, International Spine Study Group. Quantifying the Importance of Upper Cervical Extension Reserve in Adult Cervical Deformity Surgery and Its Impact on Baseline Presentation and Outcomes: Erratum. Neurosurgery. 2025 Dec 01; 97(6):e195. View on PubMed
  18. Durand WM, Kim A, Bess S, Burton D, Gum JL, Gupta MC, Hostin R, Kebaish KM, Kelly MP, Kim HJ, Klineberg E, Lafage V, Mundis G, Park P, Passias PG, Protopsaltis TS, Riew D, Schwab F, Shaffrey CI, Smith JS, Ames CP, Lee SH, International Spine Study Group. Does Coronal Plane Deformity Matter in Cervicothoracic Kyphosis Corrective Surgery? The Prevalence of Cervical Scoliosis and Influence on the Outcomes of Cervical Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2026 Mar 01; 51(5):337-342. View on PubMed
  19. Bess S, Line BG, Lafage V, Lafage R, Eastlack RK, Kelly M, Gupta MC, Mundis GM, Gum JL, Hostin R, Klineberg EO, Diebo BG, Lenke LG, Ames CP, Burton DC, Lewis SM, Daniels AH, Protopsaltis TS, Hamilton KD, Okonkwo D, Kebaish KM, Kim HJ, Passias PG, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Smith JS, and the International Spine Study Group (ISSG). PROMIS CAT Outperforms Legacy Measures and Demonstrates Patient Health Domain Normalization at Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up After Adult Spine Deformity Surgery. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2026 Apr 01; 51(7):451-467. View on PubMed
  20. Turner JD, Rudy RF, Mullin JP, Mikula AL, Carlson BB, Sheer JK, Lafage R, Lafage V, Kebaish KM, Klineberg EO, Mundis GM, Daniels AH, Diebo BG, Lewis SM, Passias PG, Protopsaltis TS, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Kelly MP, Smith JS, Lenke LG, Ames CP, Shaffrey CI, Okonkwo DO, Mummaneni PV, Bess S, Uribe JS, Eastlack RK, International Spine Study Group. Pre-operative Sacroiliac Joint Pain in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: Incidence, Associated Factors, and Rates of Resolution with Surgery from a Prospective Multicenter Database. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2025 Sep 22. View on PubMed

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