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

  • - - Telomere Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • - - Pain Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • - - ROSE Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • - - PON Study , Co-Investigator . Sponsor: , Sponsor Award ID:
  • - - 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. 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.  View on PubMed
  2. Lafage V, Mohamed A, Katchis C, Daniels A, Diebo B, Ames C, Bess S, Burton D, Eastlack R, Gupta M, Hostin R, Kebaish K, Kim HJ, Klineberg E, Mundis G, Okonkwo D, Shaffrey C, Smith JS, Lafage R, Schwab F, International Spine Study Group Beyond Kyphosis: Modes of Failure at The Proximal Junction in Adult Spinal Deformity.  View on PubMed
  3. Kelly MP, Lovecchio FC, Klineberg EO, Smith JS, Line B, Gum JL, Protopsaltis TS, Hamilton DK, Soroceanu A, Eastlack R, Nunley P, Kebaish KM, Lenke LG, Hostin RA, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Mundis GM, Ames CP, Hills J, Shaffrey CI, Passias PG, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Lafage R, Bess S, International Spine Study Group Conflating Disability, Frailty, and Multimorbidity in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients: Seeking a Continuous Measure of Vulnerability.  View on PubMed
  4. Nayak P, Hostin R, Gum JL, Line B, Bess S, Lenke LG, Lafage R, Smith JS, Diebo B, Lafage V, Klineberg E, Kim HJ, Passias P, Kebaish K, Eastlack R, Daniels AH, Mundis GM, Protopsaltis TS, Hamilton DK, Gupta M, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Ames CP, International Spine Study Group Surgical invasiveness, reoperation, and preoperative depression are predictive of super-utilization in adult spinal deformity surgery.  View on PubMed
  5. Diebo BG, Balmaceno-Criss M, Daher M, Lafage R, Singh M, Ames CP, Burton D, Lewis S, Klineberg EO, Eastlack R, Gupta M, Mundis G, Gum JL, Hamilton DK, Hostin R, Passias PG, Protopsaltis T, Kebaish K, Shaffrey C, Smith JS, Line B, Bess S, Kim HJ, Lenke LG, Schwab F, Lafage V, Daniels AH, International Spine Study Group (ISSG) Listhesis and Spinopelvic Inclination of Upper Instrumented Vertebra Region and the Implications on Proximal Junctional Kyphosis.  View on PubMed
  6. Passias PG, Onafowokan OO, Lafage R, Smith J, Hamilton KD, Schoenfeld AJ, Yung A, Fisher MR, Diebo B, Daniels AH, Eastlack R, Mundis G, Line B, Agarwal N, Uribe J, Wang M, Fessler R, Protopsaltis T, Okonkwo D, Kebaish K, Soroceanu A, Mummaneni P, Chou D, Kim HJ, Hostin R, Gupta M, Ames C, Schwab F, Shaffrey CI, Bess S, Lenke L, Lafage V, International Spine Study Group Are we Getting Better at Achieving Optimal Lumbar Segmental Sagittal Alignment in Complex Adult Spine Deformity Surgery?  View on PubMed
  7. Das A, Onafowokan O, De Jong J, Fisher M, Janjua MB, Lafage R, Diebo B, Daniels A, Protopsaltis T, Lau D, Smith J, Okonkwo D, Scheer J, Mikula A, Hostin R, Mummaneni P, Lee S, Buell T, Gupta M, Klineberg E, Kim HJ, Chou D, Ames C, Shaffrey C, Hamilton DK, Lafage V, Bess S, Passias PG Late to Extubate? Risk Factors and Associations for Delayed Extubation after Adult Cervical Deformity Corrective Surgery.  View on PubMed
  8. Bess S, Line BG, Passias PG, Lafage V, Lafage R, Kelly MP, Eastlack RK, Gupta MC, Mundis GM, Gum JL, Hamilton KD, Okonkwo D, Hostin R, Klineberg EO, Diebo BG, Lenke LG, Ames CP, Burton DC, Lewis SM, Daniels AH, Protopsaltis TS, Kebaish KM, Kim HJ, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Smith JS, International Spine Study Group (ISSG) Self-Image in Adult Spinal Deformity: The Critical Link Between Baseline Disability, Treatment Choice, and Surgical Satisfaction.  View on PubMed
  9. Mikula AL, Mazur-Hart DJ, Pennington Z, Semonche AM, Choy W, Wozny TA, Kim J, Nguyen TH, Scheer JK, Clark AJ, Deviren V, Ames CP Cervical deformity correction: comparison of neurological, radiographic, and patient-reported outcome measures by three-column osteotomy level.  View on PubMed
  10. Hassan FM, Lenke LG, Lewerenz E, 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 The role of posterior column osteotomies versus lumbar decompressions in improving lower extremity motor strength in adult spinal deformity patients with preoperative motor impairment.  View on PubMed
  11. Mazur-Hart DJ, Choy W, Chiu PY, Ramesh R, Kim J, Nguyen T, Lau D, Clark AJ, Deviren V, Ames CP Optimizing Rod Configuration Across Lumbar Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Site: Evolution of a High-Volume Deformity Practice.  View on PubMed
  12. Lim P, Clark AJ, Katz AD, Toobaie A, Deviren V, Ames CP, Theologis AA Impact of lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) level on global alignment and proportion (GAP) score in revision adult iatrogenic flatback spinal deformities.  View on PubMed
  13. Semonche A, Scheer JK, Osorio RC, Mikula AL, Wozny TA, Choy W, Nguyen TH, Kim J, Clark AJ, Ames CP Sarcopenia prevalence and relationship to frailty by measurement method in patients with adult spinal deformity.  View on PubMed
  14. Walker CT, Babadjouni R, Gibbs W, Lord E, Gausper A, Osorio J, Molina C, Jones K, van Hooff M, Theologis A, Yagi M, Blakemore L, Shah S, Hu S, de Kleuver M, Pizones J, Kelly M, Pellise F, Ames C, Eastlack R, Scoliosis Research Society Adult Spinal Deformity Task Force Senescence Committee Current Concepts on Imaging and Artificial Intelligence of Osteosarcopenia in the Aging Spine: A Review for Spinal Surgeons by the SRS Adult Spinal Deformity Task Force on Senescence.  View on PubMed
  15. Azad TD, Pignatelli A, Alesawy N, Gum JL, Passias P, Shaffrey CI, Smith J, Bess S, Hostin R, Nayak P, Daniels AH, Diebo B, Klineberg E, Hassanzadeh H, Ames CP, Kebaish KM, Jain A, ; on behalf of the International Spine Study Group Age and Baseline Disability Inform Tradeoffs in Cost Utility of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.  View on PubMed
  16. Azad TD, Li MW, Ping-Yeh C, Jones KE, Lord EL, Molina CA, Walker CT, Osorio JA, Pizones J, Theologis A, van Hooff M, Yagi M, Kelly MP, de Kleuver M, Hu SS, Shah SA, Pellisé F, Walston JD, Eastlack RK, Ames CP, Scoliosis Research Society Adult Spinal Deformity Task Force on Senescence Musculoskeletal biomarkers in health and disease: implications for the aging spine-a review for spinal surgeons by the SRS adult spinal deformity task force on senescence.  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.  View on PubMed
  18. Mir JM, Smith JS, Yung A, Onafowokan OO, Lafage R, Gum J, Line BG, Diebo B, Daniels AH, Hamilton DK, Agarwal N, Buell TJ, Scheer JK, Eastlack RK, Mullin JP, Mundis GM, Hosogane N, Yagi M, Anand N, Mummaneni PV, Chou D, Klineberg EO, Kebaish KM, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Lenke LG, Ames CP, Schwab FJ, Lafage V, Hostin RA, Bess S, Burton DC, Shaffrey CI, Passias PG Impact of thoracolumbar inflection point on outcomes and complications in adult spinal deformity.  View on PubMed
  19. Smith JS, Kelly MP, Yanik EL, Baldus CR, Pham V, Ben-Israel D, Lurie JD, Edwards C, Glassman SD, Lenke LG, Buchowski JM, Carreon LY, Crawford CH, Lewis SJ, Koski T, Lafage V, Gupta MC, Kim HJ, Ames CP, Bess S, Schwab FJ, Shaffrey CI, Bridwell KH Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment for Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis at 8-Year Follow-Up: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.  View on PubMed
  20. Semonche A, Scheer JK, Lui A, Burke JF, Jedwood C, Wang A, Wang EJ, Catalan T, Chang D, Belfield B, Thapar I, Safaee MM, Lau D, Fury M, Wozny T, Mikula AL, Mazur-Hart D, Theologis AA, Clark AJ, Ames CP Pain catastrophizing and frailty in adult spinal deformity patients with cognitive impairment.  View on PubMed

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