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Anuj Patel, M.D.
Harvard
Top Doc 2024

Anuj Patel, M.D.

Harvard Fellowship Trained Board Certified Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Anuj Patel, M.D. is a fellowship-trained board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery who provides spine surgical care to patients in the Atlanta Metro Area. Dr. Patel specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) techniques and performs all spinal surgeries including anterior and posterior cervical decompression and fusion, cervical disc replacement, cervical laminoplasty, lumbar microdiscectomy and laminectomy, and thoracic and lumbar anterior, lateral, and posterior fusions, all through minimally invasive approaches. He treats all spinal conditions of the neck and back including degenerative, traumatic, oncologic, and deformity conditions.

Dr. Patel grew up in the northeast Alabama and Atlanta areas. He is passionate about helping the patients in his local community where he was raised. He returns to the southeast to bring novel and innovate techniques to the Atlanta Area that allow for less post-operative pain, decreased soft tissue injury, less blood loss, and faster recovery times.

Dr. Patel completed his medical school at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL where he was awarded the prestigious Charlotte H. and Samuel Eichold Scholarship and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta, GA where he was elected the chief resident of the residency program. He then completed his orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at Harvard University in Boston, MA. Dr. Patel’s training at Emory and Harvard is unparalleled and he has trained under the word leaders in the field of spine surgery at both institutions.

While in Boston, Dr. Patel also completed a specialized sub-fellowship at The Microendoscopic Spine Institute in Boston where he specialized in minimally invasive spine techniques including endoscopic spine procedures and microdiscectomy.

Dr. Patel has been published in multiple international spinal journals including The Spine Journal, Clinical Spine, and Global Spine on the topic of minimally invasive spine surgery. He has presented at international spine meetings including NASS, CSRS, SRS, and the AAOS and won the best clinical presentation at CSRS in 2016.

"The spine is a delicate body system that requires a thoughtful and comprehensive treatment approach. We aim to provide the highest quality spinal care using innovative and effective techniques in a caring, nurturing, and efficient environment." – Dr. Patel

Areas of Interest

  • Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery (MIS)
  • Adult Degenerative Spinal Surgery of the Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine
  • Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery, including Scoliosis
  • Traumatic Spinal Injuries
  • Motion Preservation Technology / Total Disc Arthroplasty
  • Spinal Tumors / Spinal Cord Tumors 
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Spine Surgery, including Scoliosis

Education

Fellowship: Harvard University Combined Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts, 2019, Surgery of the Spine Fellowship

Sub-fellowship: Microendoscopic Spine Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, 2019, MIS Spine Sub-fellowship

Residency: Emory University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atlanta, Georgia, 2018, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency

Medical Degree: University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama, 2013, Doctor of Medicine

Undergraduate Degree: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 2009, Bachelor of Science, ACS Accreditation in Biology

Memberships & Recognition

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
  • North American Spine Society
  • Atlanta Orthopedic Society
  • Georgia Orthopedic Society

Publications/Research

Dr. Patel has been published in multiple spinal journals including The Spine Journal, Clinical Spine, and Global Spine on the topic of minimally invasive spine surgery. He has presented at international spine meetings including NASS, CSRS, SRS, and the AAOS and won the best clinical presentation at CSRS in 2016.

Clinical Spine Surgery

Patel A, Runner R, Bellamy JT, Rhee J. A reproducible and reliable localization technique for lumbar spine surgery that minimizes unintended-level exposure and wrong-level surgery. Spine J. 2019 May;19(5):773-780. PMID 30529787

Seminars in Spine Surgery

Patel A, Cha T. Indirect Decompression of Lumbar Stenosis. Seminars in Spine Surgery. 2019 Sep. Volume 31 (3), 100712

Spine Journal

Rhee J, Shi J, Cyriac M, Kim J, Zhou F, Easley K, Patel A. The P-mJOA: A Patient-derived, Self-reported Outcome Instrument for Evaluating Cervical Myelopathy: Comparison with the mJOA. Clin Spine Surg. 2018; 31(2): E115-E120. PMID 29088009. Winner of Best Clinical Abstract, CSRS, 2016.

Gupta A, Upadhyaya S, Patel A, Fogel H, Cha T, Schwab J, Bono C, Hershman H. DEXA Sensitivity Analysis in Patients with Adult Spinal Deformity. Spine J. 2019 Sep 1. S1529-9430(19)30957-X. [Epub ahead of print] PMID 31479779

Community Involvement

In his spare time, Dr. Patel enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Ashley, and his dogs. He enjoys being on the lake and loves water skiing, wakeboarding, and fishing. He loves playing sports, especially soccer which he played in college at Georgetown. He loves to travel and has been involved in orthopedic service projects in the United States and internationally in Cape Town, South Africa.

Hospital Affiliations

  • WellStar Paulding
  • WellStar Kennestone
  • Piedmont Atlanta
  • Member of the Piedmont Clinic

Presentations

  • The Pa-Mjoa: A Patient-Derived, Self Reported Outcome Instrument For Measuring Myelopathy - Comparison With The Mjoa
    • Winner – Best Clinical Poster Award - Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting Toronto, Canada December, 2016
  • The Use of Autologous Free Vascularized Fibula Grafts in Reconstruction of the Mobile Spine Following Tumor Resection: Surgical Technique and Outcomes
    • Podium Presentation – IMAST 2019 26th International Meeting Amsterdam, The Netherlands July, 2019
  • Hand2Hand: Establishing a Domestic Service Project for the Touching Hands Project
    • Podium Presentation – American Society for Surgery of the Hand Annual Meeting Boston, MA September, 2o18
  • A Reproducible and Reliable Localization Technique for Lumbar Spine Surgery that Minimizes Unintended Level Exposure and Wrong level Surgery
    • Emory Kelly Day Research Society Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA
  • Risk factors of Lumbar Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis
    • Podium Presentation – North American Spine Society Annual Meeting Orlando, FL October, 2017
  • Observed Patterns of Cervical Radiculopathy: How often do they differ from standard distribution?
    • Podium Presentation – North American Spine Society Annual Meeting Orlando, FL October, 2017
  • Risk factors of Lumbar Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis.
    • Podium Presentation – Southern Orthopaedic Society Annual Meeting Hilton Head, SC June, 2017
  • Lumbar Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: MRI Quantification and association with Risk Factors.
    • Podium Presentation - Society for Skeletal Radiology Annual Meeting San Diego, CA March, 2017
  • Lumbar Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: MRI Quantification and association with Risk Factors.
    • Poster Presentation - Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting San Diego, CA March, 2017
  • Risk factors of Lumbar Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis.
    • Emory Kelly Day Research Society Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA June, 2016
  • Open Reduction Internal Fixation with Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty for Posterior Column Posterior Wall Acetabular Fracture.
    • Podium Presentation - Atlanta Trauma Symposium Atlanta, GA May, 2015

Honors & Awards

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award received by Dr. Patel in recognition for his excellence in clinical care.
    • Castle Connolly
  • Orthopaedic Surgery Chief Administrative Resident - July, 2017 – June, 2018
    • Emory University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Atlanta, GA
  • Best Clinical Poster Award - December, 2016
    • Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting
  • Charlotte H. and Samuel Eichold Scholarship, University of South Alabama College of Medicine - 2009-2013
      Full scholarship given annually in recognition of scholarly achievement and service to community
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, University of South Alabama College of Medicine - August, 2012
  • Dean’s List, Georgetown University - August, 2007-May, 2009

Anuj Patel, M.D.

Anuj Patel, M.D.
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • North American Spine Society
  • Cobb County Medical Society
  • Georgia Orthopaedic Society
  • Piedmont Clinic
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  • 
BB&T Atlanta Open
  • Clayton State
  • Atlanta Gladiators
  • Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
  • Atlanta Football Last Committee
  • Peach Bowl
  • Castle Connolly
  • Top Doc 2024 in Atlanta