Pittsburgh, January 15, 2008 -- Adam S. Kanter, MD, has joined the faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery as an assistant professor serving as director of the department's Minimally Invasive Spine Program and co-director of the William C. Welch Spinal Biomechanics Research Laboratory.

In addition to minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Kanter's specialty interests include endosurgical spinal techniques, spinal tumors, and experimental therapies for spinal cord regeneration.

In announcing Dr. Kanter's arrival, department chairman Amin Kassam, MD, stated, "Dr. Kanter has had a remarkable focus on the development of innovative and minimally invasive techniques in the management of complex spinal disease. He is a consummate surgeon that is exceptionally skilled, a wonderful teacher and perhaps most importantly, a compassionate physician.

"Dr. Kanter’s experience represents an exquisitely unique resource not only for our patients but for our colleagues in the Pennsylvania and tri-state region. He is pursuing ways of dealing with spinal disease with minimal disruption to the patient, optimizing and expediting recovery."

Dr. Kanter received his medical degree from the University of Vermont in 2001 and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Virginia in 2005. He recently completed further subspecialty fellowship training at the University of California in San Francisco and Auckland City Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Kanter has published numerous papers in refereed journals and authored several book chapters. His publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.