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Affiliated Provider
Affiliated providers provide medical care at an NYU Langone location or a private practice, and are not employed by NYU Langone Health.

Michael L. Smith, MD

Affiliated Provider
Affiliated providers provide medical care at an NYU Langone location or a private practice, and are not employed by NYU Langone Health.
  • Specialties: Spine Surgery, Neurosurgery
  • Treats: Adults
  • Language: English
  • Phone: 888-636-7840
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From a young age, I was interested in and had an aptitude for science. I considered a career in scientific research, but ultimately chose medicine because I wanted to work with people and help improve their lives. I have always been drawn to structural challenges—as a child, I helped my father with house and car repairs, and later I worked as a bike mechanic—so surgery was a natural calling. To me, neurosurgery is the most interesting type of surgery, and it allows me to greatly enhance the lives of my patients.

At NYU Langone’s Spine Center, I treat adults who have all types of spinal conditions, from the skull down to the pelvis. I have particular expertise in providing care to adults who have complex spinal deformities including scoliosis, kyphosis (also known as flat-back syndrome), and dropped-head syndrome.

Many of my patients have common degenerative spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and spondylolisthesis. At our Spine Center, experts in neurology, pain management, and physiatry are often able to provide people with nonsurgical treatments. When these less-invasive approaches are not sufficient to manage the patient’s symptoms, we discuss potential surgical options. Spinal tumors and spinal traumas can also sometimes be managed without surgery but require a spinal neurosurgeon’s evaluation. Our aim is to provide treatments that meet the individual needs of each patient.

At NYU Langone, we take a collaborative approach to medicine. When I joined the institution in 2009, I reached out to my new colleagues in orthopedic spine surgery, and I have worked closely with them ever since. We often perform co-surgery together and conduct research jointly in our neurosurgery–orthopedics research group. I also partner with specialists in plastic surgery and otolaryngology when patients need their expertise for a particular spinal problem. Our team approach improves workflow, efficiency, and patient safety.

I've been recognized in Super Doctors as a “New York Super Doctor,” and in 2014 was named one of “35 Spine Surgeons Under 40 to Know” in Becker’s Spine Review.


Conditions and Treatments

Conditions
  • ankylosing spondylitis
  • back pain
  • brain injury
  • cervical myelopathy
  • cervical spine fracture
  • degenerative disc disease
  • herniated disc
  • injury of the lumbar spine
  • kyphosis with lordosis
  • neck pain
  • neck problem
  • nerve root injury
  • shoulder pain
  • spina bifida
  • spinal arthritis
  • spinal cord injury
  • spinal cord tumor
  • spinal deformity
  • spinal injury
  • spinal stenosis
  • spine compression fractures
  • spine infection
  • spondyloarthropathy
  • spondylolisthesis
  • spondylolysis
  • spondylosis
  • syringomyelia
Treatments
  • disc repair
  • minimally invasive surgery
  • neck surgery
  • spinal cord procedures
  • spinal cord reconstruction
  • spinal fusion

Board Certifications
  • American Board of Neurological Surgery - Neurological Surgery, 2010
Education and Training
  • Residency, University of Pennsylvania, Neurosurgery, 2007
  • MD from University Of Virginia, 2000

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This provider accepts the following insurance plans.

  • Aetna
     
    • Aetna HMO
    • Aetna Indemnity
    • Aetna Medicare
    • Aetna POS
    • Aetna PPO/EPO
  • Cigna
     
    • Cigna EPO/POS
    • Cigna PPO
  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
     
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Indemnity
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield MediBlue
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield POS
    • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
  • GHI
     
    • GHI CBP
    • GHI HMO
  • HIP
     
    • HIP Access I
    • HIP Access II
    • HIP Child Health
    • HIP EPO/PPO
    • HIP HMO
    • HIP Medicaid
    • HIP Medicare
    • HIP POS
  • Healthfirst
     
    • Healthfirst
  • Humana
     
    • Humana Medicare
View All Accepted Plans This list of insurances changes regularly, and insurance plans listed may not be accepted at all office locations for this provider. Before your appointment, please confirm with your insurance company that this provider accepts your insurance.

Michael L. Smith, MD does not accept insurance.

Locations and Appointments

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute

645 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Interests

spinal tumors, spinal deformity

Academic Contact

Academic office

530 1st Avenue

Suite 8R

New York, NY 10016

Phone

212-263-3504

These focus areas and their associated publications are derived from PubMed and the MeSH term library. *
represents one publication
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*Due to PubMed processing times, the most recent publications may not be reflected in the timeline.

  • An Interventional Multi-Center investigation of Single Level Transforaminal Lumber Interbody Fusion (TLIF) Stabilized with Pedicle Screws

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View All Research Studies (1)

Read All Publications (38)

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