In The News
Hoag selects accomplished oncologist as director of Hoag Melanoma Program
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has announced that Thomas N. Wang, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., a prominent researcher and nationally recognized author, has been named medical director of the Hoag Melanoma/Advanced Skin Cancer Program. Dr. Wang comes to Hoag after spending the previous 15 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he served … Read More
Kickass Women of O.C.: 2022 Edition
Webster’s dictionary offers two definitions for kickass: 1. having a strong effect on someone or something; powerful 2. exceptionally good; spectacular, impressive. The women we’ve chosen for our second edition of this feature easily live up to both descriptions. They’re but a sampling of the leaders in our community doing amazing work in many … Read More
What the spine tech surgeons say will explode in the next 5 years
Regenerative medicine, patient-specific implants and artificial intelligence continue to gather momentum in the spine field, but robotics and augmented reality are the technologies surgeons expect to become more prominent in the next five years. Spine robots may catch up with the abilities of their joint replacement counterparts and the Iron Man-like headsets associated with … Read More
What’s Next for Augmented Reality in Spine Surgery?
Augmented reality in spine surgery is taking off, and its growth could be exponential in the near future. With more and more places adopting the technology, many surgeons have a positive outlook for the technology. Seven details about AR in spine surgery and what lies ahead: 1. Surgalign’s Holo Portal augmented reality system received FDA 510(k) … Read More
Kissing disease’s link to multiple sclerosis
In recent decades, mounting evidence has suggested the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous member of the herpes family that causes infectious mononucleosis (a.k.a. the “kissing disease”), can cause multiple sclerosis (MS). Last month, a study published in the journal Science went even further, citing EBV infection as likely the leading cause of MS. It is a … Read More
ASC spine surgery: 10 observations for 2022
Spine surgery is becoming more prominent at ASCs as minimally invasive technologies advance and payers are more willing to reimburse for spine surgery in the outpatient setting. Ten observations on outpatient spine surgery this year: 1. More than 190 ASCs in the U.S. offer minimally invasive spine surgery, which has seen a significant increase in the … Read More
What Is Congestive Heart Failure, Exactly?
Even though congestive heart failure is a commonly used term, the details can get a bit confusing when you really dig into what it means. That’s because “congestive heart failure” isn’t a separate condition from “heart failure,” Dana Weisshaar, M.D., a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara, California, tells SELF. Rather, the term is used to … Read More
Healthgrades’ 50 top hospitals for 2022
Healthgrades has recognized 250 hospitals nationwide for exceptional care via its America’s Best Hospitals awards released Feb. 8. Three lists feature America’s 50, 100 and 250 best hospitals, which represent the top 1 percent, 2 percent and 5 percent of hospitals in the nation, respectively. Healthgrades used 2018-20 Medicare data to evaluate the performance of nearly … Read More
Around Town: Hoag Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event, will return to Newport Beach Country Club
The Hoag Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event, will return to Newport Beach Country Club from March 2 through 6. Defending champion Ernie Els will be back with a chance to become the first back-to-back winner of the tournament. Hoag Classic festivities will kick off with “Breakfast with a Champion” on Tuesday, March 1. … Read More
How spine surgery will evolve in 2022: 6 trends to watch
In the last decade, minimally invasive technologies have made it possible to perform many spine surgeries previously done in the hospital with overnight stays in the outpatient setting. More recently, advances in techniques and surgical technologies are changing how surgeons approach spine procedures, with robotics, endoscopy and augmented reality technologies anticipated to play a … Read More