Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. John Heller is an orthopedic surgeon and world-renowned lecturer. He specializes in the research and development of instrumentation in cervical spine surgery, including cervical disc replacement and laminoplasty. Dr. Heller has served on the Veritas Health Medical Advisory Board for 20 years.
- Dr. Heller’s published research includes Posterior Approaches for the Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy and Nonoperative Treatment of Degenerative Cervical Disc Disease.
- He serves on the Editorial Board of Clinical Spine Surgery.
- Dr. Heller has contributed numerous chapters to medical books including The Cervical Spine, QuickRef Orthopaedic Procedures Atlas and Surgery of the Cervical Spine.
Experience
Dr. Heller is an orthopedic surgeon at Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center. He specializes in cervical spine disorders and has been a practicing spine surgeon for more than 30 years. Dr. Heller trained under Dr. Henry Bohlman and Dr. Steven Garfin, two of the founding fathers of modern spine surgery. He is an educator and researcher, having served as Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and acting as the Director of Spine Fellowship at Emory Spine Center.
Board Certifications
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Spine Medicine Leadership
- Member, North American Spine Society
- Member, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Member, American Orthopaedic Association
- Member, Spine Arthroplasty Society
- Member, Cervical Spine Research Society
- Member, Southern Orthopaedic Association
Select Medical Research
- Subarachnoid–Pleural Fistulae—Management With a Transdiaphragmatic Pedicled Greater Omental Flap
- Laminoplasty versus laminectomy and fusion for multilevel cervical myelopathy: an independent matched cohort analysis
- Posterior Approaches for the Surgical Treatment of Multilevel Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Laminoplasty Versus Laminectomy
- Cervical Myelopathy and Congenital Stenosis From Hypoplasia of the Atlas
- Cervical Transfacet Versus Lateral Mass Screws: A Biomechanical Comparison
- Cervical Spine Pedicle Screws: A Biomechanical Comparison of Two Insertion Techniques
- Iatrogenic Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: Treatment by Anterior Fibular and Iliac Arthrodesis
- Complications of Posterior Cervical Plating
- Nicotine on the Revascularization of Bone Graft
- Upper Lumbar Disc Herniations
- Transverse Ligament Failure
- Postoperative Posterior Spinal Wound Infections
- Quantitative Internal Dens Morphology
- Anatomic Comparison of the Roy-Camille and Magerl Techniques for Screw Placement in the Lower Cervical Spine
Professional Awards and Recognition
- CIBA Community Service Award
- Mario Boui Award
- Volvo Low Back Pain Research Award
- Cervical Spine Research Society Research Award
- Teacher of the Year, Emory Orthopaedic Resident Selection
Education
- AB – Biochemistry, Harvard University
- MD – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Residency – Orthopedic Surgery, Case Western Reserve University Hospital
- Fellowship – Orthopedic Spine Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
About Veritas Health
Veritas Health publishes original, unbiased, and comprehensive resources to help millions of people each month make informed decisions about their health. Our rigorous editorial process is modeled after medical journals and ensures articles are reviewed with integrity and objectivity. The Veritas Health platform—including Spine-health.com, Arthritis-health.com, and Sports-health.com—is a trusted authority on back pain, arthritis, sports injuries, and chronic pain conditions.
Profile last updated: January 21, 2020.