Dr. Robert F. Heary, Medical Director of the Spine and Pain Center at HackensackUMC Mountainside, has been elected President of the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), a multidisciplinary professional association dedicated to advancements in the treatment of cervical spine injuries and diseases.
“Accomplished, highly regarded specialists such as Dr. Heary are crucial to HackensackUMC Mountainside’s ability to deliver convenient, local access to world class healthcare. His appointment to this prestigious post underscores that in the field of spinal care, our community hospital’s capabilities are state-of-the-art and truly on par with leading institutions around the globe,” said John Fromhold, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
A Distinguished Expert
Dr. Heary, a board-certified neurosurgeon who is experienced and skilled in performing both minimally invasive procedures and traditional open spinal surgery to alleviate conditions that cause chronic pain and restrict physical activity, is the first New Jersey physician to lead the CSRS and one of a very select group of neurosurgeons to ever hold that position. He is currently: Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery at HackensackUMC Mountainside; Director of the Spine Center of New Jersey for the past 20 years and he is currently a Professor of Neurosurgery at the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in Newark.
In addition to serving on the editorial boards of Neurosurgery, the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, World Neurosurgery, the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Spinal Deformity and numerous other publications, Dr. Heary is a prolific author who has published more than 125 peer-reviewed journal articles, 55 book chapters and 100 scientific abstracts. He has also delivered over 300 scientific presentations at national and international neurosurgery and spine meetings.
Dr. Heary is active in many professional societies including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerves, the Academy of Neurological Surgeons, Scoliosis Research Society, Lumbar Spine Research Society, Neurosurgical Society of America and the Society of Neurological Surgeons. He has held numerous leadership posts within those organizations including serving as Chairman of the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerves. Dr. Heary has also served as the President of both the New Jersey Neurosurgical Society and the New Jersey Spine Society for three years each. He is currently a Director-at-Large on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and is the President-elect of the Lumbar Spine Research Society (term begins in 2017).
Dr. Heary is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Neurological Surgery at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark. Upon completion of his neurosurgical residency, Dr. Heary served as the prestigious Rothman Spine Fellow in the Thomas Jefferson University Spine Fellowship program in Orthopaedic Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. He was certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 1999.
About the Cervical Spine Research Society
The mission of the Cervical Spine Research Society (csrs.org) since its establishment in 1973 has been to carry out research and exchange information about conditions of the cervical spine across North America and to coordinate its efforts with European and Asian affiliates. The society’s membership includes professionals in varied disciplines involved in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal concerns including bioengineering, neurology, neurosurgery, radiology and orthopaedic surgery. CSRS hosts an array of research and educational forums each year.
