Meet Michael Vitale MD MPH
Dr. Michael Vitale MD MPH, Ana Lucia Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at Columbia University Medical Center
Dr. Michael G. Vitale is a New York Pediatric Spine Surgeon specializing in spine surgery as well as non-operative treatment of complex pediatric scoliosis and other spinal disorders. Dr. Vitale has a special interest in the treatment of patients with Early Onset Scoliosis.
Michael Vitale MD MPH is the Ana Lucia Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at Columbia University Medical Center. He is also the Director of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery and the Chief of the Pediatric Spine and Scoliosis Service at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City. He is also the Director of Pediatric Orthopaedics for the NYP Enterprise.
His dedication to safety in the spine surgery field prompted him to found the Safety in Spine Surgery Project (S3P). This organization's main goal is to identify ways to enhance the safety and sustainability of spine surgery and work with stakeholders in spine surgery to prevent harm.
In addition, as a leader in spine surgery, he has pioneered numerous innovative surgical techniques, has directed national spine societies and has developed spinal instrumentation systems to improve the care of children with scoliosis. For additional information, please see Dr. Vitale's Bio.
Titles and Locations
- Ana Lucia Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery
- Chief, Pediatric Spine and Scoliosis Service
- Director, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics—NewYork Presbyterian Enterprise
- Vice Chair, Quality and Strategy, Orthopedic Surgery
- Director, Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric Spinal Deformity
- 37th President POSNA
- Past President, Pediatric Spine Study Group
- Founder, Safety in Spine Surgery Project
Current Academic Interests
Dr. Michael G. Vitale’s practice primarily focuses on scoliosis and spinal asymmetries. Half of his patients are under the age of eight and the rest are adolescents and young adults. He primarily concentrates on ways of making care better. He strives to accomplish this goal by:
- taking a leadership position on CSSG (Children’s Spine Foundation)
- leading the four full-time researchers on staff at Columbia Pediatric Orthopedics
- developing an Early Onset Scoliosis Classification System
- being involved in developing a Best Practice Guidelines For High-Risk Pediatric Spine Surgery, which is now being used at other hospitals to make care better
- launching the Spine Safety Summit that focuses on optimizing care of children undergoing spine surgery
Dr. Vitale's Educational Background
After finishing his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University, Dr. Vitale did a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles where he gained significant exposure to pediatric spine surgery. Returning to Columbia, Dr. Vitale was quickly promoted to Herbert Irving Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and consequently was named the Ana Lucia Professor Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr. Michael Vitale currently leads the Pediatric Spine program, co-directs the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics and is Vice Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, serving as the Chief Quality Officer.