Mehdi M. Elfilali serves as the Research Coordinator in the Division of Pediatric Orthopedics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where he plays a vital role in supporting research and clinical projects related to our orthopedic spine patients. Mehdi is a graduate of Columbia University, where he earned a BA in Biological Sciences with a coursework focus in Computer Science. He works alongside Dr. Vitale and the orthopedic team to design, conduct, and publish clinical research with the aim of advancing patient safety, improving quality of care, and optimizing patient outcomes.

Recent efforts have included a focus on the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence into clinical frameworks to improve surgical planning, risk management, and patient counseling. Mehdi coordinates multicenter studies and registry projects, screens and consents patients, collects patient samples, and prepares and maintains regulatory documents. He also contributes to grant writing, supervises the research team, and collaborates with faculty, fellows, residents, and students across Columbia and partner institutions.