Michael Vitale MD MPH

08/28/2025

Exciting day at our weekly Peds Spine Research Meeting! We were honored to welcome the SRS Travelling Fellows to join our team. 🤝

Our meetings bring together surgeons, research fellows, medical students, the clinical team, and more to foster collaboration. Today, we recapped ongoing projects and papers while sparking new ideas.

Innovation thrives when great minds come together! 💡

08/26/2025

Heading back to school with a brace?✏️📓

Small adjustments can make a big difference in your day. From choosing comfortable clothing, to carrying a lighter backpack, to making simple classroom modifications, these little steps add up.

Remember: teachers and school staff are there to support you. Don’t hesitate to ask for a break, a different seat, or extra time between classes if needed.

Most importantly, your brace is just one part of who you are; it doesn’t define your whole story.

Save this post as a reminder, or share it with someone who might need to see it!

08/18/2025

Excited to introduce the 2025–2026 Columbia Pediatric Orthopedics Fellows!

This outstanding group of physicians, medical students, and pre-medical students has joined us. Over the next year, they will train alongside our faculty while contributing to research and patient care as they continue to develop their skills in pediatric orthopedics.

Thrilled to welcome them to the team!

08/08/2025

We are excited to announce Bracing Groups, our new monthly meet-up for kids wearing scoliosis braces! This initiative provides a fantastic opportunity for children to connect, share their stories, and have fun together. All brace levels are welcome, so whether your child is new to wearing a brace or has been in one for a while, they will find a supportive community here. 💜

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/jr4593/register-for-our-new-monthly-scolio

If you are interested in joining us and have any questions, feel free to reach out to Julia Rakin, our Mental Health Coordinator, at jr4593@cumc.columbia.edu

💜

07/22/2025

Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 3rd Annual Summer Spine Symposium hosted by Cedars-Sinai Spine and Och Spine at New York-Presbyterian in beautiful Park City, Utah! 🌄 🩺

This symposium brought together orthopedic and neurological spine surgeons from around the world to foster collaboration and professional development.

Throughout the event, we explored cutting-edge techniques and innovative research through interactive sessions, panel discussions, and podium presentations. Topics included pediatric scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, cervical and lumbar degeneration, and spine trauma management.

It was inspiring to connect with fellow spine specialists and exchange knowledge that will undoubtedly enhance our practice. Looking forward to applying what I've learned to better serve our patients! 🧠 🩻

07/17/2025

Looking back at the incredible 11th Annual Symposium on the Pediatric Spine: Best in Class Non-Operative Treatment! 📸👨‍⚕️🌟

We wanted to share some more photos from this amazing event that focused on the latest advances in conservative scoliosis care. It was an invaluable opportunity to learn about cutting-edge, non-operative treatment options.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this symposium a success! Together, we are fostering better outcomes for patients with scoliosis of all ages. 🧠🩻💪

Check out these moments captured during the event!

07/09/2025

Join us for the Scoliosis & Spine Lunch & Learn Seminar Series! 🌟🩺💻

Columbia Pediatric Orthopedics presents a webinar series focusing on scoliosis and spine conditions across the lifespan. This is a fantastic opportunity for participants to improve their knowledge of spine care and collaborate with experts in the field.

🗓️ Save the Date: July 21, 2025 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm EST

🩻 Topic: Lessons learned around the assessment and treatment of the adult patient with scoliosis – A conversation with experts Alessandra Negrini and Amy Sbihli.

📌 Register Here: https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dCMD4_OwRNKZte5jAE48rA #/registration

All healthcare providers treating the Spine and Scoliosis population are encouraged to attend--please feel free to forward details to friends and colleagues!

🩺💻

Columbia Pediatric Orthopedics invites you to join us for our Lunch & Learn webinar series focusing on scoliosis and spine conditions across the lifespan. The next session takes place at 11:30am (EST) on Monday, April 21, 2025. TOPIC: Lessons learned around the assessment and treatment of the adult....

06/30/2025

As we approach the end of June, Scoliosis Awareness Month, I hope you are as excited and as impressed as I am about all the amazing innovation and advancements in this space. I look forward to more conversation together.

Learn more: https://pediatricscoliosissurgery.com

06/29/2025

In honor of Scoliosis Awareness Month, we are highlighting Gloria. “Since my diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis in fifth grade, my parents and I tried every conservative treatment we know: German Schroth therapy, bracing, chiropractic, physical therapy, CLEAR Scoliosis Treatment, and postural training. Despite our efforts, my curves progressed,” Gloria explains. She goes on to state, “I found Dr. Vitale and his team through a connection with my university’s healthcare system. From our first consultation, they demonstrated confidence, patience, kindness, and professionalism, taking the time to answer every question and help me picture life after the surgery. With their support, I eventually overcame my fears and decided to proceed with surgery.”

Read the rest of her story, and view her case: https://pediatricscoliosissurgery.com/testimonials/dr-vitale-and-his-team-have-truly-transformed-my-life-and-i-will-forever-be-grateful-for-their-skill-care-and-compassion

06/27/2025

The 20th Annual SOSORT International Congress | Networking with global specialists fosters collaboration and advances patient care through evidence-based research

This year, a team from CUMC went to the 20th Annual SOSORT International Congress to give presentations. This milestone annual meeting assembled global experts to share the latest research, innovative treatment approaches, and best practices in conservative scoliosis management. Our presentations at the congress brought to life how our various team members (PA, mental health coordinator, physical therapists, medical students, and an orthotist) collaborate to best serve our patients.

The people from our group who attended and presented are: Amber Sentell Mizerik, PA-C Physician Assistant; Julia Rakin, Mental Health Coordinator; Omar Taha, David P. Roye Jr., MD Pediatric Orthopedic Research Fellow, Medical Student; Matthew Weintraub, David P. Roye Jr., MD Pediatric Orthopedic Research Fellow, Medical Student; Prachi Bakarania, DPT, Schroth Barcelona C2-Cert., SEAS-2, Scoliosis Physical Therapist, SOSORT Board Member/Secretary; Trella Allen PT, DPT,Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Schroth-Barcelona Institute Certified – L3; and John Tunney BOCO BOCP Orthotist Prosthetist, East Coast Orthotics.

Read More about SOSORT: https://pediatricscoliosissurgery.com/sosort-our-team-shares-research-on-bracing-mental-health-in-children-with-scoliosis

06/26/2025

It's Not Too Late to Sign Up: 11th Annual Best-in-Class Symposium on the Non-operative Treatment for Scoliosis

Hybrid Event | June 26, 2025 | 10am–4pm EST | New York, NY

In honor of World Scoliosis Day, June 26th, we are hosting the 11th Annual Best-in-Class Symposium on the Non-operative Treatment for Scoliosis. This forward-thinking symposium brings together world-renowned leaders in the field to collaborate on innovative non-operative treatments for scoliosis.

It's not too late to sign up for the conference! You can attend virtually today, or if your schedule doesn't permit, a recording will be sent to all registrants after the event.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn in person—or virtually! Read More & Register: https://www.columbiaortho.org/education/professional-education/11th-annual-symposium-pediatric-spine

06/25/2025

June Is Scoliosis Awareness Month | Did you know there’s a lot you can do for your scoliosis? Find out more in this video by our physical therapists.

More Information: https://pediatricscoliosissurgery.com