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University Spine Associates is founded by board-certified, fellowship trained spine surgeon, Dr. Haim D. Blecher. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, with notable memberships and candidacies in reputable organizations, such as the North American Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society, Dr. Blecher demonstrates a commitment to the continual pursuit of advancement in spine treatment and orthopaedic care.
After receiving his doctorate of medicine at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse in 1998, he continued his educational career by exploring several orthopaedic specialties of which his most recent was a spine surgery fellowship obtained at the Spine Institute of New York-Beth Israel Medical Center in 2004. While he is an experienced spinal surgeon specializing in the treatment of spine injury, spinal column and vertebra deformities, and conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, his passion lies in complex spinal fusion and reconstruction surgery for patients with difficult spinal conditions such as spinal tumors, trauma and adult scoliosis
In addition to his extensive training in the fields of back, neck, and minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Blecher has published and presented on a number of topics discussing spine surgery techniques including, but not limited to, surgical options for metastatic disease, minimally invasive spine surgery, vertebral spinal column reconstruction, and artificial disc surgery.
Outside of his position as founder and surgeon of University Spine Associates, Dr. Blecher is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UMDNJ- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where teaching residents and medical students is a priority. Dr. Blecher spends his free time with his wife and three lovely children and also enjoys surfing, fishing and golf.
Click on the links below to learn more about Dr. Blecher and his qualifications as a back, neck, spinal fusion, and minimally invasive spine surgery specialist:
University Spine Associates’ Network of Outstanding Healthcare Professionals
University Spine Associates’ sole purpose is to provide New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware residents afflicted with severe spinal, neck, or back pain with world class spine treatment and compassionate care. To do this, University Spine Associates has aligned itself with the areas leading surgical centers and physicians to provide our patients with an astounding network of healthcare professionals. So whether you are undergoing extensive scoliosis reconstructive back surgery at the state-of-the-art Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick or a minimally invasive posterior cervical (neck) foraminotomy surgery at our affiliated outpatient ambulatory surgical center in New Brunswick, feel confident knowing Dr. Blecher and the University Spine Associates staff hold your best interests in mind.
HAIM D. BLECHER, M.D.
Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
Fellowship Trained Spine Surgeon
UNIVERSITY SPINE ASSOCIATES, P.A.
256 Bunn Drive
Suite 3B
Princeton, NJ 08540
TEL (609) 924-8060
FAX (609) 924-9212
CLINICAL APPOINTMENTS
Clinical Assistant Professor:
Robert Wood Johnson Medical school- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Department of Orthopedic Surgery
BOARD CERTIFICATION:
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons:
Spine Subspecialty- 2006
SOCIETIES AND AFFILIATIONS:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Fellow,
North American Spine Society - Member,
Spine Arthroplasty Society - Member,
Scoliosis Research Society - Candidate member
EDUCATION
Spine Institute of New York-Beth Israel Medical Center
Spine Surgery Fellowship
New York, New York, August 2003-July 2004
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
New Brunswick, New Jersey, July 1999-June 2003
Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital
Orthopaedic Oncology
New York, New York, May-June 2002
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Surgical Internship, Department of General Surgery
New Brunswick, New Jersey, July 1998- June 1999
State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse,
Syracuse, New York
Medical Doctor Degree, May 1998
Honors: Academic Excellence Scholarship, 1997
Binghamton University, State University of New York
Binghamton, New York
Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, May 1994
Honors: Deans List, 1990, 1991 and 1992; NCAA Division III Wrestling Letter Winner, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993; Academic All SUNY Athletic Conference (Wrestling), 1992; International Economics Honor Society 1992-1994
SURGICAL COURSES - INSTRUCTOR
New Jersey Young Lions-Acquired Spondylolisthesis - New Brunswick 2008.
Meeting Director and Lecturer
Young Lions Symposia -
Las Vegas, NV- 2008
Faculty Instructor for spine surgeons in evolving techniques and trends in spinal surgery
National Oral Board Review Course -
Las Vegas, NV- 2008
Lecturer and Examiner for young spine surgeons preparing to take their oral board examination in spinal surgery
Charite Artificial Disc Replacement - Frequent Clinical Instructor for the charite artificial disc replacement course in Cincinnati - 2005
Thoracic Pedicle Screws Instructional Course - September 2003, NJ,
instructed on thoracic pedicle screw placement and biomechanics
PUBLISHED PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Blecher HD, Neuwirth MG
Ahead of the Curve: Treating adults with scoliosis challenges the spine care team to explore non operative treatment. An article reviewing the difficult task of managing adult scoliosis. Organizes a formulated treatment plan from presentation to long-term, post-operative period.
Published in ADVANCE FOR DIRECTORS IN REHABILITATION May 2004, Vol 13 No 5
Blecher HD , Bitan FD, Kahn SB, Lipp MI , Panagos A, Casden AM, Kuflik PL and Neuwirth MG
Correlation of Discogram Findings With Surgical Outcomes Following Total Disc Replacement: Outcomes of the FDA trial disc replacement as they relate to discogram findings, a prospective study.
Presented at the 4th Annual Spine Arthroplasy Society, Vienna 2004
Blecher HD, Bitan F, Kuflik PL, Casden AM, Neuwirth MG
Radiographic Parameters Following Total Disc Replacement; 2 year follow up: Radiographic follow up at 2 years following the FDA trial disc replacements.
Presented at the 4th Annual Spine Arthroplasy Society, Vienna 2004
Blecher HD, Webster DA
Mechanism of ACL Tears in Skiing Injuries: Developed a Biomechanical model assessing ACL strain as a function of variables occurring in a simulated ski landing.
Presented at Dr. David Murray Day, Syracuse, New York, June 1998
RESEARCH
Malberg M, Blecher HD, Rodricks D
Laser Discectomies Using Holmium Laser: Retrospective study evaluating efficacy of LASER discectomies using the Holmium Laser.
Submitted to Spine April 2001
PRESENTATIONS
Metastatic Disease To The Spine – Surgical options and outcomes, University Medical Center at Princeton Tumor Board, July 2006
Cervical Myelopathy – Diagnosis and Surgical Management, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Neurosurgical/Orthopaedic Spine grand rounds, June 2006
Vertebral Body Reconstruction Using Expandable Cages, Spine Institute of New York National Spine Fellows Meeting, May 2006
Low Back Pain-Diagnosis and management, University Medical Center at Princeton Medical Grand Rounds, March 2006
Traumatic and Oncologic Conditions of the Spine, Stryker Instructional Course Lecture, March 2006
Spine Surgery In 2006- Advances and Evolution, University Medical Center at Princeton Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Conference, February 2006
Subaxial Cervical Spinal Trauma- Diagnosis and Management, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Neurosurgical/Orthopaedic Spine Grand Rounds, March 2005
Flat Back Deformity – Consideration of Sagittal balance in spine patients, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Neurosurgical/Orthopaedic Spine Grand Rounds, May 2005
Metastatic Spine Tumors, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Neurosurgical/Orthopaedic Spine Grand Rounds, September 2004
Correlation of Discogram Findings With Surgical Outcomes Following Total Disc Replacement, International Spine Arthroplasty Society Conference, Vienna, Austria- 2004
Radiographic Parameters Following Total Disc Replacement; 2 year follow up, International Spine Arthroplasty Society Conference, Vienna, Austria- 2004
Radial Tunnel Syndrome, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, February 2001
Sternoclavicular Joint Pathology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, September 2000
Supracondylar Humerus Fractures, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, May 1999
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears in Skiing Injuries
Dr. David Murray Alumni Conference
Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School, June 1998
EDITORIAL POSITIONS
Spine Universe Editorial Board – 2005 till present
LANGUAGES
Fluent in Russian and Hebrew
HOBBIES
Surfing, Snorkeling, Tennis and Golf |
