AO Fellowships

Department

Name of department: Department of Neurosurgery – Spine Division

Head of department: Yong-Eun Cho

Surgeon in charge of fellows: Bang-Sang Hahn

Head of department: Yong-Eun Cho

Scrub in

Is there an opportunity for the AO Fellows to scrub in? Yes

Is there any additional / special license required to scrub in? Limited Scrub-in is possible under supervision and with Medical license

More information

Number of beds in department: 150

Total surgical cases per year: 4798

Used techniques

Standard open: Yes

Endoscopy: Yes

Robotics: No

Tuberculosis surgery: Yes

Pain management techniques: Yes

Minimally invasive surgery: Yes

Anterior surgery: Yes

Spinal navigation: Yes

Intradural surgery: Yes

Thoracoscopy: No

Language

Dominant language spoken in the operating room: Korean

English written and spoken by our team members: written (3)* / spoken (3)*
* Level of proficiency, with 1 equaling basic and 5 equaling proficient.

Other activities

• Daily case conferences (Monday to Friday at 7:30 AM) • Weekly journal reviews (every Thursday at 7:40 AM) • Multi-center spine seminars (every third Thursday at 7:30 AM) • Opportunities to attend various domestic spine conferences and academic meetings • If desired, fellows may also have the chance to rotate at our branch hospital, Anyang Wiltse Hospital (Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea)

Good to know

Host center description

Established in 2002, Wiltse Memorial Hospital is one of Korea’s leading and most advanced spine specialty hospitals, performing nearly 5,000 spine surgeries annually. Founded on the principles of Dr. Leon Wiltse—a pioneer in modern spine surgery and NASS founding member—the hospital has become a national leader in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).

Clinical Scope
We provide comprehensive spinal care, from pain procedures and degenerative conditions to complex cases like spinal cord tumors, OPLL, and cervical myelopathy—maintaining surgical standards equivalent to top university hospitals. Our operating rooms are equipped with advanced tools such as high-resolution microscopes and O-arm navigation systems to support precision and safety.

Surgical Expertise
We perform a full range of conventional open surgeries (e.g., ACDF, cervical laminoplasty, PLIF, microscopic discectomy) while also leading the nation in uniportal and biportal endoscopic spine surgery, recognized for both high surgical volume and excellent outcomes.

Education & Fellowship
For nearly 20 years, we have run a structured domestic fellowship program. Additionally, over 100 international surgeons from 20+ countries have participated in observerships and training at our hospital, gaining exposure to a wide range of surgical techniques in a collaborative setting.

Research & Academic Engagement
Our team actively publishes research in major journals and presents regularly at national and international conferences. With 11 experienced spine specialists—including former university professors—our program offers fellows diverse insights into modern spine surgery.

What other information, documents, or vaccines do you require the fellow to provide?

A curriculum vitae (CV) and personal profile

Wiltse Memorial Hospital