The Growing Spine (PDF)

Behrooz A. Akbarnia, MD, is Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Diego and Medical Director of the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders, La Jolla, California, a position he has held since 1990. In addition he is Director Emeritus of the San Diego Spine Fellowship Program and was previously a Fellowship Director of the program. Dr. Akbarnia has had a long and distinguished career, during which he has also served as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at St. Louis University. He has received various awards, including a Lifetime Service Award from the Western Orthopaedic Association, the Walter P. Blount Humanitarian Award from the Scoliosis Research Society, and Orthopaedic Educational Achievement Awards from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has been President and Founder of the San Diego Spine Foundation and the Growing Spine Foundation and in 2005-6 was President of the Scoliosis Research Society. Dr. Akbarnia has served on various journal editorial boards and is the author of 100 papers in refereed journals.

Muharrem Yazici is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, having been appointed to this position in 2003. He has held numerous positions in medical societies, including as President of the Turkish Society of Pediatric Orthopaedics, President of the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society, and member of the Board of Directors of the Scoliosis Research Society. Since 2005 he has been an Executive Committee Member of the Growing Spine Study Group. His awards include the 2001 Professor Ridvan Ege Scientific Research Award from the Turkish Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and 2005 The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey Junior Science Award. Dr. Yazici is an editorial board member for the Journal of Children's Orthopaedics and the Journal of Spinal