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Roger Hartl, M.D.

Neurological Surgery

Locations and Appointments

Insurances Accepted

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  • EPO/POS
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Mediblue (Senior)
  • PPO
Personal Statement

Back and neck pain are the second most common reasons people seek medical advice, but the care has been very fragmented. It’s long been my passion to bring together all the many disciplines required to provide comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and care for back and neck disorders. Surgical intervention is really just a small part of what we do – but when surgery is required we always strive for the least invasive, most effective option to get our patients back to enjoying their lives.

Biographical Info

Roger Härtl, M.D., is the Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery and Director of Spinal Surgery at Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ, as well as Neurosurgical Director, Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is also the founder and director of as well as Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ's Global Neurosurgery Initiative in Tanzania (for which he was named for 2022). He also serves as the official neurosurgeon for the New York Giants Football Team.  

IN THE NEWS:

Dr. Härtl's clinical interest focuses on simple and complex spine surgery for degenerative conditions, tumors and trauma as well as biological approaches for disc repair and regeneration. He is a world-renowned pioneer and leader in minimally invasive spinal surgery and computer-assisted spinal navigation surgery. He is actively involved in improving neurosurgical care in developing countries as the leader of Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ's Global Health Neurosurgery Initiative in Tanzania.

In order to achieve the very best in patient outcomes, Dr. Härtl's practice emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to disease processes and he works very closely with other specialists such as neurologists, pain specialists, sports medicine doctors and physical therapists. His patients come from all over the globe and include many physicians, surgeons and even other neurological and spine surgeons. He has been repeatedly named to the lists of New York Super Doctors, America's Top Surgeons, and America's Best Doctors, and has been included on the list of New York’s Best Doctors in New York magazine. He has authored more than 200 scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals and is the editor of two books on minimally invasive spinal surgery and biological disc repair and regeneration.

Dr. Härtl has provided commentary for numerous television shows on ABC, NBC, and CBS in addition to national radio shows. His expertise has been sought through interviews in the New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, and other media outlets. One of his patients, boxer Danny Jacobs, was recently featured in a TV ad from NewYork-Presbyterian.

TRAINING Dr. Härtl received his M.D. from the Ludwig-Maximillians University in Munich, Germany. In 1994 Dr. Härtl came to the Weill Cornell Medical College as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Surgery and the Brain Trauma Foundation to pursue research in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. He completed another fellowship in neurocritical care at the Charite Hospital of the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, followed by a surgical internship and residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his neurosurgery residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, after which he pursued specialized training in complex spine surgery at the Barrow's Neurological Institute in Phoenix under Dr. Volker Sonntag. In 2004 Dr. Härtl returned to re-join the Department of Neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

RESEARCHDr. Härtl's scientific interest focuses on clinical and basic science research surrounding innovative and less invasive surgical and biological treatment strategies for degenerative diseases of the spine. Together with the Biomedical Engineering Department at Cornell he is working on tissue-engineering techniques for the repair and regeneration of degenerated spinal discs, the most common cause of back and neck pain. Dr. Härtl has lectured and published extensively on the surgical treatment of spinal disorders, and neurotrauma. He is a leader in the application of evidence-based medicine to neurosurgery and worked with the Brain Trauma Foundation in New York on the development of treatment guidelines for the medical and surgical management of head injury that are now used worldwide.

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Dr. Härtl sees patients at the Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, at 240 East 59th Street, 2nd Floor.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please visit comprehensivespine.weillcornell.org for more information about conditions we treat and procedures we perform.

Honors and Awards

2008-2024: Top Doctors (Castle Connolly)

2012-2024: New York Super Doctors

2024: Top Spine Surgeons (Newsweek)

2023: Admitted to American Academy of Neurological Surgery

2023: Hans Kraus Award for Muscle Pain Education (Foundation for Research and Advocacy for Muscle Pain Education/FRAME)

2022: AANS Humanitarian of the Year

01/2018 – Stewart B. Dunsker Award

“Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Seeded High-Density Collagen Gel For Annular Repair: In Vivo Sheep Study” American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting (AANS)

01/2018 – Charles Kuntz Scholar Award

“Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Seeded High-Density Collagen Gel For Annular Repair: 6 Week Results From In Vivo Sheep Models” Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN)

10/2017 - Neurosurgery Top Spine & Peripheral Nerve Paper of the Year Award

“Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Associated With Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Secondary Fusion Rates Following Open vs. Minimally Invasive Decompression” Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting (CNS)

07/2017 – Humes Visiting Professorship

2017 – Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors

2017 – New York Magazine: Best Doctors

05/2017 – SuperDoctors

03/2017 – Charles Kuntz Scholar Award

“Biomechanical Evaluation of Lumbar Decompression Adjacent to Instrumented Segments” Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN)

12/2016 - AOSPine Regional Educator of the Year Award

08/2016 – Young Investigator Award

“Radiological Correlation of Facet Degeneration and Indirect Decompression After Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion”, Society of Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS)

04/2016 – Best Oral Presentation

“Annular Repair Using High-Density Collagen Gel With Riboflavin Crosslinkage: Preliminary Data From An In Vivo Ovine Model”, World Forum for Spine Research (WFSR)

03/2016 – Young Investigator Award

“Radiological Correlation of Facet Degeneration and Indirect Decompression After Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion”, 9th Annual SOLAS Research Meeting

03/2016 – Charles Kuntz Scholar Award

“Annular Repair Using High-Density Collagen Gel Seeded With Fibrochondrocytes In A Rat Model” Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves (DSPN)

12/2015 – 3rd Place Basic Science Research Paper Award

“Total Disc Replacement Using Tissue-Engineered Intervertebral Discs: In Vivo Outcome In A Canine Model”, Cervical Spine Research Society Meeting (CSRS)

03/2015 – New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA)

“Annular Repair Using High Density Collagen Gel: In Vivo Study”, Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS)

2015 – Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors

2015 – New York Magazine: Best Doctors

05/2014 – SuperDoctors

02/2014 – Ronald Apfelbaum Research Award

“Annular Repair using High-Density Collagen Gel Seeded with Annular Fibroblasts: An In Vivo Study”, AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves

01/2014 – Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors

2014 – New York Magazine: top Doctors

08/2013 – Best Basic Science Abstract Award

“Annular Repair Using High Density Collagen Gel: In Vivo Outcome In A Rodent” 4th Annual Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Society Meeting (MINS)

06/2013 – Best Papers Award

“Vertebral Artery and the Cervical Pedicle: Morphometrical Analysis of a Critical Neighborhood”, 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for Progress & Innovation for the Near East

05/2013 – SuperDoctors

2013 – New York Magazine: Top Doctors

2013 – Best Doctors in America

03/2013 – Mayfield Basic Science Award

“Tissue-engineered Intervertebral Discs: Long Term Outcome in the Rodent Spine” , AANS/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves

2012 – New York Magazine: Top Doctors

2012 – Best Doctors in America

04/2011 – Scientific Paper Award

“Tissue Engineered Total Disc Replacement. Final Outcomes of a Murine Caudal Disc Study” , AOSpine North America Fellows Forum, Banff, Canada

07/2010 - Hans-Joerg Wyss Award

“Biological Disc Replacement”, World Forum for Spine Research, Montréal, Canada          

07/2010 – Poster Award

AOSpine International, World Forum For Spine Research, Montréal, Canada

06/2010 – 1st Place Poster Presentation

Annual Meeting of the American College of Spine Surgeons, Newport Beach, CA

04/2010 – Scientific Paper Award

“Biological Disc Replacement”, AOSpine North America Fellows Forum, Banff, Canada

02/2010 – Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review

“50 of the Best Spine Specialists in America”

02/2010 – Poster Award

“In vivo Model for Implantation of tissue Engineered Intervertebral Discs in the Rat Tail”, AANS/CNS Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves

06/2009 – AOSpine Young Investigator Award

“Bio-tissue-engineering of intervertebral discs”

11/2008 – Honorary Medical Officer – Fire Department of New York

06/2006 – New York Magazine: Best Doctors 2006

2006 – 2013 – Leonard and Fleur Harlan Clinical Scholar in Neurological Surgery. Weill Cornell Medical College

2005 – Research Award

Cervical Spine Research Society, DTI Imaging of the Cervical Spine

10/1999 – Travel Grant Award

Japanese Neurological Society, 58th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Neurological Society

04/1999 – Resident Research Award

"Early experience with coiling of cerebral aneurysms", Allegheny General Hospital

11/1995 – Poster Award

“Leukocyte activation after transient brain compression: an intravital Microscopy study”, Neurotrauma Society, San Diego

11/1994 – Poster Award

"Posttraumatic CSF enhances ELAM-1 mediated neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells". Society of Neurotrauma, Miami

10/1993 - Favio Columella Award in Neurotraumatology

"Reduction of posttraumatic intracranial hypertension by hypertonic/hyperoncotic Saline/Dextran and Mannitol", World Congress of Neurosurgery, Acapulco, Mexico

1992 – Travel Award

“Therapy of posttraumatic intracranial hypertension: mannitol vs. hypertonic/hyperoncotic saline/dextran”, 5th SALT Meeting, Galveston, Texas

1991 – Poster Award

“Hypertonic-hyperoncotic solutions for fluid resuscitation in cerebral Injury and hemorrhagic shock: effects on regional cerebral blood-flow”, 8th International Symposium on Intracranial Pressure “ICP and Craniospinal Dynamics”, Rotterdam

1990 – Poster Award

“Influence of inhalation and intravenous anesthesia on posttraumatic Brain edema”, Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery, Dusseldorf

Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Clinical Expertise
Spinal Abscess
Epidural Abscess (Embolic) of Spinal Cord
Spinal Injury
Herniated Disc
Head Trauma
Spinal and Head Injuries
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Scoliosis
Minimally Invasive (Endoscopic) Neurosurgery
Spinal Tumors
Complex Spinal Surgery
Spinal Fracture
Microsurgery of the Spine
Spinal Disease
Vertebroplasty
Spinal Access Surgery
Computer Assisted Surgery
Artificial Disc Replacement
Lumbar Herniated Disc
Prolapsed Cervical Intervertebral Disc
Kyphoplasty
Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery
Microdiscectomy
Spinal Cord Injury
Sports Injury
Spinal Stenosis
Global Health
Herniated Disc Surgery
Spinal Stenosis Surgery
Spine Tumors
Cervical Spine Tumor
Spine
Spine Degeneration
Joint Pain
Facet Arthropathy
Back Surgery
Back Pain
Kyphosis
Neck Pain
Spine Deformity
Bulging Disc
Languages
English
Research
Education 
  • M.D.
    University of Munich School of Medicine (Germany)
    1993
Appointments 
  • Attending Neurological Surgeon
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Hansen-MacDonald Professor of Neurological Surgery
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University

Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.

Leadership Roles: 
OnPoint Surgical, Inc.
Speaker/Lecturer: 
BrainLab, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson
Ownership: 
OnPoint Surgical, Inc.