Best Senior Resident Paper Award Univ. of Pittsburgh, 2015
William S. McEllroy Award University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Medical Alumni Association, 2015
Best Poster Award Rehabilitation Institue Research Day (PMR, Univ. of Pittsburgh), 2014
Best Poster Presentation Award The International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine (ISSLS), 2014
AO Spine Europe Young Researcher Award AO Spine of Europe, 2013
Best Young Investigator Oral Presentation European Orthopaedic Research Society, 2012
The ISSLS Prize for Best Basic Science Research in Spine The International Society for Study of Lumbar Spine, 2012
Best Paper Award The 39th Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2011
NASS Traveling Fellowship Award The North American Spine Society, 2011-2012
Best Doctors in America Best Doctors, INC, 2011
Achievement Award AAOS, 2010
The David Hall Award ISSLS, 2009
Best Paper Award Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, 2009
Best Poster Award Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting, 2009
1st Place Best Poster Award Annual Meeting of AAOS, 2009
1st Place Best Fellow Paper Award Annual Research Day, Department of PMR Univ. of Pittsburgh, 2008
Henry Farfan Award for Outstanding Contributions in Spine North American Spine Society, 2007
1st Place Best Fellow Paper Award Univ. of Pittsburgh, 2007
1st Place Best Resident/Fellow Paper Award The Cervical Spine Research Society, 2006
ACES Award UPMC Health Systems, 2004
1st Place Basic Science Award The Cervical Spine Research Society, 2004
The Outstanding Paper Award (Basic Science) The North American Spine Society, 2004
The Michael J. Jerva MD Award, Best Poster Presentation IITS Meeting, 2004
The Volvo Award for Best Clinical Research in Spine The International Society for The Study of Lumbar Spine, 2002
Eugene J. Nordby Award Fifthteenth Annal Metting of the International Intradiscal Therapy Society, 2002
MacNab/LaRocca Fellowship Award Traveling Felloship Award by ISSLS, 2002, 2008, 2012
Best Resident Paper Award Univ. of Pittsburgh, Dept of Orthopaedics, 2002-2003
Guide to America’s Top Surgeons Consumers’s Research Council of America, 2002
Best Paper Award, Basic Science The International Society for The Study of Lumbar Spine, 2000
Best Paper Award The Korean Spine Society, 2000
The NASS Outstanding Paper Award (Basic Science) The North American Spine Society, 1999
The Volvo Award for Best Basic Science Research The International Society for The Study of Lumbar Spine, 1999
New Investigator Recognition Award 42nd Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 1996
Best Fellow Paper Award Annual Resident and Fellow Research Day, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Dept of Orthopaedics, 1995
Cervical Spine Research Society Award Annual Meeting Cervical Spine Research Society, 1994, 1999
Best Resident Paper Award, (1st Prize) Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society Meeting, 1991
Award for Outstanding Resident Research AOA Zimmer, 1991
Award for Outstanding Resident Research Frank Stinchfield Hip Society, 1991
Best Paper Award International Society of the Knee and International Arthroscopy Association, 1989
Cabaud Award, Basic Sciences Research in Sports Medicine American Orthopaedic Association for Sports Medicine, 1988
Founder's Award, Outstanding Resident Research Eastern Orthopaedic Association, 1988, 1999
James Merril Award Candidate (Outstanding Student in Ob/Gyn) 1986
Oklahoma Surgical Society Award (Outstanding Student in General Surgery) 1986
Eugene Fay Lester, Jr, Book Award 1986
Hewlett-Packard Award 1986
Solomon Papper Humane Scholarship Award Candidate (Outstanding Student in Internal Medicine) 1986
Alpha Omega Alpha (President) Junior Year Selection 1985
Harris Summer Research Fellowship Award 1984
Basic Sciences GPA Award 1984
President, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity 1982
Founder's Fund Scholarship Award 1981
Senior Chemical Engineering Meritorious Achievement Award 1981
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Scholarship Award 1979
Dean's List (all semesters) 1978
Pittsburgh Magazine’s Top Doctors Award 2012-2014
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2013
The BioSpina Award Italian Spine Surgery Society, 2011
Compassionate Doctor Award American Registry, 2010
Patients’ Choice Award American Registry, 2010