Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.C
Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • Director, Quality & Patient Safety (QPS) • Medical Director, Spine Unit
Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University • New York, NY
Dr. Zeeshan Sardar is the Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery at the Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University — one of the foremost academic spine centers in the United States. He also serves as Director of Quality & Patient Safety and Medical Director of the Spine Unit at Och Spine Hospital, roles that reflect both his clinical leadership and his ongoing commitment to the highest standards of surgical care.
His practice covers the full spectrum of spinal conditions in adults and adolescents age 10 and older — from common cervical and lumbar disorders to the most complex spinal deformity, revision, and reconstruction cases that other surgeons refer out. He is among a small number of spine surgeons in the United States to have completed three separate spine fellowship training programs, giving him a technical range and depth of training that most spine surgeons do not have.
Patients travel to see Dr. Sardar from across the United States and internationally, many after being told their case is too complex, that nothing more can be done, or that surgery carries risks too high to justify. His honest assessment, evidence-based approach, and command of advanced surgical techniques — including robotic-assisted navigation, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, and vertebral column resection — consistently offer options that patients did not know were available to them.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS & TITLES
- Co-Chief, Spinal Deformity Surgery — NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University
- Director, Quality & Patient Safety (QPS) — Och Spine Hospital
- Medical Director, Spine Unit — Och Spine Hospital
- Attending Spine Surgeon — Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / The Allen Hospital, New York, NY
- Robotic Spine Surgery Specialist — Mazor X Stealth Edition
- Cervical Spine Surgery Specialist — Anterior and Posterior Approaches
- Expert in Cervical and Lumbar Total Disc Replacement
THREE FELLOWSHIP TRAININGS
One of a small number of spine surgeons in the United States to have completed three separate fellowship programs — spanning orthopedic and neurosurgical spine, artificial disc replacement, and complex spinal deformity.
| Fellowship 1 Combined Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Spine Surgery Cedars-Sinai Spine Center, Los Angeles, CA |  |
| Fellowship 2 Artificial Disc Replacement & Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery Texas Back Institute, Plano, TX |  |
| Fellowship 3 Advanced Spinal Deformity Surgery Under the direction of Dr. Lawrence Lenke Columbia University & Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY |  |
AREAS OF CLINICAL EXPERTISE
Spinal Deformity
A complete list of conditions and procedures Dr. Sardar treats is available on the Conditions & Procedures page.
TECHNOLOGY & SURGICAL APPROACH
Dr. Sardar uses the most advanced surgical technology available as standard — not as an option. Every instrumented spinal procedure is performed with the Mazor X Stealth Edition robotic navigation system, with intraoperative CT (O-arm) confirming all implant positions before the case closes. All procedures involving neural structures are monitored with continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Major reconstructive procedures use cell salvage to minimize donor blood transfusion.
- Robotic-Assisted Navigation — Mazor X Stealth Edition; preoperative 3D planning on each patient’s anatomy; intraoperative CT verification
- Motion-Preserving Surgery — cervical and lumbar disc replacement, laminoplasty; candidacy evaluated for every appropriate patient
- Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy (PSO) — 30–40 degree sagittal correction for rigid flatback deformity and sagittal imbalance
- Vertebral Column Resection (VCR) — for the most severe angular deformities requiring complete vertebral removal
- Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) — continuous real-time cord and nerve root monitoring throughout every relevant procedure
TRAINING & EDUCATION
| Residency — Orthopedic Surgery McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada Chief Resident |  |
| Doctor of Medicine & Master of Surgery (MD, CM) Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada |  |
| Master of Science — Computer Science McGill University, Montreal, Canada | |
| Bachelor of Engineering — Electrical Engineering McGill University, Montreal, Canada | |
BOARD CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE
| American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Board Certified — Orthopaedic Surgery |  |
| Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Fellow — Orthopaedic Surgery (F.R.C.S.C) |  |
Licensed to practice in: New York • New Jersey • Connecticut • California • Florida • Missouri • Pennsylvania • Texas
RESEARCH & ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
As an active member of the academic spine community, Dr. Sardar belongs to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), AO Spine, the North American Spine Society (NASS), the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS). His research interests are focused on improving clinical outcomes and surgical techniques to enhance patient safety and ensure better surgical results. He has presented at national and international conferences including NASS, SRS, and AOSpine.
View research & publications →
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
 Scoliosis Research Society |  North American Spine Society |  AO Spine |  AAOS |  ISASS |
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Dr. Sardar sees patients from age 10 through adulthood for the full range of spinal conditions — from common cervical and lumbar disorders to the most complex deformity and revision cases. Telemedicine consultations are available in NY, NJ, CT, FL, PA, MO, CA, and TX. Second opinions are always welcome.
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Please consult a qualified spine specialist to discuss your specific condition.
Last reviewed by Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD — June 2026.