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Associate ProfessorJakub Godzik

Areas of Interest
Minimally invasive spine surgery, complex spinal deformity, spinal robotics, lateral access spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, outcomes based research, augmented and virtual reality, spinal biomechanics.

Raised in San Diego, California, Dr. Godzik attended the University of California, Berkeley for his undergraduate studies in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He pursued both his medical degree and master's degree in statistics and clinical study design with Dr. Lawrence Lenke at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. 

He then completed his 7-year neurosurgical residency at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Lawton and Dr. Juan Uribe. During his time at the Barrow, he completed a year-long combined orthopedic and neurosurgical fellowship in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery with the San Diego Spine Foundation with Dr. Greg Mundis and Dr. Robert Eastlack.

Dr. Godzik's research interests revolve around improving clinical outcomes, particularly in regards to understanding the how to preserve the natural biomechanics of the spine and how to best use technology to maximize outcomes with minimal invasiveness. 

He enjoys the outdoors and is an avid hiker and stand up paddle boarder. He lives with his wife, Karissa, and their two dogs, Kaiser and Rico.

Patient Appointments and Questions
205-934-7170

Education 

Undergraduate Education
University of California Berkeley
Molecular and Cellular Biology, BA

Medical School
Washington University in St. Louis

Residency
Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ

Post-doctoral Fellowship
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Complex Deformity
San Diego Spine Foundation
Scripps Clinic and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego,
CA Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ

Honors & Awards

  • Charles Kuntz Scholar Award
    Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and peripheral Nerves
    Las Vegas, NV, Nov. 2019
  • Young Surgeon Award
    Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS)
    Las Vegas, NV – Nov. 2019
  • Best Scientific Presentation
    Society for Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS)
    San Diego, CA – May 2018

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