"Career Dedicated to Service, Empathy, Leading Edge Spine Care"
Michael Steinhaus’ residency and fellowship looked different than those of most aspiring spine surgeons. Transitioning from a chief residency role to a fellowship at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he watched the No. 1 orthopedic hospital in the country become a COVID-19 center. He and his colleagues went to work in the ICU to provide care for patients. The experience, he said, “served as a poignant reminder of the reason I went to medical school; to serve the community in whatever capacity is needed.”
Now an attending physician, Steinhaus serves the Mountain West region in Utah. With a strong interest in minimally invasive surgery and technology, he aims to transform the way spine surgery is performed in the region. He has access to one of the first robotic platforms in the state, which gives his patients the benefits of navigation and robotic surgery in an area where open surgery is still the standard. His approach is already paying off, noting “I have already seen the benefits of minimally invasive surgery, with patients spending less time in the hospital and returning to function sooner. I am proud to offer this service where patients have few options.”
Despite his leading-edge tools and techniques, Steinhaus’ philosophy of care is rooted in traditional practices. He emphasizes empathy in patient care, noting that his mentors—Todd Albert, Han Jo Kim and Sheeraz Quereshi—taught him the importance of treating patients like family.
Steinhaus has also contributed to spine care research. He has received several research grants, published more than 60 articles and book chapters, and presented from the podium and on posters at several national and international spine conferences. He also has received numerous accolades for his leadership and clinical care, including the Weill Cornell Medical Center Distinguished Housestaff Award, the Thomas P. Sculco Award, the Jean C. McDaniel Award and the Todd J. Albert Leadership Award.
In his free time, Steinhaus enjoys taking advantage of the Utah landscape with his wife and two sons, enjoying the slopes and teaching his sons to ski.
Read the full list