33. Treating the Toughest Spine Cases | Dr. Jian Guan

When he got out of medical school Dr. Jian Guan wanted to do pediatric neurosurgery, and he found a top-flight residency at the University of Utah. While there, though, his career took a turn, thanks to the Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. Cheyenne is a small city, and Salt Lake City is the nearest center of excellence for spine surgery, so every summer, Dr. Guan, sadly, would see a surge in back injuries from rodeo accidents. He became interested in helping patients recover with the least invasive procedures possible. Historically, surgeons have been too quick to fuse patients’ vertebra, Dr. Guan says. It’s a major operation, and it’s not always necessary. Treating so many rodeo patients, Dr. Guan learned when surgery was necessary and when it wasn’t. Eager to hone his skills, Dr. Guan completed a fellowship in complex neurosurgical spinal surgery at the renowned Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts. Listen to this podcast to learn how he treats the toughest spine cases at Pacific Neuroscience Institute.