Home : Full-time clinical faculty: Peter G. Whang, MD

Peter G. Whang, MD

Education:

• Undergraduate: Harvard University, B.A (Biochemistry)
• Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine, MD
• Internship: University of California, Los Angeles (General Surgery)
• Residency: University of California, Los Angeles (Orthopaedic Surgery)
• Fellowship: Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University (Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Spine Surgery)

Academic appointments:

• Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine

Professional Affiliations/Societies

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
• North American Spine Society (NASS)

Honors and Awards

• 1999—Alpha Omega Alpha, Duke University School of Medicine
• 1999—Senior Scholarship, Duke University School of Medicine
• 1995—Magna Cum Laude, Harvard College
• 1995—Summa Cum Laude, Senior Thesis, Harvard College
• 1995—John Harvard Scholar (Dean’s List all semesters), Harvard College
• 1991—United States Presidential Scholar

Editorial Positions

• 2008—Guest editor, “Intraoperative imaging technology,” Seminars in Spine Surgery
• 2006—present Associate editor, Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine
• 2006—present Contributor, Synthes Spine Audio Project for Residents and Fellows

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Miller CP, Simpson AK, Whang PG, et al. The potential for rhBMP-2 to overcome the deleterious effects of infection in a rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion model. Spine (Submitted).
• Simpson AK, Sabino J, Whang PG, et al. Assessment of cervical foramen with oblique radiographs: the effect of film area on foraminal area and the ideal oblique imaging angle. J Spinal Disord Tech (Submitted).
• Whang PG, Simpson AK, Rechtine G, et al. Current trends in spinal arthroplasty: an assessment of surgeon practices and attitudes regarding cervical and lumbar disk replacement. J Spinal Disord Tech (Submitted).
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Jonisch A, et al. The radiation exposure associated with cervical and lumbar radiographs. J Spinal Disord Tech (In press).
• Whang PG, O’Hara BJ, Ratliff J, et al. Pseudarthrosis following lumbar interbody fusion using bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2): intraoperative and histopathologic findings. Orthopedics (In press).
• Whang PG, Lim MR, Sasso RC, et al. Financial incentives for lumbar surgery: a critical analysis of physician reimbursement for decompression and fusion. J Spinal Disord Tech (In press).
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. Surgical techniques: thoracolumbar fractures – anterior decompression and interbody fusion. J Am Acad Orthop Surg (In press).
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. Surgical techniques: thoracolumbar fractures – posterior instrumentation using distraction and ligamentotaxis reduction. J Am Acad Orthop Surg (In press).
• Patel AA, Madigan L, Poelstra KA, Whang PG, et al. Acute cervical osteomyelitis and pre-vertebral abscess after routine tonsillectomy. Spine J 2007 Jun 21.
• Vaccaro AR, Whang PG, Patel T, et al. The safety and efficacy of OP-1 (rhBMP-7) as a replacement for iliac crest autograft for posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis: long-term follow-up of a pilot study. Spine J 2007;May 25.
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR, Poelstra KA, et al. The influence of fracture mechanism and morphology on the reliability and validity of two novel thoracolumbar injury classification systems. Spine 2007;32:791-5.
• Patel AA, Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ, Hilibrand AS, Harrop JS, Anderson DG, Sharan A, Whang PG, et al. The adoption of a new classification system: time-dependent variation in interobserver reliability of the thoracolumbar injury severity score classification system. Spine 2007;32:E105-10.
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. Spinal pedicle fixation revisited: the role of x-rays and surgical factors. Spine 2006;31:717-21.
• Whang PG, Gamradt SC, Gates JJ, et al. Effects of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on osteolytic human prostate cancer cell metastases. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2005;8:327-34.
• Whang PG, Schwarz EM, Gamradt SC, et al. The effects of RANK blockade and osteoclast depletion in a model of pure osteoblastic prostate cancer metastasis in bone. J Orthop Res 2005;23:1475-83.
• Peterson B, Whang PG, Iglesias RC, et al. Osteoinductivity of commercially available demineralized bone matrix. Preparations in a spine fusion model. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004;86-A:2243-50.
• Whang PG, Wang JC. Bone graft substitutes for spinal fusion. Spine J 2003;3:155-65.
• Whang PG, Lieberman JR. Low-molecular-weight heparin. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2002;10:299-302.
• Whang PG, Lieberman JR. Extended-duration low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis following total joint arthroplasty. Am J Orthop 2002;31S:31-6
• Qi WN, Yan ZQ, Whang PG, et al. Gene and protein expressions of nitric oxide synthases in ischemia-reperfused peripheral nerve of the rat. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2001;281:C849-56.

Other Publicaitons

• Patel AA, Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. Overview of computer-assisted image-guided surgery of the spine. Seminars in Spine Surgery (In press).
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Grauer JN. Iso-C 3-D imaging system. Seminars in Spine Surgery (In press).
• Patel A, Brown Z, Whang PG, et al. Thoracolumbar spine trauma. Oper Tech Orthop 2007;17:190-8.
• Patel AA, Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. Thoracolumbar trauma classifications. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics.
• Whang PG, Grauer JN. Literature review: The effect of anterior cervical fusion on neck motion. SpineLine (Accepted).
• Miller C, Whang PG, Grauer JN. Literature review: Range of motion and adjacent level degeneration after lumbar total disc arthroplasty. SpineLine (Accepted).
• Dimarcantonio T. Successful results with OP-1 putty in spinal fusion maintained over long term. Orthopedics Today 2007;27:104.
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR. The use of bone morphogenetic proteins for spinal fusion. US Musculoskeletal Review 2006;2:46-7.
• Whang PG, Biswas D, Grauer JN. Literature review: Intervariability and intravariability of bone morphogenetic proteins in commercially available demineralized bone matrix products. SpineLine Nov/Dec 2006, 22-3.
• Poelstra KA, Vaccaro AR, Rao S, Patel A, Whang P, et al. Pharmacologic neuroprotection in patients with spinal cord injury and the efficacy of early decompressive surgery. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. 2006;12(2):63-76.
• Patel AA, Poelstra K, Whang PG, et al. Esophageal injuries in anterior cervical surgery. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. 2006;12(2):40-4.
• Poelstra KA, Austin L, Zaslavsky J, Whang PG, et al. Animal models of spine fusion and low back pain. Current Opinions in Orthopedics. 2006;17:214-21.
• Poelstra KA, Vaccaro AR, Rao S, Patel D, Brown AK, Whang PG, et al. Emergency transport and radiographic evaluation following spinal cord injury. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. 2006;12(1): 22-37.
• Whang PG, Wang JC. Fusion biology and contemporary graft options. Seminars in Spine Surgery 2003;15:460-72.
• Mroz TE, Whang PG, Suen P, et al. Bone graft substitutes in spinal surgery. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics 2003;13:146-51.

Book Chapters

• Simpson AK, Grauer JN, Whang PG. Surgical management of a far-lateral disk herniation. In Arthritis and Arthroplasty: The Spine. Ludwig SJ, Poelstra KA, eds. Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA.
• Whang PG, Grauer JN. Thoracic disk herniations. In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 9. Fischgrund JS, ed. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL.
• Grauer JN, Whang PG. Infections of the spine. In Orthopaedic Knowledge Update 9. Fischgrund JS, ed. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL.
• Whang PG, Grauer JN. Infections of the spine. In Orthopaedic Board Review Book. Lieberman JR, ed. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL.
• Whang PG, Hilibrand AS. Adjacent segment degeneration. In Cervical Spine Surgery: Diagnosis and Management. Albert TJ, Lee JY, Lim MR, eds. Thieme Medical, New York, NY.
• Orndorff DG, Whang PG, Albert TJ. Motion sparing technology: cervical disc arthroplasty. In Cervical Spine Surgery: Diagnosis and Management. Albert TJ, Lee JY, Lim MR, eds. Thieme Medical, New York, NY.
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Grauer JN. Biological approaches to spinal fusion. In Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration: Biological Materials and Methods. Pietrczak WS, Eppley B, eds., Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.
• Whang PG, Lieberman JR. Clinical issues in the development of cellular systems for use as bone graft substitutes. In Bone Graft Substitutes: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Laurencin CT, ed., American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA. 142-63, 2003.

Presentations and Posters

• Whang PG, Lim MR, Sasso RC, et al. A critical analysis of the financial incentives for lumbar decompression and fusion procedures. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Francisco, CA, March 2008.
• Simpson AK, Miller CP, Whang PG, et al. The effect of rhBMP-2 on surgical site infections in a rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion model. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Francisco, CA, March 2008.
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Jarisch A, et al. The radiation exposure associated with cervical and lumbar spine radiographs. Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, San Francisco, CA, November 2007.
• Simpson AK, Sabino J, Whang PG, et al. Assessment of cervical foramen with oblique radiographs: the effect of film angle on foraminal area and the ideal oblique imaging angle. Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, San Francisco, CA, November 2007.
• Miller CP, Simpson AK, Whang PG, et al. The effect of rhBMP-2 on the incidence and severity of postoperative infections in a rabbit posterolateral lumbar fusion model. Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, San Francisco, CA, November 2007.
• Simpson AK, Biswas D, Emerson JE, Whang PG, et al. Quantifying the effects of age, gender, degeneration, and adjacent level degeneration on cervical spine range of motion using multivariate analyses. Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, San Francisco, CA, November 2007.
• Whang PG, Goldberg G, Sanfilippo JA, et al. The initial assessment and early management of spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a comparison of treatment methods. Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society, Austin, TX, October 2007.
• Simpson AK, Miller CP, Waked W, Lawrence J, Erickson B, Whang PW, et al. Evaluating the effect of rhBMP-2 on surgical site infections in a posterolateral lumbar fusion rabbit model. Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society, Austin, TX, October 2007.
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Rechtine G, et al. Current trends in total disk replacement: a questionnaire study of surgeon practices and attitudes regarding cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty. Combined Annual Meeting of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and Southern Orthopaedic Association, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, August 2007.
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR, Patel T, et al. Long-term follow-up of a pilot study evaluating the safety and efficacy of OP-1 (rhBMP-7) as a replacement for iliac crest autograft for posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis. International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), Paradise Island, Bahamas, July 2007.
• Simpson AK, Whang PG, Rechtine G, et al. Current trends in total disk replacement: a questionnaire study of surgeon practices and attitudes regarding cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty. International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), Paradise Island, Bahamas, July 2007.
• Goldberg G, Whang PG, Sanfilippo JA, et al. The management of spine fractures in patients with AS or DISH: a comparison of treatment. 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, San Diego, CA.
• Poelstra KA, Vaccaro AR, Albert TJ, Whang PG, et al. Postoperative spinal wound infection prevention with gentamicin-microspheres. 2006 Annual Meeting of the Cervical Spine Research Society, Palm Beach, FL.
• Whang PG, Vaccaro AR, Anderson G, et al. Durability of uninstrumented spinal fusion with OP-1 putty (rhBMP-7): long-term follow-up of a pilot study. Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society, Seattle, WA, October 2006.
• Peterson B, Whang PG, Iglesias RC, et al. The efficacy of three different commercially available demineralized bone matrices for inducing an intertransverse spinal fusion in an athymic rat model. Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, 2003.
• Whang PG, Iglesias RC, Lieberman JR. The soluble receptor activator of NF-kB:Fc fusion protein inhibits osteolytic and osteoblastic lesions induced by human prostate cancer cells. Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, 2003.
• Whang PG, Iglesias RC, Gates JJ, et al. The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 limits the growth of human prostate cancer in a bone metastasis model. Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, 2003.
• Whang PG, Peterson B, Iglesias RC, et al. The efficacy of three different commercially available demineralized bone matrices for inducing an intertransverse spinal fusion in an athymic rat model. World Spine II: The Second Interdisciplinary Congress on Spine Care, Chicago, IL, 2003.
• Whang PG, Schwarz EM, Gamradt SC, et al. The effects of a soluble receptor activator of NF-kB:Fc fusion protein on osteolytic and osteoblastic human prostate cancer cell metastases. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Minneapolis, MN, 2003.
• Whang PG, Peterson BM, Iglesias RC, et al. The efficacy of three different commercially available demineralized bone matrices for inducing an intertransverse spinal fusion in a rat model. Annual Meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society, Seattle, WA, 2002.
• Whang PG, Iglesias RC, Gates JJ, et al. The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 inhibits the growth of metastatic human prostate cancer in bone. Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, San Antonio, TX, 2002.
• Andrews CL, Whang P, Wang J: Anesthetic discography in the evaluation of the interventional disc as a pain generator: a pilot study. Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, IL, 2001.
• Whang PG, Yan ZA, Chen LE, et al. The distribution of nitric oxide synthase in peripheral nerve and its modulation following ischemia and reperfusion. Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Anaheim, CA, 1999.

Invited Lectures

• Rationale for “dynamic stabilization” technology. Spine Study Group Symposium, Palm Beach, FL, May 2007.
• Limited access decompression (fenestration) for lumbar stenosis. Spine Study Group Symposium, Palm Beach, FL, May 2007.
• Management of lumbar degeneration with interbody fusion. AO North America – Principles of Spinal Disorders for Operating Room Personnel, Philadelphia, PA, November 2006.
• What makes up the optimal pedicle screw system? Thomas Jefferson Spine Symposium, Newport, RI, July 2006.