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Dr. Samtani is a board certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon in Bakersfield, CA. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) with Distinction from George Washington University in Washington, DC. During medical school he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha - a Medical Honors Society. He then went on to pursue a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI. After successfully completing his residency, he pursued further subspecialty training in one of the premier Complex Spine Surgery Fellowships in the country at the University of California – San Francisco. Dr. Samtani is committed to providing each patient with the most advanced and highest quality care possible.

EDUCATION

  • Fellowship: University of California San Francisco. Complex Spine Surgery
  • Residency: University of Wisconsin; Madison WI. Orthopedic Surgery
  • Medical School: George Washington University; Washington, DC. Degree: MD with Distinction
  • Undergraduate: University of Maryland; College Park, MD. Degree: B.S. in Information Systems and Logistics

MEDICAL LICENSE

  • ABOS Board Certified
  • Wisconsin Medical License
  • California Medical License
  • Iowa Medical License

EDUCATIONAL COURSES

  • November 2021: UCSF Techniques in Complex Spine Surgery
  • November 2021: Spine IEP Fellows and Young Surgeons Course
  • October 2021: Globus Secure-C Cervical Disc Replacement Course
  • September 2021: Advanced eXtreme Lumbar Interbody Fusion (XLIF) Techniques
  • August 2021: Spine Excelsius Robotics Techniques and Application
  • May 2021: Current Trends and Concepts for Spine Residents and Fellows
  • March 2021: Advanced Techniques in Lateral Surgery, Phoenix AZ
  • March 2021: Prone Transpsoas Advanced Course, San Diego CA
  • October 2020: Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Annual Forum
  • October 2020: North American Spine Society (NASS) 2020 Virtual Course
  • October 2020: Medtronic Kyphoplasty Course, San Francisco CA
  • September 2020: AO Spine North America Fellows Course, Virtual
  • September 2020: UCSF Adult and Pediatric Spine Course
  • June 2020: Stryker Spine Pre-Fellows Course, Virtual
  • October 2019: Fundamentals of Spine Surgery for Residents and Fellows, Burr Ridge, IL
  • August 2019: Pittsburgh Spine Summit, Pittsburgh, PA
  • January 2019: Foundations of Arthroscopy Course for Residents and Fellows, Chicago, IL
  • April 2018: Fundamentals of Hip and Knee Arthroplasty for Orthopedic Residents by AAOS/AAHKS, Rosemont, IL
  • April 2016: AO Trauma Resident Fracture Basic Course, New Orleans, LA

PUBLICATIONS

  • Aurora A, Cummins C, Wague A, Mendelis J, Samtani RG, McNeill I, Theologis A, Mummaneni P, Berven S
    Preoperative Medical Assessment for Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery – A State of the Art Review
    Published: Spine Deformity – 2023
  • Samtani RG, Webb A, Burleson J, Berven S, Theologis A, Abotsi E, Burch S, Deviren V, Haddas R
    Spine Surgeons Social Dilemma: Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Spine Surgery Practice in the 21st Century
    Published: Global Spine Journal – 2021
  • Samtani RG, Huttman D, Weinreb JH, Cyriac M, Yu W, O’Brien JR
    The Effect of Esophageal Temperature Probes on Postoperative Dysphagia Follow Primary Anterior Cervical Discectomy and
    Fusion: A Randomized Prospective Study
    Published: International Journal of Spine Surgery - 2021
  • Goldstein SD, Samtani RG, Lang PJ, Hetzel S, Halanski MA
    Keeping Casts Dry: A Comparison of Commercially Available Cast Protectors Using a Mechanized Short Arm Cast Model
    Published: Injury - 2021
  • Gaio NM, Samtani RG, Hennessy DW.
    Analysis of the OITE Oncology Section: An Updated Review of Years 2013 to 2019.
    Published: Journal of Surgical Education – 2020
  • Lund EA, Samtani RG, Winston M, Anderson PA, Whiting PS, O’Toole RV, Hetzel S, Doro CJ.
    Association of Perioperative Computed Tomography Hounsfield Units and Failure of Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation
    Published: Journal of Orthopedic Trauma (JOT) - 2020
  • Samtani RG, Ho A, Bernatz JT, Napier Z, O’Brien, JR
    Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Following Thoracolumbar Fusion: The Effect of Cement Augmentation
    Published: Journal of Spine – 2020.
  • Samtani RG, Bernatz JT, Harrison R, Roy S, Gupta S, O’Brien JR. The Effect of Alendronate on Subsidence after Lateral Transpsoas
    Interbody Fusion (LLIF): Preliminary Report
    Published: International Journal of Spine Surgery - 2019.
  • Trask DJ, Roney P, Nies M, Samtani RG, Squire MW.
    Multi-Surgeon Assessment of Total Hip Arthroplasty Head-Trunnion Assembly Forces Using a Surgical Simulator
    Published: Journal of Surgical Simulation – 2019.
  • Samtani RG, Bernatz JT, Halanski M, Noonan K.
    Cervical Spine Injury following Thoracic Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
    Published: Cureus – 2019.
  • Haines CM, Samtani RG, Bernatz JT, Abugideiri M, O’Brien JR. (October 02, 2018) Far-lateral Disc Herniation Treated by Lateral
    Lumbar Interbody Fusion without Complete Fragment Excision: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
    Published: Cureus - 2018.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Shah J, Rao N, Samtani RG
Chapter 28: Understanding Spine Biological for the Access Surgeon.
Published: Lumbar Spine Accesss Surgery – A Comprehensive Guide to Anterior and Lateral Approaches.

Samtani RG, Blaskiewicz D, Berven SH
Chapter 57: Postoperative Spinal Deformity
Published: Benzel’s Spine Surgery 5th edition

POSTER & PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Samtani RG, Webb A, Burleson J, Berven S, Theologis A, Abotsi E, Burch S, Deviren V, Haddas R Spine Surgeons Social Dilemma: Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Spine Surgery Practice in the 21st Century

  • Podium Presentation – North American Spine Society (NASS) 2021

Roth JD, Blank JL, Samtani RG, Greiner J, Squire MW, Thelen DG
Evaluation of A Novel Sensor To Detect Overly Tight Collateral Ligaments During Total Knee Arthroplasty

  • Poster Presentation – Orthopedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting 2020
  • Poster Presentation – ORS Great Lakes/Midwest Regional Symposium 2019

Samtani RG, Ho A, Bernatz JT, Napier Z, O’Brien, JR Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Following Thoracolumbar Fusion: The Effect of Cement Augmentation

  • Poster Presentation – Pittsburgh Spine Summit 2019
    • Won “Best Resident Poster Presentation”

Lund EA, Samtani RG, Winston M, Anderson PA, Whiting PS, O’Toole RV, Hetzel S, Doro CJ. Association of Perioperative Computed Tomography Hounsfield Units and Failure of Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation

  • Poster Presentation – Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA) 2017

Samtani RG, Bernatz JT, Harrison R, Roy S, Gupta S, O’Brien JR. (July 09, 2019) The Effect of Alendronate on Subsidence after Lateral Transpsoas Interbody Fusion (LLIF): Preliminary Report

  • Accepted Poster – American College of Surgeons Medical Student Poster Presentation 2014
  • Accepted E-Poster – 15th European Congress of Neurosurgery 2014
  • Accepted E-Poster – American Association of Neurological Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting 2014
  • Accepted E-Poster – Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) 2013 Program

EDUCATIONAL TALKS

  • May 2021
  • Techniques and Complications in Lateral Based Spine Surgery - UCSF Spine Lecture Series
  • March 2021
  • Understanding Coronal Deformity - UCSF Spine Lecture Series
  • February 2021
  • Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Controversies and Classification –Seattle Science Foundation, Virtual Journal Club
  • December 2020
  • Primary Tumors of the Spine - UCSF Spine Lecture Series
  • October 2020
  • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) - Seattle Science Foundation, Virtual Journal Club
  • October 2020
  • Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy - UCSF Spine Lecture Series
  • September 2020
  • Cervical Facet Trauma - UCSF Visiting Professor Series
  • May 2020
  • Social Media and Online Brand Management in Orthopedics - University of Wisconsin Grand Rounds
  • October 2019
  • Joints Tumor - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin OITE Review Lecture Series
  • August 2019
  • PJK Following Thoracolumbar Fusion - The Effect of Cement Augmentation - Poster Presentation (Won Best Poster), Pittsburgh Spine Summit 2019
  • May 2019
  • Surgical Indications in Musculoskeletal Tumor Surgery - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin Tumor Indication Conference
  • April 2019
  • Complex Cases in Adult Reconstruction - Podium Presentation, University of Wisconsin, Adult Reconstruction Visiting Professor
  • April 2019
  • Suprascapular Neuropathy - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin Sports Indication Conference
  • December 2018
  • Hand Fractures - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin Hand Indication Conference
  • October 2018
  • Joints Review - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin OITE Review Lecture Series
  • July 2018
  • Biomaterials in Orthopedic Surgery - Resident Lecture, University of Wisconsin Basic Science Lecture Series
  • October 2014
  • The Effect of Alendronate on Subsidence after Lateral Transpsoas Interbody Fusion (LLIF) - Poster Presentation, American College of Surgeons Medical Student Poster 2014

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

  • North American Spine Society (NASS)
    AOSpine
  • Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS)
  • Wisconsin Orthopedic Society (WOS)
  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)
    Rahul Samtani, M.D.
  • 5201 Truxtun Avenue
    Bakersfield, CA 93309

  • American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
  • The George Washington University
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison
  • UC San Francisco
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  •  North American Spine Society
  • AO Spine
  • SMISS-Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • The Wisconsin Orthopaedic Society
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons