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A conversation with Thomas E. Mroz, MD

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In this issue, Spine Surgery Today poses five questions to Thomas E. Mroz, MD. He holds the Directorship of the Center for Spine Health at Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, and is a board-certified spine surgeon in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurological Surgery and the Center for Spine Health at Cleveland Clinic. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in Cleveland.

Thomas E. Mroz

In 2002, he completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the George Washington University Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., and went on to complete two spine surgery fellowships — one at the University of California-Los Angeles and the other in Neurosurgery at the University of Tennessee, in Memphis.

Dr. Mroz practices all aspects of spine surgery but has a dedicated interest in minimally invasive surgery and cervical surgery, including radiculopathy, myelopathy, stenosis, disc herniation, cervical disc replacement, revision cervical surgery, cervical infection, cervical tumor and cervical deformity.

He is an active researcher who has lectured nationally and internationally on minimally invasive surgery and cervical spine surgery and authored numerous research articles and textbook chapters. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Spine Surgery Today: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

Thomas E. Mroz, MD: I suppose every physician has been influenced and inspired by one or a handful of notable people. I am no different. Early in my residency I was not sure orthopedics was the right choice for me, and most people do not know this about me. My residency chair, Robert J. Neviaser, MD, K. Daniel Riew, MD, and George Washington’s Chief of Spine, Warren D. Yu, MD, were all very influential in my decision to stay in orthopedics. I could not have made a better decision.

In my residency, James E. Tozzi, MD, Orthopedic Chair and spine surgeon at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, in Washington, D.C., impressed me with his attention to detail from a medical and surgical perspective. Perhaps what inspired me most about Dr. Tozzi was his insistence on and capacity for knowing everything about spine surgery, while maintaining a command of medical knowledge. A surgeon cannot divorce himself or herself from the medical issues (or his or her medical training) of his or her patients. During my first fellowship at University of California-Los Angeles, Edgar G. Dawson, MD, and Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, also had a major impact on my development as a surgeon. Dr. Dawson was an exemplary model of commitment to his patients and invariably rounded even earlier than his junior residents. His persistent display of professionalism and integrity, and enthusiasm for spine surgery, left a lasting impression on me, one that has guided me throughout my career. Dr. Wang pushed me to master the nuances of surgical techniques, particularly with cervical spine surgery. Dr. Wang also has had a critical influence on my academic career in terms of setting a trajectory, developing a research program and engaging me in a multitude of research projects very early in my career. I consider myself fortunate, and lucky, to have been influenced and mentored by these individuals, in particular.

Spine Surgery Today: What was the defining moment that led you to your field?

Mroz: This is an easy question. The day I started my first spine rotation defined my career. I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of the preoperative evaluations, the breadth of pathology and related surgical techniques, as well as the future of spine surgery. Without a doubt, spine surgery was the right choice for me. I love it.

Spine Surgery Today: What area of research in spine surgery most interests you right now? Why?

Mroz: I most enjoy clinical outcomes research and I believe it has the potential to really “move the needle” in terms of improving patient care. There is a great deal of heterogeneity in the surgical care delivered to patients for any given pathology. Further, deriving the value (= quality/cost) of our surgical care is largely not defined in the literature. As we move further toward a value-based health care economy, defining the most valuable treatments will be of paramount importance.

Spine Surgery Today: What advice would you offer a medical school student today?

Mroz: First, I would advise them to study hard, be diligent, humble and respectful and honest to all, and to themselves, and to choose the specialty for which they will be most enthusiastic and happy throughout their career. Having humility cannot be overemphasized. I have met many highly intelligent medical students, residents, fellows and staff whose lack of humility ultimately limits their professional and/or academic achievement. Further, being asked to choose a career at a young age with little experience in any particular field can be difficult during medical school. Medical school students just need to remember that if you end up choosing the wrong path initially, you can always change course and move to the correct one.

Second, I would encourage them to get involved with research early in medical school, and publish as much as possible because this will substantially enhance their visibility and attractiveness to residency programs and fellowships. Even if they decide not to ultimately pursue an academic career, the experience will be fruitful in that they will gain a more mature appreciation of the academic process.

Spine Surgery Today: What do you enjoy doing to relax?

Mroz: When I am in California, surfing is a great way to relax. Running, though, has always been a consistent avenue of relaxation for me and is a big part of my life. A great way for me to wind down after a day of surgery or clinic is to hit a track on a hot summer day and run some 200-meter or 400-meter intervals.