Joseph A. Weiner, M.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Joseph Weiner, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Health Systems, with a specialization in comprehensive spine care. Dr. Weiner treats conditions of the neck and back including: degenerative conditions, spinal deformities, scoliosis, cervical spine disorders, traumatic injuries, spinal and metastatic tumors, infections, revision spinal procedures, back pain, neck pain, radiculopathy, and sciatica. He practices at both the main campus and the Indian Creek campus seeing both pediatric and adult patients.

Dr. Weiner received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and completed his medical school at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. Furthering his academic pursuits, he completed a research fellowship in Dr. Wellington Hsu’s Laboratory for Regenerative Technologies at Northwestern University. Following medical school, Dr. Weiner completed residency training in orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University and a clinical fellowship in spine surgery at the University of Utah.

Dr. Weiner believes in the thoughtful use of new technologies, including minimally invasive surgery, novel biologics, image-guided techniques, and robotic-assisted surgery. This treatment philosophy facilitates quicker recovery, reduced discomfort, and optimal results for patients. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas, he enjoys the benefits of working closely with non-operative spine specialists and physical therapists to provide comprehensive care to his patients, as well as train the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.

Central to Dr. Weiner's philosophy is his patient-centered treatment approach. With a focus on minimizing surgical impact while alleviating pain, he empowers patients to regain their quality of life swiftly. This ethos resonates throughout his practice, from his attentive nursing and clinic staff to the dedicated personnel in his operating room.

Beyond his professional life, Dr. Weiner enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. Outside of the hospital his interests include traveling, car restoration, auto racing, aviation, cycling, golf, and hiking

• BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois
• MD, Doctor of Medicine (MD) with Distinction in Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Other, Bone Regeneration and Biologics, Northwestern University
• Residency, Orthopedic Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
• Clinical Fellowship, Spine Surgery, University of Utah

Research

Overview

Dr. Weiner research interests include both clinical and pre-clinical endeavors. In the pre-clinical realm, he has worked extensively on the development of technologies that promote bone regeneration and spinal fusion. He has also completed basic science research on the inhibitory mechanisms of action of cigarette smoke on bone.

Dr. Weiner’s clinical research focuses on the treatment of cervical and lumbar spine disorders, socioeconomic disparities in orthopedic care, patient-reported outcomes, spine imaging techniques and the use of opioids in spinal conditions. He has authored many peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on these and other related topics.

• Swiatek, P., R, Roumeliotis, A., G, Weiner, J., A, Ramesh, A, Johnson, D., J, Gerlach, E., B, Divi, S., N, Hsu, W., K, Patel, A., A. 2023. Social Media Posts Pertaining to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Surgery: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Patient and Surgeon Perceptions.. Clinical spine surgery, 36 (5), E167-E173
• Weiner, J., A, Swiatek, P., R, Johnson, D., J, Louie, P., K, Harada, G., K, McCarthy, M., H, Germscheid, N, Cheung JPY, Neva, M., H, El-Sharkawi, M, Valacco, M, Sciubba, D., M, Chutkan, N., B, An, H., S, Samartzis, D. 2022. Spine Surgery and COVID-19: The Influence of Practice Type on Preparedness, Response, and Economic Impact.. Global spine journal, 12 (2), 249-262
• Weiner, J., A, Swiatek, P., R, Johnson, D., J, Gerlach, E., B, Goedderz, C, Butler, B., A, Shah, C., M, Kalainov, D., M. 2022. Determining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hand Surgery Fellowship Education.. Journal of surgical orthopaedic advances, 31 (1), 48-52
• Snavely, Joseph., E, Swiatek, Peter., R, Weiner, Joseph., A, Patel, Alpesh., A. 2022. Metallosis and Pseudarthrosis after Implantation of an Expandable Titanium Interbody Device. Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances
• Yamaguchi, J., T, Weiner, J., A, Minardi, S, Greene, A., C, Ellenbogen, D., J, Hallman, M., J, Shah, V., P, Weisz, K., M, Jeong, S, Nandurkar, T, Yun, C, Hsu, W., K, Hsu, E., L. 2021. Characterizing the host response to rhPDGF-BB in a rat spinal arthrodesis model.. JOR spine, 4 (4), e1173