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About Martin H. Pham, MD

Martin H. Pham, MD, is a board-certified neurosurgeon who focuses on the neurosurgical evaluation and treatment of spinal disorders. This includes adult scoliosis and spinal deformity, complex spinal reconstruction, robotic and minimally invasive spine surgery, motion preservation of the spine, spine tumors, and spine trauma.

Dr. Pham is part of the comprehensive spine care team at UC San Diego Health, recognized by the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery (ACSS), an honor that is based on a health care organization's commitment to providing safe and excellent care, and advancing patient outcomes.

As an associate professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery, he leads the neurosurgery visiting student clerkship as course director and serves as a mentor for the master clinician program in surgery. In these roles, Dr. Pham teaches medical students, neurosurgical residents, and spine fellows at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.

He is published extensively within the field of spinal conditions and has an active interest in the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques with robotics platforms and patient-specific predictive modeling to advance safer evidence-based spine care. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications, abstracts, and textbook chapters, and has presented his work at the national and international level.

Dr. Pham completed a fellowship in robotic, spinal deformity, and motion preservation surgery at Columbia University's New York-Presbyterian Daniel and Jane Och Spine Hospital. He also enfolded a fellowship in minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery at Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), where he completed his residency in neurological surgery. Having completed spine fellowship training with both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Pham has a comprehensive understanding of the spine that allows him to tailor his treatment to each individual using a wide range of available surgical and nonsurgical options.

He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, and AOSpine North America. Additionally, he serves on the National Spine Health Foundation's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board.

UC San Diego Health Links

For more information, see Neurological Care.

Medical DegreeNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, ILResidencyUniversity of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CAFellowshipColumbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NYFellowshipUniversity of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
GenderMale
LanguagesSpanish
Date Joined Staff2018-09-01
Board Certifications
American Board of Neurological Surgery
Conditions and Treatments
  • Spinal Disorders
  • Neurological Spine Care
  • Adult Scoliosis
  • Complex Spinal Reconstruction
  • Motion Preservation of the Spine
  • Spine Tumors
  • Spine Trauma
  • Robotic and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  • Spinal Deformity
Neurosurgery

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Videos

Meet Martin Pham, MD: Neurosurgeon

Meet Martin Pham, MD: Neurosurgeon

News

iamage: a team of neurologists doctors in white lab coats
UC San Diego Health Awarded Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery

Recognized by The Joint Commission, the certification is granted to organizations with data-driven care processes, patient safeguards, and demonstrated high-quality patient outcomes.

Image: robotic technology for spine surgery
Robotic Spine Surgery Program Expands at UC San Diego Health

The new technology enables 3D surgical planning, robotic guidance and intraoperative navigation, enabling surgeons to ensure in real time that the surgical plan is carried out correctly and precisely.

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Leaders in Neurological Spine Care

UC San Diego Health is a national leader in minimally invasive spine surgery as well as other surgical and non-surgical treatments for spinal disorders. We are the regional referral center for complex spine reconstructions and specialize in all spine conditions with a special emphasis on minimally invasive treatment approaches. Thinking about spine surgery? Join us for an upcoming spine class, taught via Zoom, to learn more about what to expect.

Open Payments Program Notification

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.

View Open Payments Data for Dr. Pham