Cahill Debates

Saturday, February 28, 2026

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM MST

Moderator(s)

Charles Branch, Jr., MD

Dept of Neurosurgery Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Richard Fessler, MD, PhD

Rush University Medical Center
Eric Potts, MD

Presentations:

11:00 AM - 11:02 AM MST

Introduction of Topic 1: Primary Spine Tumors: Separation Surgery is the 21st Century Answer vs. En Bloc Resection is Still the Way to Go
Speaker: Charles L. Branch, Jr., MD – Dept of Neurosurgery Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Health
11:03 AM - 11:09 AM MST

Pro: Primary Spine Tumors: Separation Surgery is the 21st Century Answer vs. En Bloc Resection is Still the Way to Go
Speaker: Mark Bilsky, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Department of Neurosurgery
11:10 AM - 11:16 AM MST

Con: Primary Spine Tumors: Separation Surgery is the 21st Century Answer vs. En Bloc Resection is Still the Way to Go
Speaker: Ziya L. Gokaslan, MD – Department of Neurosurgery, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Lifespan Health System
11:17 AM - 11:19 AM MST

Pro Rebuttal: Primary Spine Tumors: Separation Surgery is the 21st Century Answer vs. En Bloc Resection is Still the Way to Go
Speaker: Dean Chou, MD – Columbia University
11:20 AM - 11:22 AM MST

Con Rebuttal: Primary Spine Tumors: Separation Surgery is the 21st Century Answer vs. En Bloc Resection is Still the Way to Go
Speaker: Nicolas Dea, MD, MSc – Vancouver General Hospital and The University of British Columbia
11:23 AM - 11:24 AM MST

Topic 1: Discussion & Vote
11:25 AM - 11:27 AM MST

Introduction of Topic 2: Add Sacroiliac Joint Fusion to Deformity: Prevent Pain and Failure vs. No Clinical Need, Mind the Extra Cost and Dissection
Speaker: Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD – Rush University Medical Center
11:28 AM - 11:34 AM MST

Pro: Add Sacroiliac Joint Fusion to Deformity: Prevent Pain and Failure vs. No Clinical Need, Mind the Extra Cost and Dissection
Speaker: Charles Sansur, MD, MHSc – University of Maryland Medical Center
11:35 AM - 11:41 AM MST

Con: Add Sacroiliac Joint Fusion to Deformity: Prevent Pain and Failure vs. No Clinical Need, Mind the Extra Cost and Dissection
Speaker: Shay Bess, MD – Colorado Scoliosis and Spine Specialists
11:42 AM - 11:44 AM MST

Pro Rebuttal: Add Sacroiliac Joint Fusion to Deformity: Prevent Pain and Failure vs. No Clinical Need, Mind the Extra Cost and Dissection
11:45 AM - 11:47 AM MST

Con Rebuttal: Add Sacroiliac Joint Fusion to Deformity: Prevent Pain and Failure vs. No Clinical Need, Mind the Extra Cost and Dissection
Speaker: Eric Klineberg, MD – University of Texas Houston
11:48 AM - 11:49 AM MST

Topic 2: Discussion & Vote
11:50 AM - 11:52 AM MST

Introduction of Topic 3: Multilevel Cervical Fusions: The Patient Needs a Collar vs. No Way No Need
Speaker: Eric Potts, MD – Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine
11:53 AM - 11:59 AM MST

Pro: Multilevel Cervical Fusions: The Patient Needs a Collar vs. No Way No Need
Speaker: andrew hecht, MD – Mount Sinai Health System and Icahn School of Medicine
12:00 PM - 12:06 PM MST

Con: Multilevel Cervical Fusions: The Patient Needs a Collar vs. No Way No Need
Speaker: Darrel S. Brodke, MD – University of Utah
12:07 PM - 12:09 PM MST

Pro Rebuttal: Multilevel Cervical Fusions: The Patient Needs a Collar vs. No Way No Need
Speaker: Ali A. Baaj, MD, FAANS
12:10 PM - 12:12 PM MST

Con Rebuttal: Multilevel Cervical Fusions: The Patient Needs a Collar vs. No Way No Need
Speaker: Khoi D. Than, MD – Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Hospital
12:13 PM - 12:15 PM MST

Topic 3: Discussion & Vote/Wrap-up