Training and experience

Clinical training and certification

I began my clinical training at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. At Taichung Veterans General Hospital, I completed my orthopedic residency, served as chief resident, and became an attending physician. I also served as chief of the orthopedic inpatient ward. I hold specialist certifications in orthopedic surgery and osteoporosis in Taiwan.

Advanced training and mentorship

My further training included thoracolumbar deformity correction at Columbia University Medical Center; cervical microsurgery and robot-assisted spine surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital; and Mazor robot-assisted spine surgery at Indiana Orthopedic Hospital. I was also invited to Japan as a visiting scholar by the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research (JSSR).

I trained under Dr. K. Daniel Riew in cervical spine surgery, Dr. Lawrence G. Lenke in spinal deformity surgery, and Professor Cheng-Hung Lee in anterior spine surgery. Each has helped shape modern practice in his field.

Professional memberships and recognition

I am a member of the Taiwan Spine Society, the Taiwan Minimally Invasive Spine Society, APSS, and AO Spine. I am regularly invited to demonstrate surgical techniques in Taiwan and abroad, and have received institutional awards for clinical care, teaching, and research.

Research and innovation

My research focuses on spinal biomechanics and osteoporosis, including the use of artificial intelligence in orthopedic imaging. I also hold a Taiwan patent for a spinal fusion cage and plate system designed to allow bone graft material to be packed tightly while limiting leakage. The device received a National Innovation Award in Taiwan.

Why I created this website

I created this website to help patients prepare for their visits and make our conversations in the clinic more useful.

My clinic is busy, but that cannot come at the expense of the questions and examinations a patient needs. Images alone are not enough. I need to understand your symptoms, how they affect your daily activities, and what the physical examination and imaging show together.

An abnormal finding on an image does not always require treatment. First, we need to understand the problem. Then we can discuss whether to treat it now or begin with observation, rehabilitation, medication, or follow-up.

Here, I share the explanations about conditions, evaluations, and treatment choices that often come up in clinic. I hope they help you prepare so that, when we meet, we can spend more time discussing where your symptoms come from, whether treatment is needed, and which approach fits your situation.

Clinical work keeps me busy, so I add articles as time allows. I focus on questions that patients often ask and topics that deserve a clear explanation.

Patients and family members sometimes ask whether I have had time to eat. I appreciate their concern. I simply do not want a busy schedule to mean leaving out an important part of someone's evaluation.

If this website helps you arrive with a clearer understanding and makes our time together more useful, it has served its purpose.

Frequently asked questions

Your clinic is listed as a morning session. Can I still be seen in the afternoon?

Yes. Unless I have an important meeting or need to perform emergency surgery, I usually continue seeing patients into the late afternoon or evening.

If the afternoon works better for you, or your appointment number is later in the queue, please check the hospital's live queue status and plan your arrival accordingly to avoid a long wait.

Does low back pain with leg pain or numbness always require surgery?

No. Many cases involving a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis can initially be managed with rehabilitation, posture changes, medication, and monitoring. Surgery is generally considered when nonsurgical treatment has not helped enough and symptoms of nerve compression, such as leg pain, numbness, or weakness, continue to interfere with daily life.

Can spine surgery cause nerve damage or paralysis?

This is one of the concerns patients raise most often. Spine surgery carries a risk of nerve injury, but the level of risk varies considerably by procedure. Serious nerve injury or paralysis is uncommon after surgery for common degenerative conditions such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis. The risk is higher with major deformity correction, spinal tumor surgery, and other complex procedures.

Tools such as nerve monitoring and image guidance can help surgeons monitor nerve function and instrument position during surgery. No operation is completely risk-free, so the risks must be assessed for each patient's condition and planned procedure.

After surgery for a degenerative spine condition, wound healing and infection prevention are also important. After a fusion procedure, we need to monitor whether the bones heal together successfully. Your participation in recovery is part of that process.

Surgical safety includes both protecting the nerves during the operation and supporting wound and bone healing afterward.

How does minimally invasive spine surgery differ from open surgery?

Minimally invasive spine surgery uses smaller incisions and often allows a shorter recovery, but it is not appropriate for every condition. The choice depends on the location and severity of the problem and your overall health, not simply the size of the incision.

When should I see an orthopedic specialist?

If you have persistent low back pain, pain or numbness traveling down a leg, or a noticeable decrease in how far you can walk, consider an evaluation by a physician with expertise in spine care. Your symptoms, physical examination, and imaging findings will help guide a discussion of monitoring, rehabilitation, medication, or surgery.