Aqib Zehri, MD, Neurosurgeon at The Oregon Clinic

In this episode of the Becker's Spine and Orthopedic Podcast, host Sophie Ades speaks with Dr. Akib Zeri, a spine-focused neurosurgeon at The Oregon Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Zeri shares his patient-centered philosophy that prioritizes exhausting non-surgical treatments before considering surgery, emphasizing thoughtful decision-making, patient optimization, and the importance of access to timely spine care. He discusses how his practice uses AI-driven triage systems to assess prior treatments, patient health metrics like BMI and smoking status, and streamline referrals. The conversation delves into value-based care, operational efficiency, and the challenges of balancing access with increasing case complexity. Dr. Zeri advocates for standardized, preoperative planning and the strategic use of minimally invasive techniques—not for their novelty, but for their ability to improve outcomes, reduce recovery time, and lower system costs. He remains optimistic about the future of spine care, stressing the need for sustainability, interdisciplinary collaboration, and intentional clinical decision-making. Key takeaways include: (1) Prioritize non-surgical options and optimize patients before surgery; (2) Use structured triage and AI tools to improve access and efficiency; (3) Invest in preoperative planning to ensure the right surgery is done at the right time; (4) Balance minimally invasive techniques with clinical necessity, not hype; (5) Foster strong relationships across care teams to improve safety and outcomes; (6) Focus on cost-effective, sustainable spine programs; (7) Align clinical decisions with long-term system viability; and (8) Embrace evolving technology while maintaining patient-centered care. The overall tone is forward-looking, constructive, and deeply rooted in clinical integrity and operational excellence.