Radiculopathy near Renton, WA

Biography: Rajiv Sethi, MD, currently serves as the executive medical director of the Center of Neurosciences and Spine at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. This includes leadership of the spine program, which employs spinal surgeons across five hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Sethi has trained complex spine fellows from America's best neurosurgery and orthopedic programs. He is also a clinical professor at the University of Washington, specializing in health systems research in the Program of Health Economics and Outcomes Methodology in the schools of medicine and public health. Prior to beginning medical school at Harvard, Dr. Sethi was a Fulbright Scholar in the field of public health.Dr. Sethi has been actively involved in the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), serving on its Board of Directors, as past chair of the Safety and Value committee and recent chair of the Program committee, as well as on the adult deformity, research grant, IMAST, website and worldwide conference committees and multiple task forces. His research around team strategies and multidisciplinary protocols to enhance safety in spinal deformity surgery has led to numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts and podium presentations as well invited visiting professorships in the US and abroad. He has published two textbooks focusing on value-based care in spine care delivery and spine safety protocols.Dr. Sethi's research has been awarded major nominations including the Whitecloud Award by the SRS for best research paper and the Mary McClinton Award for Patient Safety in the United States. His work on the Seattle Spine Team approach and the use of the Toyota Production System to model safety and appropriateness in spine care have led to the designation of ``centers of excellence`` by American purchasers of health care and the introduction of value-based principles to American spine care.Dr. Sethi is fluent in several languages and enjoys cycling, music and spending time with family.

Care Philosophy: I believe that patients have to take an active role in their care. Because the medical terminology can be quite confusing, difficult, and scary, I try to make sure that patients have a full understanding of their condition and the various options that might be available to them. As a surgeon, many of those options may include surgical procedures, but in many cases patients can be helped without surgery, which is also quite satisfying for me.

Care Philosophy: I strive to help patients understand the complexities of brain and spine surgery so they can be fully empowered to choose and participate in the care of their disease.