Dr. Amer Khalil is a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurological spine surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center, specializing in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. Dr. Khalil’s patients comment not only on his remarkable skills but also on his kind and caring nature.
In that same good spirit, Dr. Khalil answered a few fun questions to help us learn more about him.
What is your favorite hobby or activity?
Dr. Khalil: I love staying fit and active. I always make sure that I have time for a run on the beach or a workout at the gym. I also love hiking and spending time outdoors.
What is an interesting fact about you that no one else knows?
Dr. Khalil: I owned a small bicycle shop during my teenage years; I love bicycles and I know how to fix them.
Why did you choose to go into medicine?
Dr. Khalil: I love helping people and working with my hands and I have always been fascinated with neuroscience; becoming a neurosurgeon was an obvious choice.
What is your philosophy for treating patients?
Dr. Khalil: I always believe in doing what is right for my patients. Surgery is not the answer for every patient, and I make sure to maximize all nonoperative interventions for my patients before I recommend surgery. I usually recommend minimally invasive interventions with the shortest recovery time to get my patients back to doing the things they love.
What is the top health tip that you tell all your patients?
Dr. Khalil: I usually recommend minimizing any quick twisting motions with your back. This is the movement that causes most back injuries.
After graduating from the University of Jordan medical school in Amman, Jordan, Dr. Khalil completed his internship in general surgery and residency in neurological surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He continued his training with a fellowship in neurosurgery-orthopedic spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital and a research fellowship in spinal cord injury at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received many honors, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Top Gun award.
Before coming to DISC, Dr. Khalil served as the Director of Spine Surgery and Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of California Irvine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Khalil’s research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, posters, and presentations. He is a member of the SpineUniverse Editorial Board.
