Nikhil K. Sahai, MD
Dr. Sahai is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. He completed the John Moe fellowship at the Twin Cities Spine Center in Minneapolis, one of the most well-known training programs in the country.
Dr. Sahai performs surgery on all aspects of the spine to treat neck & back pain, sciatica, deformity, spinal cord compression, nerve root compression, and spinal trauma in adults and children. He also performs revision surgery for patients with chronic pain from previously failed neck or back surgery. He believes in surgery as a last resort. Many of his patients don’t require surgery and are successfully treated using non-surgical options. If surgery is necessary, he believes in an individualized treatment plan achieved through patient education and shared decision-making with his patients and their families.
Dr. Sahai has an interest in using the most minimally-invasive techniques to help patients reach their goals. He has trained extensively with robotics and navigation which help ensure accuracy while minimizing tissue disruption. He aims to avoid fusion when possible for his patients. He prefers motion-preserving options such as limited decompression or disc replacement if surgery is necessary.
Dr. Sahai has published extensively on the use and outcomes of minimally invasive options for a wide range of spinal pathology, ranging from pinched nerves in the neck to traumatic thoracolumbar fractures. He has lectured and presented his research both nationally and internationally and his work has been cited over 100 times. He is still actively involved in ongoing research and education as part of his role as academic faculty at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center’s Orthopedic Residency Program.
Dr. Sahai has office locations in Morristown, Wayne, and Clifton.
Links to his CV and most widely-cited research are available below.
- Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy as an Alternative to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Unilateral Cervical Radiculopathy
- Comparing Mid-Term Outcomes Between ACDF and Minimally Invasive Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy in the Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy
- Minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy with tubes to prevent undesired fusion: a long-term follow-up study
- Incidence of Neuraxial Abnormalities Is Approximately 8% Among Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Meta-analysis
Kassandra Kayal, APN
Your Orthopaedic & Sports Specialist
Kassandra Kayal, APN is a nurse practitioner board certified by both the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as well as the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She specializes in the care and treatment of patients of all ages with spinal disorders. Kassandra completed her undergraduate training at Mount Saint Mary College of Newburgh, NY with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. During this time, she was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the international Honor Society of Nursing. After graduating, she gained extensive clinical knowledge as an operating room nurse at St. Josephs Medical Center, specializing in general orthopedic and spine surgeries, and it was there where she first met the University Spine team. She later obtained a Masters of Science in Nursing with a board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner while additionally completing specialized surgical training with the National Institute for First Assisting. Kassandra now cares for patients in both operative and non-operative settings. When not in the clinic or operating room, Kassandra enjoys providing care for the underserved, including participating in medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic. She is an active member of a variety of societies, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Anil K. Sharma, MD
Locations: 1967 Rt 34 , Building C #102, Wall Township, NJ
Dr. Anil K. Sharma is the founder and President of Spine & Pain Centers of New Jersey and New York. He received his fellowship training in Pain Management at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Dr. Sharma has been recognized for excellence throughout his career in medicine. After graduating as Valedictorian of his class from MGM Medical College, he received the esteemed Robert Dripps Award for Best Resident at Monmouth Medical Center, where he continues today as Director of Pain Management. Subsequently, Dr. Sharma was named Best Graduating Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic. His elite status was confirmed by his rating as a "Top Doc" by New Jersey Monthly magazine from 2011 to 2020, and he was profiled on the front cover in 2014. Castle Connolly also named him as the top doctor in the NY metro area every year since 2014.
Dr. Sharma specializes in the use of minimally invasive techniques to treat spinal pain. He has performed over 70,000 spinal procedures in his 28 years of clinical practice. His expertise ranges from diagnosing complicated and rare cases to pinpointing the source of back, neck, and other chronic pain conditions. He is a leading practitioner of state-of-the-art techniques. He has been on the faculty of several national and international spine meetings and has taught other pain physicians complex and challenging procedures. He has also overseen numerous cadaver courses aimed at teaching new and innovative technologies for treating spinal disorders.
Dr. Sharma is a published author and experienced educator in spine care. He has written chapters in textbooks and has published several review articles in significant spine journals. He recently published several clinical guidelines through the North American Spine Society. The most recent one, which took over 4 years, is "Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain". Dr. Sharma is a very active member of the North American Spine Society and the International Spine Intervention Society and sits on several key committees.
Dr. Sharma is affiliated with most of the area's major medical centers. As testimony to his high level of devotion, compassion, and competency, Dr. Sharma's many patients include medical colleagues and their families, and countless referrals from current and former patients who have found relief of spinal pain through his care.
Education
Fellowship - Pain Management - 7/94 to 9/95 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio Award for Best Graduating Fellow Chief Resident - 1993 to 1994 Robert D. Dripps Award for Best Graduating Resident Residency, Anesthesiology - 7/91 to 6/94 Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey Internship - 7/90 to 6/91 Nassau County Medical Center, East Meadow, New York Medical School - Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore, India ValedictorianBoard Certifications
- American Board of Anesthesiology
- Certificate of added qualifications in Pain Management
- American Board of Pain Medicine
Professional Highlights
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors: 2014 to 2020
NJ Monthly
- "Top Doctor" in Pain Management 2011 to 2020
- Featured on the Front Cover in 2014
International Spine Intervention Society
- Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee 2012, 2013
- Vice-Chairman of Appropriate Use Criteria 2012, 2013
- Co-Chairman of Annual Conference 2012, 2013
- Member - Standards Committee 2010 - present
- Member - International Education Committee 2015
North American Spine Society
- Spine Line editorial Board- 2007 - 2013
- Spine Journal- reviewer - 2014
- Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines Committee - 2007-present
New Jersey Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
- President 2007 - 2009
New Jersey Society of Interventional Pain Physicians
- Board Member 2009 - 2013
Monmouth Medical Center
- Director of Pain Management 2003 - present
Dr. Andrew McGinniss, MD
Locations: Wayne and Clifton
Dr. Andrew McGinniss went to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for his undergraduate and graduate degrees, both in Chemistry. For his medical degree he attended the Drexel University College of Medicine. He then completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. After residency, he went on for specialty training at Tufts Medical Center/New England Baptist Combined Hand Fellowship Program. During his fellowship he also had the privilege of treating patients from professional sports teams including the Boston Celtics, and the professional rugby team the New England Free Jacks.
Dr. McGinniss’s areas of interest include hand and upper extremity disorders including traumatic injuries, arthritic conditions, and peripheral nerve injuries and entrapments including carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes. He also has a special interest in arthroscopic treatment of conditions for the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. His fellowship training included comprehensive care of hand and upper extremity orthopaedic conditions.
In his free time Dr. McGinniss enjoys fishing, all ocean and beach activities, and spending time with his wife Monisha, and their dog Odin.
Physician Curriculum Vitae
Arash Emami, MD
Ki S. Hwang, MD
Kumar G. Sinha, MD
Pamela D'Amato, MD
