Dr. Marco Burkhard, MD

Dr. Marco Burkhard is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery specializing in the treatment of degenerative, deformity, and revision conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He follows a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach that tailors treatment to each individual's anatomy, medical factors, expectations, and functional goals. He emphasizes shared decision-making and believes that clear communication and patient education are essential to long-term success. While many spinal conditions can be managed nonoperatively, when surgery is indicated, he uses advanced imaging and biomechanical planning to guide precise execution and deliver personalized care. He has particular expertise in minimally invasive and muscle-sparing decompression and fusion techniques, as well as in revision and realignment procedures. His goal is to achieve durable outcomes while minimizing disruption to native tissue and promoting rapid recovery. Originally from …Zurich Switzerland, Dr. Burkhard graduated medical school at the University of Zurich and is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon in Switzerland. He completed a six-year orthopedic surgery residency curriculum at numerous leading Swiss institutions, including Balgrist University Hospital, Stadtspital Zurich and the Cantonal Hospital of Graubu?nden. He further went on to complete fellowships in traumatology and spine surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany and the Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi in Milan, Italy. He then pursued two years of advanced clinical spine surgery fellowship training at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, gaining expertise across the full spectrum of traditional, minimally invasive, and complex deformity techniques. In parallel with his clinical training, Dr. Burkhard pursued advanced coursework in clinical epidemiology and health services research at Weill Cornell Medicine. His academic interests include three-dimensional spinal biomechanics, spinal alignment, perfusion, and the role of paraspinal muscles in recovery and long-term outcomes. He is passionate about surgical innovation and translational research, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on spinal biomechanics, the role of paraspinal structures in surgical outcomes, muscle-preserving surgical techniques, and 3Dprinting applications. Dr. Burkhard brings an international perspective to his clinical practice and academic work. Through his training and collaborations across Europe and the United States, he has developed a broad professional network and understanding of global approaches to spine care. He remains actively engaged in international research and educational initiatives aimed at advancing the field of spine surgery.