Our Team | UC Davis Spine Center

Spine Faculty

UC Davis Spine Center is an interdisciplinary program designed to help patients of all ages and stages of dysfunction caused by spinal disorders to return to their optimal level of functioning. The integration and breadth of services provided by an outstanding team of faculty physicians, scientists and nurse specialists at UC Davis Health System distinguish our program and contribute to advancements in spine care through pioneering new treatments, technologies and science.

Neurological Surgery

Kee Kim, MD

Kee Kim, M.D.

Chief, Spinal Neurosurgery
Co-Director, UC Davis Spine Center
Professor

Alan Martin, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Richard Lee (Rick) Price, III, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery

Neurological Surgery Advanced Practice Providers

	Vilija Abrute, M.S., ACNP-BC Graduated from the University of Illinois in Chicago with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2011 and is a board certified nurse practitioner.
	Rex Ambatali, M.S., FNP-C, AGACNP-BC Board certified nurse practitioner. Completed his education at Walden University in 2014 (FNP) and University of Pennsylvania in 2018 (AGACNP)
	Ary Arauz , PA-C Completed her education at University of California, Davis in 2002 and is a board certified physician's assistant.
	Claire Basco, M.S., ANP-BC Earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2016 and is a board certified nurse practitioner.
	Cassandra Chin, M.S., FNP-C Graduated from Samuel Merritt University with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2016 and is a board certified family nurse practitioner.
	Christi Delemos, M.S.N., CNRN, ACNP-BC Associate Director of Advanced Practice for UC Davis Medical Center. Completed a Master of Science in Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco and is a board certified nurse practitioner.
	Tram James, M.S., FNP-BC Graduated from Sonoma State University with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2014 and is a board certified family nurse practitioner.
	Jasleen Kaur, PA-C Board certified physician assistant. Completed her education at UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.
	Christine Picinich, M.S., AGACNP-BC, CCRN Advanced Practice Supervisor for Department of Neurological Surgery Board certified nurse practitioner. Completed a Master of Science in Nursing in 2016 at the University of California, San Francisco.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Faculty

	Yashar Javidan, M.D. Associate Professor Spine Fellowship Director
	Safdar N. Khan, M.D., FAOA, FAAOS Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Adult and Pediatric Spine Surgery Vice Chair of Surgical Innovation
	Hai Le, M.D. Assistant Professor
	Rolando F. Roberto, M.D. Professor

Orthopaedic Surgery Nurse Practice Providers

Colleen Weaver, M.S.N., NP-C

Board Certified Nurse Practitioner

Graduate School:
University of California, Davis in 2002

Pain Medicine

	Charles De Mesa, D.O., M.P.H. Director of Pain Medicine Fellowship Director of Musculoskeletal Pain Medicine Assistant Professor
	Scott Fishman, M.D. Vice Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Fullerton Endowed Chair in Pain Medicine Director, Center for Advancing Pain Relief Professor
	Kenneth Furukawa, M.D. Health Sciences Clinical Professor
	Paul Kreis, M.D. Professor
	Gagan Mahajan, M.D. Professor
	Samir Sheth, M.D. Assistant Professor
	Naileshni Singh, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

	Kevin Mullins, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor
	Chris Shin, M.D. Associate Professor
	Alyssa Marie Speciale, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor
	Carol Vandenakker-Albanese, M.D. Professor Associate Residency Program Director Faculty Development Director