SpecialtiesKee D. Kim, M.D. 
Clinical/Research Interests
Dr. Kim is a neurosurgeon and the chief of spinal neurosurgery. He has a special interest and expertise in dealing with challenging spinal disorders requiring surgical treatment. He has vast experience in complex spine surgery, regardless of etiology, including tumor, infection, degenerative spine and trauma. He is at the forefront of computer-assisted spine surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and spinal instrumentation.
As a co-director of the UC Davis Spine Center, Dr. Kim is involved in multiple clinical trials as a primary investigator. He innovates and evaluates different cutting-edge technology to advance the field. Recent examples include the use of stem cells for disc regeneration and bony healing, the use of pharmaceutical agents for spinal cord injuries, and clinical evaluations of artificial disc and minimally invasive surgery. His research focuses on using the advances in different fields to bring about tangible improvement in patient care and surgical outcome.
He also devotes much of his time and resources to further the training of other surgeons both locally and abroad. As the UC Davis neurosurgery spine fellowship director, he has trained many residents and fellows who have gone on to become spine specialists in their respective groups. He has published numerous manuscripts and book chapters dealing with myriad of spinal disorders. As an expert recognized in his field, he has spoken at many national and international meetings. Dr. Kim's primary focus, however, remains providing the best possible care to his patients.
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Specialty:
Center/Program Affiliation:
Address:
3301 C St, Suite 1500
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone:
Other Languages:
Education:
Baltimore, Maryland
M.D. 1992
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
B.S. 1986
Internships:
Sacramento, California
1992-1993
Residency:
Sacramento, California
1993-1998
Neurological Surgery
Fellowships:
Los Angeles, California
1997-1998
Spinal Surgery
Board Certifications:
Professional Memberships:
American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS) Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves
American Medical Association
California Association of Neurological Surgeons
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
International Society for Computer-Aided Surgery
Korean American Spine Society
National Neurotrauma Society
North American Spine Society
Sacramento-El Dorado Medical Society
Spine Arthoplasty Society
World Spine Society
Honors and Awards:
Kingston's National Registry of Who's Who, 2000
CARE (Courtesy, Attitude, Respect, Enthusiasm) Certificate, UC Davis Medical Center, 1994
The Beyond War Award, Peace Corps, Thailand, 1987
Cum Laude, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 1986
Westinghouse Talent Search, Semifinalist, New York, New York, 1981
Select Recent Publications:
Carter K, Roberto Rand KD Kim: Nonoperative Treatment of Cervical Fracture: Cervical Orthoses and Cranioske1etal Traction in Patients with Cervical Spine Fractures, Chapter 10, Kim D, Ludwig S, Vaccaro A and JC Chang, (ed), Atlas of SPine Trauma with CD-Rom, Elsevier, 88-103, 2008.
Shahlaie K. and KD Kim. Occipitocervical Fusion using Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2: Adverse Effects Due to Tissue Swelling and Seroma Spine. Spine, 33(21): 2361-2366, 2008.
Stevens KJ, Spenciner DB, Griffiths KL, Kim KD, Zwienenberg-Lee M, Alamin T, Bammer R. Comparison of minimally invasive and conventional open posterolateral lumbar fusion using magnetic resonance imaging and retraction pressure studies. Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques, 19(2):77-86, 2006.
Shahlaie K, Hawk MW, Hu BR, Theis JH, Kim KD. Parasitic central nervous system infections: Echinococcus and schistosoma. Neurological Diseases, 2(4):176-185, 2005.
Fox A and KD Kim: The Endius WAVE and TiTLE Pedicle Screw Internal Fixation Systems, Chapter 124, Kim, Vaccaro and Fessler, (eds), Spinal Instrumentation Surgical Techniques, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, New York. pp. 908-911,2005.
Kim KD, Fox A and J Silverthorn: The Atavi Approach to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Chapter 123, Kim, Vaccaro and Fessler, (eds), Spinal Instrumentation Surgical Techniques, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, New York. pp. 904-907,2005.
Kim KD and MW Hawk: Endoscopic Pedicle Screw Instrumentation and Decompression, Chapter #22, Kim and Fessler, (eds), Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Instrumentation, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, New York. pp. 246-252, 2004.
Kim KD, Wang JC, Robertson DP, Brodke DS, BenDebba M, Block KM and GS diZerega. Reduction in Leg Pain and Lower-Extreity Weakness with Oxiplex/SP Gel for 1 Year after Laminectomy, Laminotomy, and Disectomy. Neurosurgical Focus, 17(1): 2004.
Hawk MW, Shahlaie K, Kim KD. Neurocysticercosis: A review. Surgical Neurology, 63(2):123-132, 2004.
Schrot RJ, Kim KD, Fedor M. Trevor's disease of the spine: A case report. Journal Neurosurgery Spine, 1(3):342-6, 2004.
