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Ricardo B. V. Fontes, MD, PhD

Ricardo Fontes
Associate Professor
Department of Neurosurgery, RUSH Medical College
Director, Neurosurgery Residency Program
Education

MD, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil
Neurosurgery spine fellowship, RUSH University Medical Center
Neurosurgery residency, RUSH University Medical Center
Preceptor, neurosurgery residency, Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil

Research Areas

Fontes has a special clinical and research interest in pediatric and adult spinal deformity and complex reconstructive spine surgery. This covers a wide range of pediatric spinal deformities such as congenital and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, as well as different types of adult problems such as adult degenerative kyphoscoliosis, iatrogenic or postoperative deformity and complex cervical deformity. Fontes is particularly interested in the applicability of conventional open surgery and minimally invasive techniques to correct these disabling conditions.

Contact Info:

1520 W. Harrison St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 942-6644
Fax: (312) 942-2176
Links:
Biography

Ricardo B.V. Fontes, MD, PhD, received his medical degree in his home country at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is where he also went on to complete a residency in neurosurgery. Fontes then completed both a neurosurgery residency and spine neurosurgery fellowship at RUSH University Medical Center before joining the department as an assistant professor in neurosurgery in 2015. Fontes has contributed to more than 100 journal and book chapter publications, in both English and Portuguese. Areas of clinical and research interest for Fontes include conventional and minimally invasive treatment for different forms of pediatric and adult deformity, including scoliosis, kyphosis, sagittal imbalance revision surgery and cervical deformity.

Honors and Activities
  • Rush Excellence in Clinical Service Award, 2023
  • Prof. Dr. Renato Locchi Prize, Aging and degeneration of human cervical and lumbar intervertebral discs, Best paper presented at the Congress of the Brazilian Society of Anatomy, 2014
  • Kelvin A. Von Roenn, MD, Resident Teaching Award, Neurosurgery resident who makes the most significant contribution to the teaching of fellow residents, interns, medical students and nurses, 2013
  • Cervical Spine Research Society Resident / Fellow Grant — Ultrastructural manifestations of normal aging in human cervical and lumbar intervertebral discs, 2010
  • Top Honors in Neurosurgery “Top Gun” Challenge, Lumbar Pedicle Screw Station, Annual Meeting of the AANS, Philadelphia, PA, May 2010
  • Jose Ribe Portugal Award, Honorable Mention, Brazilian Academy of Neurosurgery, Dural closure technique for decompressive hemispheric craniectomy, 2005
  • Edmundo Vasconcellos Prize, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Best student in surgical disciplines, 2005
  • 10th Universidade de Sao Paulo International Symposium on Undergraduate Research, Honorable Mention, Characterization of a glioma animal model for gene therapy studies, 2002
  • 15th Pereira Barretto Prize, Molecular Sciences, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Retroviral Transfer of p16INK4A cDNA halts glioblastoma multiforme, 2001
  • 20th Oswaldo Cruz Prize, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Honorable Mention, Anatomical and topographical study of the filum terminale in 38 human cadavers, 2001
  • Eppendorf/BioResearch Prize, Brazilian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Honorable Mention, Retroviral transfer of p16INK4A cDNA efficiently inhibits glioma tumor formation in vivo, 2001
  • Dr. Adib Salem Bouabci Prize, Sao Paulo Vascular Surgery Meeting, Anatomical correlations of abdominal aortic aneurysms determining difficulties in the repair of these dilations, 2001
Grants
  • Cervical Spine Research Society Resident/Fellow Grant, Ultrastructural manifestations of normal aging in human cervical and lumbar intervertebral discs, 2010