Joseph M. Kowalski MD
Joseph M. Kowalski
MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Spine Surgery
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDProfessional Summary:
As director of the spine center at Erie County Medical Center, the areas of my clinical practice focus on spinal conditions from the upper cervical spine to the sacrum. I treat patients of all ages, shapes and sizes. I have special interests in cervical, thoracic and lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, radiculopathy, myelopathy, and deformity. My areas of interest and expertise include trauma, spinal cord injury, post-traumatic conditions, arthritic and degenerative conditions, as well as tumors, infections and revision neck and back surgery. I also maintain a busy elective clinical practice and also coordinate and participate the Spine and Orthopaedic Trauma services at ECMC.
My experience includes traditional procedures including micro discectomy, laminectomy, anterior and posterior spinal fusions, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. I also perform other minimally invasive procedures including percutaneous instrumentation and kyphoplasty/vetebroplasty augmentation. I have extensive experience in complex spinal reconstruction and instrumentation for deformities such as scoliosis, kyphosis, flat-back deformity and failed-back syndromes.
As a resident, fellow and attending physician I have presented at local, regional and national peer attended meetings. These include- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Cervical Spine Research Society, and WNY Orthopaedic Trauma Society. I have performed research and published these findings in the area of Orthopaedic Surgery and Spine surgery.
I am involved with daily teaching rounds at ECMC, with resident physicians, interns, and medical students. I have not only allowed high school and undergraduate students to shadow my practice, but I mentor and instruct Physician Assistant students and Doctors of Chiropractic as well.
In 1999 I joined UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, and became a full time faculty member at the University of Buffalo. I am fortunate to practice my skills in the town where I grew up, in the presence of my family, friends, and colleagues.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Emory University Spine Fellowship (1999)
- Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, University at Buffalo (1998)
- Internship, University at Buffalo (1994)
- MD, University at Buffalo, Summa Cum Laude (1993)
- Doctor of Chiropractic, National College of Chiropractic, Cum Laude (1989)
- BS, Human Biology, National College of Chiropractic (1987)
Employment:
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1999-present)
Awards and Honors:
- Outstanding Physician 2016 (2016)
- Outstanding Alumni Cheektowaga Central School District (2015)
- Outstanding Orthopaedic Attending SUNY at Buffalo, NY (2014)
- Distinguished Service Award Erie County Medical Center 2014 Physician Honoree (2014)
- Distinguished Physician Leader (2012)
- Peter Casagrande, MD Award (1998)
- Benjamin E. Obletz Award (1997)
- James a. Gibson Anatomical Society (1993)
- John R. Paine Award (1993)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (1991)
Journal Articles:
- Scott MM, Patel DV, Lucasti C, Vallee EK, Clark LD, Kowalski JM. (2023) Hospital Course and Complications of Subaxial Cervical Trauma Patients With Tetraplegia or Paraplegia: A Case Series and Literature Review. Clinical spine surgery (Dec).
- Vallee EK, Lucasti C, Scott MM, Graham BC, Doak JP, Ferrick MR, Kowalski JM. (2023) A Readability Analysis of Online Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis Patient Resources Among Pediatric Hospital Web Pages: A US-Based Study. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (Nov), 7(11). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-23-00177
- (2023) (Oct)
- Lucasti C, Scott MM, Vallee EK, Kowalski J. (2023) Intradural Candida Albicans infection that presented as epidural abscess: A case report. International journal of surgery case reports (Jun), 107: 108337. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108337
- Lucasti C, Scott MM, Slowinski J, Maraschiello M, Clark LD, Kowalski JM. (2023) Early Surgical Treatment of Thoracolumbar Fractures With Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Scores Less Than 4. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (May), 31(9): e481-e488.
- J Slowinski, C Lucasti, M Maraschiello, M Kuczynski, J Kowalski, C Hamill. (2022) Minimally invasive spine surgery as treatment for persistent infectious lumbar spondylodiscitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Spine Surgery (Mar), 8(1)
- Slowinski J, Lucasti C, Maraschiello M, Kluczynski MA, Kowalski J, Hamill C. (2022) Minimally invasive spine surgery as treatment for persistent infectious lumbar spondylodiscitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) (Mar), 8(1): 1-8. doi:10.21037/jss-21-50
- Lucasti C, Maraschiello M, Slowinski J, Kowalski J. (2022) Prevalence of Back and Neck Pain in Orthopaedic Surgeons in Western New York. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (Jan), 6(1). doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-21-00252
- Lucasti C, Maraschiello M, Slowinski J, Kowalski J. (2022) Prevalence of back and neck pain in orthopedic surgeons in western New York. Journal of the American Academy of orthopedic surgeons-Global research and reviews (Jan), 6(1)
- Lucasti C, Patel D, Hawayek B, Maraschiello M, Kowalski J. (2021) Giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine causing acute paraplegia-a case report. Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) (Jun), 7(2): 208-213. doi:10.21037/jss-20-652
- Hawayek B, Lucasti C, Patel D, Maraschiello M, Kowalski J. (2021) Cardiac asystole following high spinal cord injury: a case report. Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) (Jun), 7(2): 233-237. doi:10.21037/jss-20-669
- Rumi MN, Kowalski JM, Gelb DE, Ludwig SC. (2001) Rationale for Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement in the Subaxial Spine. Current Opinion in Orthopaedics (Jun), 12(3): 265-273.
- Kowalski JM, Ludwig SC, Hutton WC, Heller JG. (2000) Cervical Pedicle Screws: A Biomechanical Comparison of Two Insertion Techniques. Spine (Nov).
- Kowalski JM, Ludwig SC, Hutton WC, Heller JG. (2000) Cervical spine pedicle screws: a biomechanical comparison of two insertion techniques. Spine (Nov), 25(22): 2865-2867.
- Ludwig SC, Kowalski JM, Edwards CE, Heller JG. (2000) Cervical Pedicle Screws: Comparative Accuracy of Two Insertion Techniques. Spine (Oct).
- Ludwig SC, Kowalski JM, Edwards CC, Heller JG. (2000) Cervical pedicle screws: comparative accuracy of two insertion techniques. Spine (Oct), 25(20): 2675-2681.
- Schwend RM, Dewire PJ, Kowalski JM. (2000) Accuracy of Fluoroscopically Assisted Laser Targeting of the Cadaveric Thoracic and Lumbar Spine to Place Transpedicular Screws. J Spinal Disorders (Oct), 13(5): 412-418.
- Ludwig SC, Kowalski JM, Boden SD. (2000) Osteoinductive bone graft substitutes. Eur Spine J (Feb), 9 Sup: 119-125.
- Ferrick MR, Kowalski JM, Simmons ED. (1997) Reliability of roentgenogram evaluation of pedicle screw position. Spine (Jun), 22(11): 1249-1252.
- Simmons ED, Guntupalli M, Kowalski JM, Braun F, Seidel T. (1996) Familial predisposition for degenerative disc disease. A case-control study. Spine (Jul), 21(13): 1527-1529.
- Kowalski JM, Olsewski JM, Simmons ED. (1995) Results of intervertebral diskectomy without fusion at L4-5 versus L5-S1. J Spinal Disord (Dec), 8(6): 457-463.
- Kowalski JM, Simmons ED, Olsewski JM. (1995) The Results of Intervertebral Disc Excision Without Fusion at L4-L5 versus L5-S1. J Spinal Disorders (Dec), 8(6): 457-463.
- Simmons ED, Kowalski JM, Simmons EH. (1993) The results of surgical treatment for adult scoliosis. Spine (May), 18(6): 718-724.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Ludwig SC, Kowalski JM, Heller JG. (2001) In: Postoperative Wound Infections. Thieme Publishing Co
- Kowalski JM, Ludwig SC, Boden SO. (2001) Spine Surgery: Master Cases. In: Cervical Spondylosis- Soft Disc Herniation: The Anterior Approach. Thieme Publishing Co
- Ludwig SC, Kowalski JM, Boden SO. (2001) Spine Surgery: Master Cases. In: Cervical Spondylosis- Soft Disc Herniation: The Posterior Approach. Thieme Publishing Co
- Kowalski JM, Ludwig SC, Heller JG. (2001) Spine Surgery: Master Cases. In: Metastatic Disease- Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Spine. Thieme Publishing Co.
- Hamill CL, Kowalski JM. (2001) In: Spondylosis and spondylolysthesis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Abstracts:
- Joseph Kowalski, Lawrence Bone. (1900) Prospective Randomized Study of Reamed and Unreamed Femoral Nails. AAOS, Orthopaedic Transactions, (Jan)
Evaluative Studies and Case Reports:
- C Lucasti, D Patel, B Hawayek, M Marachiello, J Kowalski. (2021) Giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine causing acute paraplegia- A case report. Journal of Spine Surgery (Jun), 7(20)
- Hawayek B, Lucasti C, Patel D, Maraschiello M, Kowalski J. (2021) Cardiac asystole following high spinal cord injury: a case report. Journal of Spine Surgery (Jun), 2(7): 233-237.
Professional Memberships:
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; Fellow (1999–present)
- North American Spine Society; Activer Memebr (1997–present)
- Western New York Orthopaedic Trauma Society; Member (1997–present)
- American Medical Association
Presentations:
- "Current Strategies in Spine Surgery" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2001)
- "Alternative Treatments for Low Back Pain" Successful Management of Back and Neck Problems: A Guide to the Basics for Primary Care Physicians; Emory University School of Medicine (2000)
- "Cervical Pedicle Screws: Comparative Accuracy of the Abumi Method versus Stealth" Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting (1999)
- "Cervical Pedicle Screws: A Biomechanical Comparison of Two Insertion Techniques" Cervical Spine Research Society Annual Meeting (1999)
- "Cervical Pedicle Screws: Comparative Accurac of the Abumi Method versus Stealth Station" North American Spine Society Annual Meeting (1999)
- "Occupational Low Back Pain: Malingering versus True Pathology" Annual Physician Assistant Conference of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (1999)
- "Cervical Spine Pedicle Screws: A Biomechanical Comparison of Two Insertion Techniques" Kelly Orthopaedic Research Forum; Emory University School of Medicine (1999)
- "Alternative Treatments for Low Back Pain" Successful Management of Back and Neck Problems: A Guide to the Basics for Primary Care Physicians; Emory University School of Medicine (1999)
- "Accuracy of Fluoroscopically-Assisted Laser Targeting of the Cadaveric Thoracic and Lumbar Spine to Place Transpedicular Screws" Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting (1998)
- "Reamed versus Unreamed Femoral Nailing: A Prospective Randomized Study" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting (1997)
- "Reliability of Roetgenogram Evaluation of Pedicle Screw Position" North American Spine Society Annual Meeting (1996)
- "Reamed versus Unreamed Femoral Nailing: A Prospective Randomized Study" Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting (1996)
- "Familial Predisposition for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Case Control Study" International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting (1994)
- "Familial Predisposition for Degenerative Disc Disease: A Case Control Study" International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting (1994)
- "The Results of Intervertebral Disc Excision Without Fusion at L4-L5 versus LS S1" North American Spine Society Annual Meeting (1992)
- "The Results of Intervertebral Disc Excision Without Fusion at L4-L5 versus L5-S1" Combined Meetings of the Orthopaedic Associations of the English Speaking World (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" Combined Meeting of the Orthopaedic Associations of the English Speaking World (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" Combined Meeting of the Orthopaedic Associations of the English-Speaking World (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" European Spinal Deformities Society (1992)
- "The Results of Intervertebral Disc Excision Without Fusion at L4-L5 versus L5-S1" International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" Federation of Spine Associations Annual Meeting (1992)
- "The Results of Surgical Treatment for Adult Scoliosis" Scoliosis Research Society Anniversary Meeting (1991)
- "Disasters in Medicine (2000-present)" Honors Symposium; State University of New York at Buffalo
Service Activities:
- President Medical Dental Staff Erie County Medical Center 2011-2012; President Medical Dental Staff Erie County Medical Center 2011-2012 (2011–2012)
- Vice-President/President Elect Medical Dental Staff, Erie County Medical Center 2009-2010; Vice-President/President Elect Medical Dental Staff, Erie County Medical Center 2009-2010 (2009–2010)
- Chairman of Forms and Order Committee, Erie County Medical Center 2004-2015; Chairman of Forms and Order Committee, Erie County Medical Center 2004-2015 (2004–2015)