Congratulations to this year’s AO Spine North America Davos Fellows, who attended the AO Spine Advanced Course—Cervical Spine: Dealing with Complex, Revision and Deformity Problems in Davos, Switzerland! This program brings together emerging spine surgeons from around the world for advanced education, case-based learning, and direct interaction with experienced AO faculty.
Participants engage in expert-led discussions, hands-on sessions, and a dedicated social and educational program designed specifically for AO SNA fellows. The Davos courses offer a valuable opportunity to learn alongside international peers and deepen involvement in the AO community.
Congratulations to our 2025 fellows:
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Dr. R. Adams Cowley Washington University in St. LouisDr. R. Adams Cowley is an orthopedic spine fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he completed his undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University, followed by medical school and orthopedic surgery residency at Georgetown University. Dr. Cowley is currently pursuing a position in an academic setting. |
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Dr. Hansen Deng University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Dr. Hansen Deng is completing the AO NA Spine Fellowship and neurosurgery residency training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Originally from California, he was as an art student in college, before attending medical school at the University California San Francisco. His clinical interests include neurotrauma and spinal oncology. |
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Dr. Elliot Johns University of Texas McGovern School of Medicine Dr. Elliot Johns grew up near Indianapolis, Indiana, and recently completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, Illinois. He is currently completing a spine fellowship at the University of Texas McGovern School of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Johns’s interests outside of spine surgery include global health and health care economics. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, skiing, and spending time with his family. |
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Dr. Renzo Laynes Virginia Mason Medical Center Dr. Renzo Laynes was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in Longmont, Colorado. A triple University of Colorado alumnus, he completed his undergraduate, medical, and orthopedic surgery training at the University of Colorado. Dr. Laynes is currently completing a spine fellowship at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, Rae, their son, Sebastian, and their black lab, Cevi. |
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Dr. Muhammad Padela University of California, Davis Dr. Muhammad Padela is currently completing an orthopedic spine surgery fellowship at the University of California, Davis. He previously trained in hip and knee replacement at Yale University. His research focuses on biomechanics and the hip–spine relationship, particularly in complex patients requiring combined procedures. Dr. Padela is motivated by the challenge of improving patient outcomes through a deeper understanding of alignment and functional movement. |
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Dr. Gabrielle Santangelo Northwell Health Dr. Gabrielle Santangelo is a first-generation physician originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is completing an orthopedic trauma fellowship at Northwell Health and will be joining the faculty at Vanderbilt University following her fellowship. Her subspecialty interests include spine oncology. |
