John M. Rhee,
MD

Area of Practice/Specialty:
Orthopedics - Spine

Languages: English

Doctor's Bio

Dr. John M. Rhee, MD, is a spine surgeon who specializes in treating complex conditions of the neck and back. At Grady, he cares for patients who need cervical and lumbar spine surgery, as well as surgery for scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal tumors, and other complex spine conditions.

Dr. Rhee is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in spine surgery. His research focuses on improving surgical techniques, treatments, and outcomes for people with spinal disorders. He has published extensively, written and edited textbooks on spine surgery, and has received numerous awards for his research.

In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Rhee is dedicated to training spine surgeons and advancing the field through research and education. He has served as President of the Cervical Spine Research Society and regularly teaches surgeons from across the United States and around the world.

Board Certifications

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Affiliations

Emory

Education & Training

Medical School: University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Internship: University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Residency: University of California-San Francisco

Fellowships

Washington University

Locations and Directions

Correll Pavilion

80 Gilmer St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Get directions

Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Main: (404) 616-1000

Appointments: (404) 616-1000

Pharmacy: (404) 616-3560

Book an Appointment Location Details

Correll Pavilion

80 Gilmer St. SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Get directions

Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Main: (404) 616-1000

Appointments: (404) 616-1000

Pharmacy: (404) 616-3560

Book an Appointment Location Details

Publications

The Evolving Evidence Base for Cervical Motion Preserving Surgery: Where We Stand and Where We're Headed.

Benes G, Remer HB, Rhee JM, Stephens BF

Spine. 2026;

PMID: 42704809
Low dose rhBMP-2 use in three- and four-level ACDF without posterior fusion: a comparative analysis and viable treatment for multilevel cervical disease.

Cowan D, Sowa AM, Barchick SR, Koltur C, Lai D, Hower C, Rhee JM, Yoon ST, Heller JG, Goh BC

The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society. 2026;

PMID: 42476195
Posterior support alone as a stabilization surgery for subaxial cervical metastases with vertebral body collapse: A retrospective cohort study.

Kim JH, Kim YR, Kim S, Park H, Lee CH, Rhee JM, Kim CH

Medicine. 2026;105(28):e49699.

PMID: 42432964
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Cervical Laminoplasty According to the Severity of Cervical Myelopathy.

Park H, Myeong HS, Lee S, Kim JH, Kim W, Sim J, Rhee JM, Choi Y, Lee CH, Kim CH

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. 2026;

PMID: 42403173
Anterior Cervical Approach to Vertebral Artery Exposure: A Step-By-Step Surgical Technique Guide By the Cervical Spine Research Society.

Younus I, Yamanouchi K, Rhee JM, Su BW, Louie PK

Clinical spine surgery. 2026;39(7):319-325.

PMID: 42155044
Functional myotome mapping via triggered electromyography during intraoperative cervical rootlet stimulation.

Park H, Kim W, Sim J, Myeong HS, Kim JH, Choi YD, Kwak G, Kim BE, Park J, Kim SM, Kim K, Rhee JM, Jo WY, Oh H, Park HP, Lee CH, Kim CH

Medicine. 2026;105(9):e47668.

PMID: 41760077
Prognostic factors for spinal cord cavernous hemangioma resection and optimal surgical timing for symptomatic patients.

Kim S, Choi Y, Park H, Kim JH, Lee CH, Chung CK, Rhee JM, Kim CH

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 2026;44(4):645-652.

PMID: 41576376
Enhanced recovery after surgery clinical pathway in oblique lumbar interbody fusion: overcoming postoperative pain to improve compliance and recovery. A prospective randomized noninferiority trial.

Kim JH, Kim M, You DW, Park H, Hwang SH, Rhee JM, Lee CH, Chung CK, Choi Y, Kim CH

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 2025;44(2):205-215.

PMID: 41172361
Different nuances between patient- and surgeon-reported outcomes in intramedullary ependymoma surgery.

Myeong HS, Sim J, Park H, Kim WJ, Kim JH, Lee CH, Chung CK, Rhee JM, Kim CH

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. 2025;43(4):489-497.

PMID: 40712168
Design, Development, Funding, and Implementation of the CSRS Registry: A Prospective Multicenter Clinical Cervical Spine Registry.

Witham JM, Sasso RC, Mummaneni PV, Riew KD, Sardar ZM, Ray WZ, Harrop JS, Protopsaltis T, Cho SK, Nassr A, Vedentam A, Mesfin A, Rhee JM, Lawrence BD, Ludwig SC, Ghogawala Z

Clinical spine surgery. 2026;39(3):E153-E160.

PMID: 40600728

PLANNING

PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT

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