A Foundation in Neurosurgery, A Future in Spine Surgery

When faculty at Columbia Neurosurgery talk about graduating resident Travis CreveCoeur, MD, the conversation quickly turns to three themes: technical excellence, dedication to patients, and an unwavering commitment to teaching.

After completing neurosurgical residency at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. CreveCoeur will continue his training in August 2026 as a fellow in Columbia's renowned Comprehensive Adult and Pediatric Spine Fellowship Program, co-directed by Lawrence G. Lenke, MD, Ronald A. Lehman Jr., MD, and K. Daniel Riew, MD. During the fellowship, he will continue to work closely with Columbia Neurosurgery spine faculty, including Christopher Mandigo, MD, Andrew Chan, MD, and Dean Chou, MD.

For Dr. CreveCoeur, the fellowship represents the next step in a journey that began long before residency. Prior to attending Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, he conducted research at Columbia University in the laboratory of Ali G. Gharavi, MD, gaining early exposure to academic medicine and scientific investigation. It was during medical school that he discovered his passion for neurosurgery, eventually returning to Columbia to complete residency training.

Over the course of seven years, Dr. CreveCoeur developed expertise in both cranial and spinal neurosurgery while building a particular interest in the cranial cervical junction, cervical myelopathy, and adult and pediatric spinal deformity. His research has focused on improving outcomes for patients with spinal disorders and advancing evidence-based approaches to complex spine surgery.

His final year of residency was dedicated to an enfolded spine fellowship, including six months of specialized training in pediatric spinal deformity at Shriners Children's Philadelphia under the mentorship of Amer Samdani, MD, Steven Hwang, MD, Joshua Pahys, MD, and Terrence Ishmael, MD. There, he gained additional experience caring for children and adolescents with complex spinal deformities.

While his academic and clinical accomplishments are impressive, colleagues often point first to his impact as a teacher.

Travis CreveCoeur, the consummate teacher," said Neil Feldstein, MD, FACS. "Despite the grueling hours of residency and in particular chief residency, Travis always found the time and energy to teach students and residents of all levels. No doubt the strong interest in neurosurgery seen in our medical school comes from his engagement with the students early in their training.

That commitment to education left a lasting impression on faculty and trainees alike.

Travis is the most technically gifted and natural surgeon I have ever trained," said Christopher Mandigo, MD. "He also has limitless energy and an intense commitment to his patients, to his colleagues and to improving himself. I am incredibly proud of his achievements and am excited to see what his future brings.

Others point to the breadth of expertise he developed during residency and his future potential as an academic spine surgeon.

Dr. CreveCoeur has developed extensive expertise in both brain and spine surgery, with particular distinction in the management of spinal deformities and the application of minimally invasive techniques in pediatric and adult populations," said Raymond Sekula, MD. "His tireless work ethic throughout our training program has been exemplary, and we are confident that his dedication will translate into meaningful benefits for his future patients in the decades ahead.

For Brian J. A. Gill, MD, the assessment is simple.

Travis is one of the most gifted and tenacious residents to complete this program," Dr. Gill said. "He's a great surgeon and physician, and a better person. I'm excited to see what he does in his fellowship and in his career.

A native New Yorker, Dr. CreveCoeur was born in Staten Island and grew up near Bel Air, Maryland. He attended Florida State University, where he studied organic chemistry and mathematics while playing rugby. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children.

As he begins the next stage of training, Dr. CreveCoeur remains focused on a career dedicated to advancing spine surgery through patient care, research, and education. For Columbia Neurosurgery, his transition from resident to fellow is less a farewell than the continuation of a journey that began years ago—and one that the department will continue to watch with great interest.