Dr. Rivka C. Lomedico

    About Me

    Rivka C. Lomedico, M.D.

    Dr. Lomedico graduated from Vanderbilt School of Medicine. She completed Orthopedic Surgery residency at NYU Langone Medical Center/Hospital for Joint Diseases, and a fellowship in spine surgery at Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined spine fellowship program in Boston, MA. There she gained extensive experience in the operative and non-operative management of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine pathology. She treats patients of all ages with traumatic, degenerative, deforming, oncologic, and congenital conditions in the spine.

    Philosophy

    “In the intricate architecture of the human body, the spine stands as a testament to nature’s design, balancing strength and flexibility. I view spine health as the cornerstone of a full, active life. My philosophy is rooted in a holistic approach – understanding that each spine is as unique as the individual it supports.

    I am dedicated to advancing the frontier of spinal health, leveraging the latest research, technology, and techniques. Yet, while technology advances, my commitment to the age-old values of empathy, patient education, and individualized care remains unwavering. Surgery is more than a procedure; it’s a partnership between doctor and patient, rooted in trust. My mission is not just to treat the spine, but to empower each patient with knowledge and confidence, fostering a collaboration that extends beyond the operating room.”

    EDUCATION
    • Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General-Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
      • Spine Surgery Fellowship
    • NYU-Langone Orthopedic Hospital (Hospital for Joint Diseases), New York, NY
      • Orthopedic Surgery Resident- Clinician Scientist Training Program
    • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
      • M.D.
    • Harvard University Extension School, Cambridge, MA
      • Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Studies
    • National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
      • Advanced Mandarin Studies
    • Davidson College, Davidson, NC
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Chinese minor
    HONORS AND AWARDS

    11/2022 | Harvard | Omega Fellow CME Scholarship

    1/2020 | NYU |  OTA Resident Grant- Research Grant                                                  

    8/2019 | NYU | Jaffe Resident Research Grant- Research Grant                                                

    7/2018 | NYU | OTA Member Grant- Research Grant   

    6/2016 | Vanderbilt University | George and Barbara Burrus Medical Missions Award

    6/2016 | Vanderbilt University | AMWA Women in Medicine Award

    6/2016 | Vanderbilt University | Orthopedic Surgery Clerkship Award

    11/2015 | Vanderbilt University | 10th Annual Medical School Symposium -AAOS/JRGOS- Travel Grant

    6/2015 | Vanderbilt University | Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society | Junior Inductee

    6/2016 | Vanderbilt University | Gold Humanism Honor Society | Inductee

    8/2012 – 6/2016 | Vanderbilt University | Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship

    8/2005 – 5/2009 | Davidson College | Presidential Scholarship

    8/2008 | Davidson College | Dean Rusk Grant Recipient- Research Grant

    8/2008 | Davidson College | Abernethy Grant Recipient- Research Grant

    8/2005 – 5/2009 | Davidson College | Freeman-Asia Grant- Travel Grant  

    8/2008 | Davidson College | Academic Scholar- Travel Grant

    PROFESSIONAL STATE LICENSURE

    California

    New York

    Massachusetts

    BOARD CERTIFICATION/ELIGIBILITY

    American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Part 1: Pass • September 2022

    PUBLICATIONS
    1. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Patel, K., Buchalter, D. B., Kirby, D. J., Mehta, D., Dankert, J. F., Muiños-López, E., Ihejirika, Y., & Leucht, P. (2023). Non-psychoactive Cannabidiol Prevents Osteoporosis in an Animal Model and Increases Cell Viability, Proliferation, and Osteogenic Gene Expression in Human Skeletal Stem and Progenitor Cells. Calcified tissue international, 10.1007/s00223-023-01083-2. Advance online publication.
    2. Koshinski, J. L., Xiong, G. X., Agaronnik, N., Byrd, C., Call, C. M., Enchill, Z., Giberson-Chen, C., Hering, K., Hislop, C., McGovern, M. M., Parker, A., Schoenfeld, A. L., Yuen, L. C., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., & Lipa, S. A. (2023). Report of the “Women in Academic Spine” Initiative. Spine, 48(8), 515–518.
    3. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Solasz, S., Lorentz, N., Egol, K. A., Leucht, P., & NYU Hip Fracture Research Group (2023). Effects of Intraoperative Local Pain Cocktail Injections on Early Function and Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of orthopaedic trauma, 37(9), 433–439.
    4. Imbo, B., Williamson, T., Joujon-Roche, R., Krol, O., Tretiakov, P., Ahmad, S., Bennett-Caso, C., Schoenfeld, A. J., Dinizo, M., De La Garza-Ramos, R., Janjua, M. B., Vira, S., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Raman, T., O’Connell, B., Maglaras, C., Paulino, C., Diebo, B., Lafage, R., Lafage, V., … Passias, P. G. (2023). Long-term Morbidity in Patients Following Surgical Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity: Results from a Cohort with Minimum 5 Year Follow-up. Spine, 10.1097/BRS.0000000000004681. Advance online publication.
    5. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Lorentz, N. A., Ihejirika, Y. U., & Leucht, P. (2023). “Bones and Joints” The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Musculoskeletal Health. Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013), 81(1), 59–63.
    6. Williamson, T. K., Krol, O., Tretiakov, P., Joujon-Roche, R., Imbo, B., Ahmad, S., Owusu-Sarpong, S., Lebovic, J., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Dinizo, M., Vira, S., Dhillon, E., O’Connell, B., Maglaras, C., Schoenfeld, A. J., Janjua, M. B., Alan, N., Diebo, B., Paulino, C., Smith, J. S., … Passias, P. G. (2023). Crossing the Bridge From Degeneration to Deformity: When Does Sagittal Correction Impact Outcomes in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?. Spine, 48(3), E25–E32.
    7. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Brooks, J., McLaurin, T. M., Egol, K. A., Hogan, M. V., LaPorte, D., Pean, C., Jegede, K., Kemp, A. K., Taylor, E., Zuckerman, J. D., & Dyer, G. (2023). Increasing Diversity in Orthopaedics: The Problem, Strategies, and Solutions. Instructional course lectures, 72, 79–87.
    8. Williamson, T. K., Passfall, L., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Espinosa, A., Owusu-Sarpong, S., Lanre-Amos, T., Schoenfeld, A. J., & Passias, P. G. (2022). Assessing the influence of modifiable patient-related factors on complication rates after adult spinal deformity surgery. The bone & joint journal, 104-B(11), 1249–1255.
    9. Alas, H., Ihejirika, R. C., Kummer, N., Passfall, L., Krol, O., Bortz, C., Pierce, K. E., Brown, A., Vasquez-Montes, D., Diebo, B. G., Paulino, C. B., De la Garza Ramos, R., Janjua, M. B., Gerling, M. C., & Passias, P. G. (2022). Predicting 30-Day Perioperative Outcomes in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients With Baseline Paralysis or Functional Dependence. International journal of spine surgery, 16(3), 427–434.
    10. Ihejirika R, Tong Y, Patel K, Protopsaltis, T. Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation: Illustrative Case. Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons. 2 (18) 2021.
    11. Moore-Lotridge SN, Ihejirika R, Gibson BH, Posey SL, Mignemi NA, Cole HA, Hawley GD, Uppuganti S, Nyman JS, Schoenecker JG. Severe injury-induced osteoporosis and skeletal muscle mineralization: Are these related complications?. Bone reports. 14, 2021
    12. Brown A, Alas H, Bortz C, Pierce KE, Vasquez-Montes D, Ihejirika RC, Segreto FA, Haskel J, Kaplan DJ, Segar AH, Diebo BG, Hockley A, Gerling MC, Passias PG. Patients with psychiatric diagnoses have increased odds of morbidity and mortality in elective orthopedic surgery. Journal of clinical neuroscience. 84(pp):42-45, 2021.
    13. Passias PG, Brown AE, Alas H, Bortz CA, Pierce KE, Hassanzadeh H, Labaran LA, Puvanesarajah V, Vasquez-Montes D, Wang E, Ihejirika RC, Diebo BG, Lafage V, Lafage R, Sciubba DM, Janjua MB, Protopsaltis TS, Buckland AJ, Gerling MC. A Cost Benefit Analysis of Increasing Surgical Technology in Lumbar Spine Fusion. Spine J. Oct 15:S1529-9430 (20) 31162-1, 2020.
    14. Lee S, Remark LH, Buchalter DB, Josephson AM, Wong MZ, Litwa HP, Ihejirika R, Leclerc K, Markus D, Yim NL, Tejwani R, Bradaschia-Correa V, Leucht P. Propranolol Reverses Impaired Fracture Healing Response Observed With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment. J Bone Miner Res 35: 932–941, 2020.
    15. Brown AE, Saleh H, Naessig S, Pierce KE, Ahmad W, Bortz CA, Alas H, Chern I, Vasquez-Montes D, Ihejirika RC, Segreto FA, Haskel J, Kaplan DJ, Diebo BG, Gerling MC, Paulino CB, Theologis A, Lafage V, Janjua MB, Passias PG. Readmission in elective spine surgery: Will short stays be beneficial to patients? J Clin Neurosci 78: 170–174, 2020.
    16. Kolade O, Patel K, Ihejirika R, Press D, Friedlander S, Roberts T, Rokito AS, Virk MS. Response to Amin et al regarding: “Efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine in shoulder surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” J. Shoulder Elb. Surg. 29 Mosby Inc.: e213–e214, 2020.
    17. Pean CA, Premkumar A, Pean MA, Ihejirika-Lomedico R, Woolley PM, McLaurin T, Israelski R, Schwarzkopf R, Caplan A, Egol K. Global Orthopaedic Surgery: An Ethical Framework to Prioritize Surgical Capacity Building in Low and Middle-Income Countries. J Bone Jt Surg – Am Vol 101, 2019.
    18. Kolade O, Patel K, Ihejirika R, Press D, Friedlander S, Roberts T, Rokito AS, Virk MS. Efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine in shoulder surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Shoulder Elb. Surg. 28 Mosby Inc.: 1824–1834, 2019.
    19. Ihejirika R. Will Biologic Treatments for Cartilage Restoration Become the Standard of Care? AAOS Now 12: 7–9, 2018.
    20. Smith KC, Multhaup KS, Ihejirika RC. From Eyewitness to Academic Contexts: Examining the Effect of Misinformation in First and Second Languages. Appl Cogn Psychol 31: 546–557, 2017.
    21. Mignemi NA, Yuasa M, Baker CE, Moore SN, Ihejirika RC, Oelsner WK, Wallace CS, Yoshii T, Okawa A, Revenko AS, MacLeod AR, Bhattacharjee G, Barnett J V., Schwartz HS, Degen JL, Flick MJ, Cates JM, Schoenecker JG. Plasmin Prevents Dystrophic Calcification After Muscle Injury. J Bone Miner Res 32: 294–308, 2017.
    22. Moore SN, Hawley GD, Smith EN, Mignemi NA, Ihejirika RC, Yuasa M, Cates JMM, Liu X, Schoenecker JG. Validation of a radiography-based quantification designed to longitudinally monitor soft tissue calcification in skeletal muscle. PLoS One 11, 2016.
    23. Greenberg SE, Ihejirika RC, Sathiyakumar V, Lang MF, Estevez-Ordonez D, Prablek MA, Chern AY, Thakore R V., Obremskey WT, Joyce D, Sethi MK. Ankle Fractures and Modality of Hospital Transport at a Single Level 1 Trauma Center: Does Transport by Helicopter or Ground Ambulance Influence the Incidence of Complications? J Foot Ankle Surg 54: 826–829, 2015.
    24. Ihejirika RC, Thakore R V., Sathiyakumar V, Ehrenfeld JM, Obremskey WT, Sethi MK. An assessment of the inter-rater reliability of the ASA physical status score in the orthopaedic trauma population. Injury 46: 542–546, 2015.
    25. Ihejirika RC, Sathiyakumar V, Thakore R V., Jahangir AA, Obremskey WT, Mir HR, Sethi MK. Healthcare reimbursement models and orthopaedic trauma: Will there be change in patient management? A survey of orthopaedic surgeons. J Orthop Trauma 29: e79–e84, 2015.
    26. Sathiyakumar V, Thakore R V., Ihejirika RC, Obremskey WT, Sethi MK. Distal tibia fractures and medial plating: Factors influencing re-operation. Int Orthop 38: 1483–1488, 2014.
    PRESENTATIONS

    Podium Presentations

    1. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R.C. Racial Disparities in Orthopaedic Surgery: Patients, Residents, and Faculty: Diversity in Orthopaedics: Addressing Unconscious Bias in Healthcare Symposium Presenter and Panelist: AAOS 2021 San Diego, 2022 Chicago, 2023 Las Vegas

    2. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Patel, K., Lopez, E., Josephson, A., Leucht, P. Cannabidiol Increases Cell Viability, Proliferation, and Osteogenic Gene Expression in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Oral Presentation: AAOS 2020, Online

    3. Patel, K., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Leucht, P. Intraoperative Handling of Bone Graft: How to Keep the Cells Alive Oral Presentation: AAOS 2020 Online

    4. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. (Presenter), Passias, P., Horn, S., Vasquez-Montes, D., Segreto, F., Bortz, C., Moses, M., Sciubba, D., Afthinos, J., Lafage, V. Bariatric Surgery Lowers Rates of Spinal Symptoms and Spinal Surgery in a Morbidly Obese Population Oral Presentation: AAOS 2019, Las Vegas

    5. Passias, P., Bortz, C., Segreto, F., Horn, S., Diebo B., Paulino, C., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Gerling, M., Errico, T. Pelvic Incidence Affects Age-Adjusted Alignment Outcomes in a Population of Adult Spinal Deformity Oral Presentation: AAOS 2019, Las Vegas

    6. Dagoberto, E., Thakore, R., Sathiyakumar, V., Ihejirika, R.C., Garcia, A.E., Onuoha, G., Lee, Y.M., Ehrenfeld, J.M., Obremsky, W.T., Sethi, M.K. The ASA Score As A Valuable Predictive Tool To Optimize Preoperative Blood Ordering For Orthopaedic Trauma Oral Presentation: ACS NSQIP National Conference, New York, NY. 2014

    Poster Presentations

    1. Patel, K., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Kirby, D., Buchalter, D., Leucht, P. Does Flap Type Affect Membrane Osteogenic Potential in Masquelet Procedures? Poster: OTA 2020 (Accepted)

    2. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Patel, K., Lopez, E., Josephson, A., Leucht, P. Cannabidiol Increases Cell Viability, Proliferation, and Osteogenic Gene Expression in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Poster: ORS 2020

    3. Lee, S., Wong, M., Litwa, H., Ihejirika, R., Josephson, A. M., Markus, D., Remark, L. H., Yim, N., Leclerc, K. Tejwani, R. Bradaschia-Correa, V., Leucht, P. Propranolol Reverses Impaired Fracture Healing Response Observed With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment. Poster: ORS 2020

    4. Patel, K., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Donnelly, M., Yim, N., Leucht, P., Hacquebord, J. The Osteogenic Properties of Distal Radius Metaphyseal Bone Graft and Iliac Crest Bone Graft Poster: AAOS 2020 Online

    5. Brown, A., Bortz, C., Pierce, K.E., Alas, H., Vasquez-Montes, D., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R.C., Segreto, F.A., Haskel, J., Kaplan, D.J., Nikas, D.C. and Segar, A. Patients with psychiatric diagnoses have increased odds of morbidity and mortality in elective orthopedic surgery Poster: NASS 2019

    6. Passias, P.G., Moawad, M.A., Brown, A., Bortz, C., Segreto, F.A., Alas, H., Pierce, K.E., Vasquez-Montes, D., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R.C., Lafage, R. and Lafage, V. Preliminary results of randomized controlled trial investigating the role of psychological distress on cervical spine surgery outcomes: a baseline analysis Poster: NASS 2019

    7. Oelsner, W. K., Masanori, S., Gebhart, S. S., Ihejirika, Y., Wallace, C., Ihejirika, R., Baker, C. E., Hawley, C. D., Mignemi, N., Schoenecker J. Novel Model for Upper Extremity Heterotopic Ossification with Functional Outcomes Poster: Orthopedic Research Society San Diego, March 2017

    8. Yuasa, M., Amaro, E., Ihejirika, R., Mignemi, N., Jacobson, R., Cole, H., Nyman, J., and Schoenecker, J. Severe Injury Leads to Plasmin Consumption Below a Critical Threshold Required to Heal Soft Tissue Injury Poster: Plastic Surgery Research Council, 2017

    9. Yuasa, M., Mignemi, N., Jacobson, R., Cole, H., Nyman, J., Ihejirika, R., Cates, J., Schwartz, H., and Schoenecker, J. Hypofibrinolysis dose dependently associates with the formation of heterotopic ossification following skeletal muscle injury Poster: New England Science Symposium, Harvard Medical School, April 2015

    10. Ihejirika, R.C., Sathiyakumar, V, Ehrenfeld, J, Lee, YM, Apfeld, JC, Obremskey, WT, Sethi, M. An Assessment of the Inter-rater Reliability of the ASA Physical Status Score in the Orthopaedic Trauma Population Poster: Vanderbilt Research Forum, April 2013

    11. Ihejirika, R.C., Apfeld, J.C., Sathiyakumar, V., Kay, H.F., Lee, Y.M., Obremskey, W.T., and Sethi, MK. Distal Tibia Fractures and Medial Plating: Factors Influencing Reoperation Poster: Vanderbilt Research Forum, April 2013

    12. Ihejirika, R.C., Sathiyakumar, V., Kay, H.F., Gerasimopoulos, M., Lee, Y.M., Obremskey, W.T., and Sethi, M.K. Implant Choice, Spending, and Postoperative Complications: Exploring the Variability in an Orthopaedic Trauma Group Poster: Vanderbilt Research Forum, April 2013

    13. Ihejirika, R.C., Hooe, BS, Sathiyakumar, V., Jahangir, A., Obremskey, W.T., Mir, H.R., Stinner, D.J., Yang, G., Apfeld, J.C., and Sethi, M.K. Healthcare Reimbursement Models And Orthopaedic Trauma: Will There Be Change In Management? Poster: Vanderbilt Research Forum, April 2013 Poster: OTA, October 2014

    14. Dagoberto, E., Thakore, R., Sathiyakumar, V., Ihejirika, R.C., Garcia, A.E., Onuoha, G., Lee, Y.M., Ehrenfeld, J.M., Obremsky, W.T., Sethi, M.K. The ASA Score As A Valuable Predictive Tool To Optimize Preoperative Blood Ordering For Orthopaedic Trauma Poster: ACS NSQIP National Conference, New York, NY. 2014 Poster: Vanderbilt Research Forum, April 2013 Poster: OTA, Tampa, FL October 2014

    15. Ihejirika, RC. Testing the Revised Hierarchical Model of Bilingual Memory with an Academic-Style Misinformation Paradigm Senior Thesis: Department of Psychology, Davidson College. Poster: Psychonomics Conference, Boston November 2009

    Multimedia

    1. Ihejirika, R., Lowe, D., Zacchilli, M., Jazrawi, L. Arthroscopic Assisted Tibial Plateau Fracture Open Reduction Internal Fixation Video: Orthopedic Video Theater AAOS 2018, New Orleans

    2. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Patel, K., Delsole, E., Protopsaltis, T. Intradural Lumbar Disk Herniation and Cauda Equina Syndrome Video: Orthopedic Video Theatre AAOS 2019, Las Vegas

    3. Pean, C., Premkumar, A., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Pean, M.A., Woolley, P.M., Israelski, R., Schwarzkopf, R., Sheth, N., Egol, K. International Orthopaedic Electives: Ethical Considerations and Prioritizing Surgical Capacity Building in Low and Middle-Income Countries Scientific Exhibit: AAOS 2019, Las Vegas

    4. Buza, J., Ihejirika-Lomedico., Patel, K., Buckland, A., Fischer, C., Passias, P., Protopsaltis, T. Spine Implant Surface Technology: Current Knowledge and Future Directions Scientific Exhibit: AAOS 2019, Las Vegas

    MEMBERSHIPS

    AO Spine 2023-Current

    ORS 2019-Current

    NASS 2018-Current

    JRGOS 2018-Current

    ASTM International 2017-2018

    AAOS 2016-Current

    BOOK CHAPTERS
    1. Ihejirika-Lomedico, R., Zuckerman, J. Integrity of Scientific Research: Fraud, Misconduct and Fake News in the Academic, Medical and Social Environment: Sexual harassment among orthopaedic surgery residents. Springer Nature, 2022.
    2. Passias, P. G., Ihejirika-Lomedico, R. C., Saleh, H., Egers, M., Brown, A. E., Alas, H., Pierce, K., Bortz, C., Ihejirika Y. Vertebral Compression Fractures in Osteoporotic and Pathologic Bone. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2020.
    HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

    Orthopedic Haiti Mission Trip ORSI- Trip and Education Liaison

    Otolaryngology Kenya Mission Trip- Scrub Tech and Intern

    Shade Tree: Student-Run Free Clinic- Clinic Volunteer

    Vanderbilt International Connections- Refugee Health Screening Volunteer

    Family Van: Mobile Health Clinic- Health Counselor and Trainer

    Perkins School For the Blind- Preschool/Infant Aide

    Jewish Volunteer Service- Refugee Job Skills Trainer

    Mount Auburn Hospital- ER Volunteer