Meet the Team
Dr. Shivam Upadhyaya, MD
Spine Surgeon | Co-Founder of Pre-Op™
Dr. Shivam Upadhyaya is a Harvard-trained, board-certified spine surgeon specializing in complex spinal reconstruction and minimally invasive techniques. He currently practices at South Florida Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, where he focuses on helping patients return to mobility and function through evidence-based surgical care.
Dr. Upadhyaya graduated from Boston University’s accelerated Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Program and completed his surgical training at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. He went on to complete advanced fellowship training in combined orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine surgery at the Norton Leatherman Spine Center.
With a passion for improving outcomes through science, Dr. Upadhyaya co-founded Pre-Op™ to give patients a practical way to support healing before surgery. His goal is to help people recover stronger, faster—and with fewer complications—by preparing the body in the weeks before the first incision.
🔬 Academic Honors & Research
Dr. Upadhyaya has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in the fields of orthopaedic surgery and spine biomechanics, including research focused on spinal deformity correction, patient-reported outcomes, and surgical safety. His work has been presented at national and international meetings and cited in top-tier journals.
He is a past recipient of the AANS/CNS Spine Summit Clinical Research Award, and his research has been funded through multiple institutional and national-level grants. He has also served as a reviewer for The Spine Journal and remains active in academic teaching and mentorship.
Dr. Erick Kazarian, MD
Spine Surgeon | Co-Founder of Pre-Op™
Dr. Erick Kazarian is a board-certified spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery. He currently practices at NYU Langone Health and Rothman Orthopaedics, where he focuses on treating adult spinal conditions, including trauma, deformity, oncologic, and degenerative disorders.
Dr. Kazarian earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and obtained his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his orthopedic residency at Harvard Medical School and further specialized with a spine surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, training in both orthopaedic and neurosurgical techniques.
With a commitment to enhancing surgical outcomes, Dr. Kazarian co-founded Pre-Op™ to provide patients with a science-backed approach to optimize healing before surgery. His philosophy centers on treating every patient with the same care and dedication he would offer to his own family.
🔬 Academic Honors & Research
Dr. Kazarian has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications in orthopedic surgery and spine biomechanics. His research focuses on minimizing hospital stays and complication rates for adult and geriatric spine surgery patients. He has presented nationally on topics related to cervical spine conditions and is actively involved in developing guidelines for treating cervical spine injuries.
He serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and remains engaged in academic teaching and mentorship.
