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Dr. Giovanini's Story

Dr. Giovanini

Mark Giovanini M.D.

Mark Giovanini, M.D. is from Portland, Oregon and received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Oregon. Dr. Giovanini then received a fellowship from the American Heart Association to do basic science research at Oregon Health Sciences University. At the completion of his research, he attended medical school at Oregon Health Sciences University where he received his M.D.

Dr. Giovanini’s neurosurgical training was completed at the University of Florida at Shands Hospital where he studied under premier neurosurgeons Dr. Albert Rhoton, Dr. Aurther Day, and Dr. Richard Fessler. While at Shands, Dr. Giovanini developed research models for spinal cord injury, which eventually led to the first spinal cord transplant in humans. He published several articles on spinal cord injury and neural transplantation with Dr. Doug Anderson, chief of the Neuroscience Department at the University of Florida. 

Minimally Invasive Spine (MIS) surgery became a primary focus of Dr. Giovanini while in residency training under Dr. Richard Fessler, a leading pioneer of MIS. Throughout his practice, Dr. Giovanini has continually promoted and helped develop many aspects of MIS. He has been a consultant for many of the major spine companies to teach MIS techniques both to Neurosurgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons around the World. 

Dr. Giovanini has brought MIS to the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Since its inception in 2005, he has performed hundreds of outpatient MIS spine procedures. Specifically, Dr. Giovanini has transformed standard open procedures done as inpatients at major hospitals to minimally invasive spine surgery done as outpatients at the world-class facilities of the Andrews Institute. The Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center has state of the art facilities and staff to perform MIS cases in a safe and efficacious manner. The Andrews Institute is one of the top facilities in the country for outpatient musculoskeletal procedures. 

Dr. Giovanini has expanded his minimally invasive spine practice to the NeuroMicroSpine center in Destin Florida. Here he is adding Wellness medicine to include iPerformance Physical Therapy and Lifestyle coaching.  This unique combination enhances patients recovery from neck and back injuries by focusing on physical conditioning, hormone balance, and nutrition.  This center will also feature pain management and anti-aging specialists to complete the holistic approach to spine care. 

Dr. Giovanini Playing Guitar

Dr. Giovanini Magazine Story

Dr. Giovanini was featured in the July 2013 issue of VIE Magazine! Click here to see the digital version of the magazine and his article on page 154.

NeuroMicroSpine Specialist

Education:

  • University of Oregon – B.S., Biochemistry
  • American Heart Association Fellowship Research
  • Oregon Health Sciences University – M.D.
  • Neurosurgical Residency and Training – University of Florida at Shands Hospital

Active Positions:

  • Medical Staff – Gulf Breeze Hospital
  • Medical Staff – Andrews Institute
  • Medical Staff – West Florida Hospital
  • Medical Staff – Sandestin Executive Health and Wellness Center

Recent Accomplishments:

  • Neuromicrospine / Dr. Giovanini chosen as a Visiting Surgeon Teaching site for:
    • Robotic SI joint fusion outpatient
    • Robotic MIS lumbar fusion
    • Prestige Cervical Disc Replacement
  • Robotic Spine Surgery using Mazor X and Renaissance systems

Dr. Giovanini has participated in several medical research projects:

  1. Characteristics of human fetal spinal cord grafts in the adult rat spinal cord: influences of lesion and grafting conditions.
    Giovanini MA, Reier PJ, Eskin TA, Wirth E, Anderson DK.
    Exp Neurol. 1997 Dec;148(2):523-43.
    PMID: 9417830 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Similar articles
  2. Developmental patterns of BCL-2 and BCL-X polypeptide expression in the human spinal cord.
    Yachnis AT, Giovanini MA, Eskin TA, Reier PJ, Anderson DK.
    Exp Neurol. 1998 Mar;150(1):82-97.
    PMID: 9514825 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Similar articles
  3. MAP2 expression in the developing human fetal spinal cord and following xenotransplantation.
    Giovanini MA, Reier PJ, Eskin TA, Anderson DK.
    Cell Transplant. 1997 May-Jun;6(3):339-46.
    PMID: 9171166 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Similar articles
  4. Granulomatous angiitis of the spinal cord: a case report.
    Giovanini MA, Eskin TA, Mukherji SK, Mickle JP.
    Neurosurgery. 1994 Mar;34(3):540-3; discussion 543. Review.
    PMID: 8190233 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Similar articles
  5. Anterior cervical corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
    Fessler RG, Steck JC, Giovanini MA.
    Neurosurgery. 1998 Aug;43(2):257-65; discussion 265-7.
    PMID: 9696078 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Download Dr. Giovanini's Resume