Editors

• John H. Shim, M.D, M.B.A., F.A.C.S. (Principal Author)
• Catherine Nicholson, R.N.
• Jason S. Mazza, M.Sc., OA-C, CSA, SA-C, CCRC

John H. Shim, M.D.

John H. Shim, M.D. is a Board Certified, Fellowship trained Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon. He completed his undergraduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and medical school at the State University of New York (S.U.N.Y) in Syracuse. Dr. Shim completed his orthopaedic residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine In New York and advanced studies in spine surgery at New England Baptist Hospital and Tufts University School of Medicine.
For over 23 years, Dr. Shim has been in private practice specializing in degenerative spine surgery. Previously, he has served as the Chief of Orthopaedics and Chief of Surgery for several different hospitals. Dr. Shim has also served as the Chairman for the Mease-Dunedin Neuro-Ortho Spine Center, and is a current member of the Morton Plant Mease Ethics Committee.

In addition to his leadership experience, Dr. Shim has served as an investigator for a number of research projects, holds a teaching appointment, and has been an active contributing author having published several chapters in a spine textbook, for web-based spine educational organizations, and through the development of his own online educational websites.

Through his daily encounters with patients who are seeking surgical opinions, it became apparent that spine patients are often provided with information and recommendations that either lack a scientific basis or are confusing to the patients. He felt there was a void in quality resources for spine patients and providers that is free of commercial bias and maintains the most up to date information.

The ShimSpine website was developed to provide transparency in the dissemination of information regarding the medical treatment of spinal disorders. The website represents his practice as an orthopaedic spine surgeon and provides up to date information for patients, providers, and the medico-legal community.

Dr. Shim serves as the practice owner and principal author for the website. He truly can say “he has nothing to disclose” other than ownership of his practice and websites.

Catherine Nicholson, R.N.

Catherine Nicholson, R.N., is a graduate of St. Martha’s School of Nursing, in association with St. Francis Xavier University, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She went into Critical Care nursing within 3 years, specializing in surgical patients.

She moved to Florida in 1994, accepting a position in the Neurosurgical ICU at Mease Dunedin Hospital. After several years, she joined Neurosurgery Associates in Dunedin, FL and turned her focus to the operating room and practice management. Over the next 12 years, she started Coastal Neurosurgery & Spine. She assisted in all aspects of brain and spine surgery, including management of practices in both Tampa and Dunedin. She was one of the major contributors in making Mease Dunedin Hospital a Nationally Certified Spine Center. She was an associate member of American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the North American Spine Society (NASS) and had ongoing training in both medicine and administration. She developed and administrated the International Spine Program for BayCare Health Systems.

Catherine is presently the Surgical Coordinator for ShimSpine with John Shim, M.D. She assists with practice and website development along with promoting personalized medicine and overseeing the Shimspine medical tourism program for both U.S. and International patients. She continues to assist in the operating room and is a frequent blogger for the practice. Her goal is to have every patient go into surgery with knowledge, trust and confidence in their diagnosis, surgeon and treatment.

Jason S. Mazza

Jason S. Mazza, is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Public Health where he received his Master of Science degree (M.S.P.H) in addition to receiving his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Emory University. Mr. Mazza holds Board certification through the National Board Certification of Orthopaedic Physician’s Assistants (NBCOPA) and dual certifications as a Certified Surgical Assistant (SA-C, CSA) through the American Board of Surgical Assistants and National Surgical Assistant Association. He is a fellow member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA). Mr. Mazza has held numerous leadership positions having served as the President of the American Society of Orthopaedic Physician’s Assistants (ASOPA) and has previously held a position on the North American Spine Society (NASS) Section on Allied Health Committee. He has served as a contributing author for allied health for Orthopedics Today and remains an active medical content and blog writer. Mr. Mazza has held an academic appointment as an assistant professor with the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Mr. Mazza has over 21 years of experience in clinical, surgical, and research aspects of spine care including direct patient care, medical writing, clinical research, online program development and serves as a surgical first assistant specializing in degenerative spinal conditions in working with John H. Shim, M.D.

His focus is on providing patients with unbiased and high quality information to allow them to better understand their condition and make more informed decisions. He serves as the Director of Orthopaedic & Spine Care for ShimSpine.

Last modified: October 22, 2019