George S. Oji, MD

For well over the past 15 years, Dr. George Oji has committed his career to treating patients with spine issues from the neck down to the tailbone. He treats everything from acute injuries such as disc herniations and vertebral fractures, to chronic conditions such as degenerative disc disease and scoliosis that can take years to manifest from prolonged wear and tear. Dr. Oji’s approach to treating spine pathology is to first and foremost, listen to the patient. Understanding the patient’s symptoms, history, and what they are going through, he will then match what is found during the evaluation and relevant imaging to work with the patient to develop a treatment plan. “My belief as a spine specialist is to educate patients about their spine so that they can make educated, informed decisions. I help them make connections between symptoms, examination findings, and results from tests, such as X-rays and MRIs. I consult with patients on the best treatment to resolve their issues.” He strongly believes in exhausting conservative (non-operative) treatments before surgery; consideration for surgery will be dictated by the needs of the individual patient based on severity and the patient’s goals. “My approach to surgery is to be focused addressing only what needs to be addressed so that the procedure can be the least invasive with the most amount of benefit.” Dr. Oji will utilize minimally invasive surgical techniques best suited for the individual patient’s condition, including cervical or lumbar disc replacement, navigation, robotics, percutaneous surgery, and anterior or lateral approach spine surgery. Dr. Oji understands that neck and low-back pathologies can become life-long issues, therefore he will stay engaged as long as is necessary for the patient – he has several patients he has followed for over a decade to ensure there are no acute changes on imaging studies or symptom progression over time. When not in the clinic or operating room taking care of his patients, Dr. Oji can be found spending time with his wife, daughter, and son. “After my wife and I got married, we moved to Portland, Oregon, and started a family. We love the Pacific Northwest for the clean air, friendly atmosphere, and beautiful summers.” Once a competitive tennis player during his college years, he now enjoys rallying with his kids recreationally. He is passionate about skiing in the winter, and hiking, biking, and traveling during the summer – any excuse to be outdoors!