About Me
As a spine surgeon, I take care of patients with conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine including degenerative conditions as well as adult and pediatric advanced deformity, which is my area of interest.
My patient care philosophy is to treat each patient as I would treat a member of my own family. In circumstances where surgery is needed, it’s already a very difficult and tense time for people. I pride myself in treating each patient as an individual. What might work for one patient might not work for everyone, so part of my job is to develop a treatment plan that’s specific to each person’s condition. That might include non-operative care or possibly surgery.
I believe that by combining the tenants of research, teaching and education to provide excellent patient care, I’m living Ohio State’s mission to provide personalized medicine for everyone.
I grew up in Pakistan and came to this country in 1998. Since then, I’ve been involved in medical research, teaching and education. My wife is a clinical psychologist from California and we have four boys. In my free time, I love to cook and I fancy myself an amateur chef. Back in the day I used to play bass guitar in a band. Hopefully there are no pictures available!
Highlights
- Benjamin R. and Helen Slack Wiltberger Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Spine Surgery
- Chief of the Division of Spine in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Rated in top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction, 2016
- Completed over four years of benchtop research at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York
- Published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, more than 30 book chapters and presented his work nationally and internationally
- Sits on numerous national committees advancing spine surgery research
Procedures and Conditions I Treat
- Spinal Cord Compression
- Intervertebral Disc Displacement
- Spinal Curvatures
- Kyphosis
- Scoliosis
- Spondylarthritis
- Osteoarthritis, Spine
- Fracture Fixation
- Sprains and Strains
- Arthrodesis
- Diskectomy
- Intervertebral Disc
- Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
- Spinal Fractures
- Ankylosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar Vertebrae
- Spinal Diseases
- Spinal Fusion
- Spinal Injuries
- Fractures, Bone
- Orthopedics
- Back Pain
- Spinal Cancers
Locations Where I Practice
543 Taylor Ave.
Columbus, OH 43203
300 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
543 Taylor Ave.
1st Floor Columbus, OH 43203
Please note: Not all physicians schedule patients at each listed location.
Education and Training
Education History
Medical School
Aga Khan University Medical School, Karachi,
MD
11/1/1993 - 10/31/1998
Research Fellowship
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
3/1/1999 - 6/30/2004
Internship
UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
6/25/2004 - 6/25/2005
Residency
UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
7/1/2005 - 6/30/2010
Fellowship
Rush Medical Center, Chicago, IL
9/1/2010 - 7/31/2011
Board Certification
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
7/25/2013
Academic Information
My Department
Orthopaedics
Reviews
The overall patient satisfaction rating is an average of all patient responses to the six doctor communication related questions shown below from the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. For additional information about the patient satisfaction survey, please visit our Patient Satisfaction Survey page.
The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their view and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
226 Patient Satisfaction Reviews
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Overall
4.8 out of 5
-
Explains Things Carefully
4.9 out of 5
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Listens Carefully
4.8 out of 5
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Gives Understandable Instructions
4.8 out of 5
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Knows My Medical History
4.8 out of 5
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Shows Respect
4.9 out of 5
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Time Spent Together
4.7 out of 5
Consulting and Related Relationships
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the University requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their University responsibilities.
As of 10/25/2021, Dr. Khan has reported no relationships with companies or entities.
Dr Khan is extremely compassionate and patient
Very friendly, professional, good listener, explained things well. I thought I would get an electronic summary report via email or a patient portal, but I did not. I did receive a copy from my referring doctor.
Good seems to want to figure out my problem.
Everyone was knowledgeable, kind & caring.
Very caring and suggested a plan to relieve my pain
Dr. Kahn is the ultimate surgeon, with true concern for his patients. He is driven to provide the medical care to resolve ones medical related issues.
Dr. Khan was great. It wasn't his fault the wait was so long since he was in surgery.
He was outstanding to converse with regarding my back situation. Excellent professionalism.
I was there to find way and all I got was I don't see anything.
Dr Khan is the best !! Works well.with you and cares about all.your questions and concerns. Never rushes you and is very caring
Dr. Khan has already performed 2 of my 4 spine surgeries. Next: Number 5. He is a gifted surgeon.
Was also very nice
I am always impressed with Dr. And his staff. He shows concern about your problem, he is experienced, sympathetic and knows his job very well. I have full faith in him. He has done back surgery before also and that is holding very well.
Very helpful, very knowledgeable, explained complex things very well, excellent demeanor.
Excellent.
Very thorough in considering possible causes for my pain
Provider came in & thank me for coming to see him. Don't think anyone has ever done that before. He was concerned about my problems & wanted more tests run to see if anything could be done to help me.
He was so kind and caring.
Dr Khan is awesome
He listened to me and my problem s
Always very satisfied with each visit with Dr. Safdar Khan. He's very concerned with my complete health. I trust Dr. Khan with my life.
I cannot say enough about Dr.Khan. He is an incredible surgeon and an incredible listener. You really feel that he understands what's going on and how he can fix it and he did.
Excellent overall experience.
Dr. Khan is the BEST. He is a wonderful, caring, knowledgeable physician & surgeon - I love & respect him.
My care was excellent
The best there is was so glad to see him as he was me
Always caring and answers or explains my surgery.
They serve me well.
Dr. Kahn is awesome. In addition to being a consummate surgeon, he is engaging, a good listener, inquiring and answered all questions and explained all procedures and my x-rays clearly.
Excellent! Advised me about treatment needed following my falls due to heart block & back injury during syncoptic episodes.
Dr. Khan is the superman of the spine! I am very grateful that he is providing care for me. He explained in detail of my medical problem.
Caring, thorough, concerned, kind, knowledgeable, listens.
First experience but, unfortunately, not the last.
Informative and encouraging appt.
All good.
Excellent
Dr. Khan is the best doctor! He has an amazing bedside manner and is a very talented surgeon.
Very good
Dr. O'Flynn realized that I was not taking an important medication
Dr Kahn is thoughtful, caring and exceedingly competent
Dr. Kahn was extremely polite, courteous, and pleasant, and very compassionate about my condition. He understood my explanation of my symptoms and the problems I was experiencing, and he even gave me a reassuring touch/rub on my left shoulder/shoulder blade.
Very good! Excellent!
Dr. Khan is great and I would recommend him to any family or friends. He and his residents and assistants are always so helpful and knowledgeable and I wanted to recognize how hard they work!!
Dr Khan is the best back Dr ever and if it wasn't for him ,I would be in a wheelchair . I have been to other Orthapedic Drs and the one screwed up and Dr Khan fixed it .
very caring
Good experience -
excellent
Dr.Khan is exceptionally kind - and shares his knowledge and skill with professionalism.I feel very fortunate that I had him as my Surgeon.
I am very happy with Dr. Khan and am very happy that I found him to do my surgery. I had a very lg. surgery. I couldn't of found a dr. any better to do my surgery.
Dr. Khan spent a great deal of time with me reviewing my complicated condition.
I was first checked out and interviewed by a student neurologist. She showed my MRI to Dr. Kahn. I wish they had done the discussion in front of me.
THE BEST; very good rapport, very knowledgeable and great bed side manners.
the PA-C came in initially. she was great but I wasn't sure I was actually going to see the doctor. I did and he was incredible but communication here could be slightly better.
Excellent explanation of anatomy/pathology and treatment.
Excellent
this visit exceeded my expectations
Four and a half yrs. of treatment, each visit or surgery was excellent.
alwaysexcellen
Very good experience, however, he appeared to be being called to surgery. I did feel somewhat rushed & forgot to ask some of my questions.
Dr. Khan was able to answer all of my questions with some detailed answers.
Dr. Kahn is a very caring doctor. He shows great compassion for his patients.
I really liked Dr. Khan, & his staff. Everyone one was very friendly & helpful. Would definitely recommend them to family & friends. Everyone was concerned about my health & comfort.
Very unhappy at that time!!!
I would not trust anyone else with my spine
Everything went just fine - he was extremely kind to me regarding my situation. I just waited a long time for him.
the best ever
Dr. Khan is the best ! I appreciate all he has done for me. I really didnt want to have another spine surgery ,but he is fixing what someone else did so I am having faith that he is going to fix me and I can hopefully get back to normal
he is the best, so grateful for Dr.Khan and team.
Dr, Khan is warm and knowledgablea
Wanted me to know everything will work out just fine
he explained everything very well.
all good no bad
I have the utmost respect for Dr. Kahn
Dr. Khan went above and beyond for me! He was always willing to answer my questions and went out of his way to give me the care I needed.