البحث عن طبيب

Mel D. Helgeson, M.D.

  1. Orthopedic Surgeon

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Dr. Mel Helgeson graduated from the United States Military Academy — West Point, Medical College of Wisconsin, Walter Reed Orthopedic Surgery Residency, and Thomas Jefferson University/Rothman Spine Fellowship, before returning to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in 2011 as an academic orthopedic spine surgeon. In 2024, he retired from the Army after over 20 years of service and joined Mayo Clinic. His clinical practice focuses on degenerative and traumatic conditions of the spine. His research interests include spine clinical outcomes and spinal biomechanics.

Dr. Helgeson served as primary Orthopedic Consultant to the White House from 2016-2024, Walter Reed Director for Surgery from 2021-2023, Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences from 2020-2024, and Interim Walter Reed Chief of Staff in 2022. He also serves as a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He previously served as the Chair of the Department of Orthopedics and Chief of the Spine Service at WRNMMC. He has deployed twice to Afghanistan. Awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Order of Military Medical Merit.

  1. Cauda equina syndrome
  2. Cervical herniated disk
  3. Cervical kyphosis
  4. Cervical myelopathy
  5. Cervical radiculopathy
  6. Cervical spinal stenosis
  7. Cervical spine deformity
  8. Cervical spine injury
  9. Cervical spondylolisthesis
  10. Cervical spondylosis
  11. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
  12. Degenerative disk disease
  13. Degenerative scoliosis
  14. Herniated disk
  15. Lumbar herniated disk
  16. Lumbar pain
  17. Lumbar radiculopathy
  18. Lumbar spinal stenosis
  19. Lumbar spondylosis
  20. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
  21. Pseudarthrosis
  22. Sciatic neuropathy
  23. Sciatica
  24. Scoliosis
  25. Spinal abscess
  26. Spinal compression fracture
  27. Spinal cord injury
  28. Spinal fracture
  29. Spinal metastasis
  30. Spinal stenosis
  31. Spine arthritis
  32. Spine deformity
  33. Spondylolisthesis
  34. Spondylolysis
  35. Spondylotic myelopathy
  36. Thoracic herniated disk
  37. Thoracic myelopathy
  38. Traumatic injury
  1. Cervical disk replacement
  2. Cervical diskectomy
  3. Cervical laminectomy
  4. Cervical pseudoarthrosis procedure
  5. Cervical scoliosis surgery
  6. Cervical spine fusion
  7. Cervical spine surgery
  8. Disk replacement
  9. Diskectomy
  10. Laminectomy
  11. Laminoplasty
  12. Laminotomy
  13. Minimally invasive cervical diskectomy
  14. Minimally invasive foraminotomy
  15. Minimally invasive lumbar decompression
  16. Minimally invasive lumbar diskectomy
  17. Minimally invasive lumbar foraminotomy
  18. Minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion
  19. Minimally invasive spinal fusion
  20. Minimally invasive spine surgery
  21. Robotic spine surgery
  22. Scoliosis surgery
  23. Spinal deformity correction surgery
  24. Spine decompression
  25. Spine reconstruction
  26. Spine tumor surgery
  27. Spondylolisthesis surgery
  1. 2021
    Other - Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  2. 2017
    Other - Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute eMSM CourseMilitary
  3. 2011
    Fellow - Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, August 2010 – July 2011School of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
  4. 2010
    Residency - Orthopaedic SurgeryWalter Reed Army Medical Center
  5. 2005
    Internship - Orthopaedic SurgeryWalter Reed Army Medical Center
  6. 2004
    MD - DOCTOR OF MEDICINEMedical College of Wisconsin
  7. 2000
    BS - Chemistry/Life Sciences Engineering Sequence/Minor: Nuclear EngineeringUnited States Military Academy, West Point, NY

Awards and honors

  1. 2017
    Regional Finalist FellowshipWhite House
  2. 2017
    LTC Claire L.Chennault Award Faculty recognition award for overall teaching excellence. LTC Claire L.Chennault Award
  3. 2010
    1st Place Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Resident Research Competition.Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Resident Research Competition.
  4. 2010
    Bailey K. Ashford Medal for Laboratory Research,2010 National Capital Regional Military Research Competition Robert A. Phillips Oral Competition.
  5. 2010
    Graves B. Erskine Award for Outstanding ResidentNational Capital Consortium
  6. 2008
    Harley and Betty Baxter Resident Paper AwardEastern & Southern Orthopaedic Association Meeting
  7. 2008
    Finalist, Hibbs AwardScoliosis Research Society
  8. 2008
    Poster Award.Congress of Neurological Surgeons
  9. 2008
    Finalist, Whitecloud Award Best Basic Science PaperInternational Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST)
  10. 2008
    American Orthopaedic Association-OREF-Zimmer Resident Leadership Forum Selectee.American Orthopaedic Association
  11. 2008
    Clinician Scientist Development Program Selectee.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and Orthopaedic Research Society
  12. 2008
    3rd Place, Resident/Fellow Award. Cervical Spine Research Society
  13. 2007
    2nd Place Cervical Spine Research Society Resident/Fellow Award. Intact and Odontoid Fracture Model.Cervical Spine Research Society
  14. 1996
    Bronze Star Medal Military
  15. 1996
    Defense Meritorious Service MedalMilitary
  16. 1996
    Meritorious Service MedalMilitary
  17. 1996
    Joint Service Commendation MedalMilitary
  18. 1996
    Army Commendation MedalMilitary
  19. 1996
    Joint Service Achievement MedalMilitary
  20. 1996
    Army Achievement MedalMilitary
  21. 1996
    Army Service RibbonMilitary
  22. 1996
    Afghanistan Campaign MedalMilitary
  23. 1996
    Global War on Terrorism Service MedalMilitary
  24. 1996
    National Defense Service MedalMilitary
  25. 1996
    NATO Campaign MedalMilitary
  26. 1996
    Army Superior Unit Award (Walter Reed Army Medical Center)Military
  27. 1996
    Meritorious Unit Citation (10th Combat Support Hospital)Military
  28. 1996
    Order of the Military Medical MeritMilitary
  29. 1996
    Army “A” Proficiency DesignatorMilitary

Professional memberships

  1. 2019 - 2020
    Leadership Fellows ProgramAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  2. 2011 - present
    MemberNorth American Spine Society
  3. 2011 - present
    MemberSociety of Military Orthopedic Surgeons
  4. 2011 - present
    MemberAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  5. 2011 - present
    MemberAlpha Omega Alpha
  6. 2011 - present
    MemberLumbar Spine Research Society
  7. 2011 - present
    MemberAOSpine
  8. 2011 - present
    MemberAmerican Orthopaedic Association

Publications