Spine surgeon Parastou “Paras” Fatemi, MD, has joined the faculty of the Duke Department of Neurosurgery as assistant professor, effective August 30, 2024.
Fatemi treats patients with a wide range of spinal disorders, with a focus on adult degenerative conditions and deformity. She has a dual appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and sees patients in the Duke Spine Center at Duke Clinic and Duke Regional Brain and Spine Surgery.
She graduated from Duke University School of Medicine where she earned the Dean’s Recognition Award for contributions to the school and the community; she served as the 2014 co-producer of Duke Med Charity Student Faculty Show, completed the Duke Med Chancellor’s Service Fellowship, and served as the president of Duke chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
She completed neurosurgery residency and enfolded complex spine surgery fellowship with John Ratliff and Jon Park at Stanford University; she was awarded the Resident Education and Mentorship Award in her chief year. She was the resident consultant to the California Association of Neurological Surgeons 2020-2021 and completed training in Leadership Education in Advancing Diversity. She then completed post-graduate spine surgery fellowship in the combined orthopaedic and neurosurgery spine program at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Fatemi's research interests include big data modeling for spine related quality outcomes and use of wearable technology to augment care for spine patients. She has an interest in QI-related work as well. She also enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students and residents.
She and her husband (Michael Quist, MD, Duke Ophthalmology) met while studying at Duke School of Medicine and now call Durham home.