MOBILE, Alabama – Richard Menger, M.D., MPA, chief of complex spine surgery and vice chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at USA Health, has been named a 2025 Healthcare Research All-Star by Avant-garde Health — placing him among the top 5% of neurosurgeons and spine specialists nationwide for published research.

As part of the region’s leading academic health system, Menger is also an associate professor of neurosurgery at the University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine.

This recognition celebrates the quality and quantity of Menger’s peer-reviewed research published during 2021 and 2022, affirming his role as a leading academic voice in neurosurgery, complex spine care, and healthcare policy.

“This is a great objective external validation of all the work we have been able to accomplish here at USA,” Menger said. “We are proud of the imprint USA Health Neurosurgery has made regionally and nationally.”

A prolific author and national speaker, Menger’s research spans a wide range of clinical and policy-focused topics, including the integration of efficient care delivery models in complex spine surgery. His academic contributions continue to inform national best practices and influence the future of neurosurgical care.

“This illustrates how the Department of Neurosurgery is able to push the field forward in all three areas — performing complex cases, teaching the next generation of surgeons, and participating in leading-edge research,” he said.

The Healthcare Research All-Star lists, compiled annually by Avant-garde Health, recognize only the top 5% of hospitals and physicians publishing high-impact research in their fields. Menger’s selection reflects his continued dedication to advancing the science of spine and neurosurgical care.

Founded in 2014, Avant-garde Health collaborates with healthcare providers to enhance patient outcomes while lowering costs. The company originated from value-based care research at Harvard Business School, led by Professors Michael Porter and Robert Kaplan.

More information about the award and full list of honorees is available at:
Neurosurgery and Spine Research All-Stars 2025.

Learn more about USA Health’s Neurosurgery Department at usahealthsystem.com.

About USA Health

USA Health, the health system for the University of South Alabama, the Flagship of the Gulf Coast, is the leading academic health system in the region. With more than 40 care delivery locations, including University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Providence Hospital and the Mitchell Cancer Institute, and physician practices throughout the area, the health system melds clinical care, research and healthcare education into the most advanced medical care in the region.