Your spine, our passion
A small practice built around one surgeon, Kornelis Poelstra, MD PhD, and the time it takes to understand your spine before anything is decided.
About our practice
The National Robotic Spine Institute was pioneered by our world renowned orthopedic and neurologically trained spine surgeon Kornelis Poelstra. Our institute has developed an outstanding reputation for delivering immaculate care from the best spine surgeons and technology innovators in the world.
We collaborate closely with physicians and medical professionals to not only bring you outstanding care, but also advance the technologies that allow our spine specialists to treat your neck and back pain more efficiently than ever before.
Special
We wholeheartedly believe that optimal treatment begins with making sure we’re taking a personal approach when it comes to our patients and care.
We dedicate our practice to spend as much time as needed to thoroughly understand your spinal difficulties and troubles even after we’ve treated you.
Biography · Meet our team
Since starting my career as a Spine Surgeon in 2006, I value being able to develop relationships with my patients. Every spine solution must be catered specifically to your lifestyle and your goals. Although I am a firm believer in conservative treatment without surgery, sometimes alternatives have to be considered. My promise is to genuinely understand your history and your goals before getting you back to being pain free. When I do recommend spine surgery, I focus on the most minimally invasive techniques while utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
As a board certified spine surgeon that specializes in minimally invasive spine surgeries, I also focus on adult spinal deformity (“scoliosis”) and disk replacements. I’ve had the opportunity to co-develop the currently available spine robotic platforms and have performed more than 750 complex robotic cases so far, more than any other spine surgeon in the world.
My research has also been focused on preventing implant associated wound infections, along with innovative materials sciences for both spine and orthopedic implants. I’ve been trained in both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery at world leading institutions. I’ve received my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
At the National Robotic Spine Institute, I bring together a team of world-class clinicians who teach surgeons from around the world about Robotics. So far, I’ve written dozens of peer reviewed publications, textbooks and chapters, and have given more than 250 lectures.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve my community and advance the profession of Spinal Surgery through evidence based progress in Robotics and Automation.
Our team
From your first visit to your last follow-up, you will get to know the people caring for you.
Orthopedic & Neurological Spine Surgeon
Dr. Poelstra leads every patient’s care at NRSI, from reviewing imaging and explaining options to performing surgery when it is the right choice. He puts conservative care first and takes time to answer every question.
Physician Assistant · Doctor of Health Sciences
Jodi works side by side with Dr. Poelstra, seeing patients in clinic and helping guide them through evaluation, treatment and recovery. She is often the person patients talk to with questions before and after surgery.
Outcomes
Jan 2025 – Jan 2026 · vs. national average
We’re proud to share our results from our outstanding spine surgeries performed to date. Although these results show that the National Robotic Spine Institute provides some of the best spine care and treatment in the world, we are consistently evaluating and improving our methods to treat cervical disc, lumbar spine and other medical conditions.
Bars scaled within each measure. Lower is better.
See our proceduresSpeak with one of our team members
Recognition
Vitals Compassionate Doctor Award - 5 Year Honoree recognizes doctors with the highest scores in bedside manner for five consecutive years. This honor is granted to a few distinct doctors in the United States based on experiences shared by patients.
Compassionate Doctor certification is granted to physicians who treat their patients with the utmost kindness. The honor is granted based on a physician’s overall compassion and bedside manner scores.
Vitals On-Time + Promptness Award recognizes doctors with consistent high ratings for timeliness of appointments. The honor is granted based on a physician’s overall and promptness scores.
The Patients’ Choice Award - 5 Year Honoree is a recognition granted only to those doctors whose ratings have reflected excellence in care for five years in a row. Only 1% of all doctors in the United States are bestowed this honor by their patients.
Patients’ Choice recognition reflects the difference a particular physician has made in the lives of his/her patients. The honor is bestowed to physicians who have received near perfect scores, as voted by patients.
Top 10 Doctors are chosen by the millions of patients who visit Vitals each year to find a new doctor and share their experiences by providing ratings and reviews.
Patient stories
In their own words, from patients treated by Dr. Poelstra. Rated 4.5 on Google from 43 reviews.
Talk about having confidence in my surgeon and the PA! I did not even meet my specialists until right before my surgery! I had read about Dr. Poelstra online and had every bit of confidence in him. It is not very often you meet a doctor who is very knowledgeable, explains what he is going to do and what he had to do, but he was truly concerned about me.
Outstanding doctor!!!! Went to my first visit and wow he was absolutely awesome. He thoroughly explained to me everything about my case and I knew the first time when I left his office I was very confident he was the right surgeon.
Just had a complex cervical spine surgery performed by Dr. Poelstra. My osteoporosis certainly made the surgery more of a challenge. Dr. Poelstra devoted a lot of time and attention to my particular problems before coming up with a solution. Am also thrilled to report not only did the surgery go well, but I have experienced zero pain and am still pain free, 3 weeks post-surgery.
Most amazing doctor. We travelled from New Mexico for my husband’s back surgery. We believed in his evaluation, but his skill and compassion excelled. Dr Polestra did an extensive surgery and the outcome was much better than we had dared to hope.
I did extensive research prior to my ACDF surgery and consulted with 3 other surgeons. Those 3 felt like a transaction. Then I was referred to Dr. Poelstra by a different Doctor.
From my consultation to my post-op appointments, Dr. Poelstra provided world class care. Dr. Poelstra is gifted and his immense expertise and meticulous attention to details is evident. Dr. Poelstra is incredibly kind and genuine. He greets with a warm smile at each appointment, taking the time to truly listen and ensure I felt comfortable.
It is rare to find a surgeon who pairs such high-level brilliance with such a sincere human touch.
I HIGHLY recommend him to anyone who is seeking the best possible care.
For about 3 years I have had a complicated life due to pain in my back and hands, loss of balance, and falls. I visited orthopedists and neurologists, but they did not give me a solution that convinced me. I met Dr. Poelstra, and he knew how to give me a good solution. Finally, I had my surgery, and I can assure you that since then my pain has disappeared, my balance has returned, and I have regained some strength in my hands. Thank you, Dr. Poelstra, for helping me recover my quality of life.
I went to see Dr Poelstra for a second opinion because I had severe neck pain with numbness and pain radiating across my shoulder, down my left arm with constant headaches for over 6 months. Dr. Poelstra reviewed my MRI suggested ACDF surgery, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion surgery. He stated that I had 2 ruptured discs, C5-C6 and C6-C7 and the discs were pushing my spinal cord to the back and right. I am now 3 weeks post surgery and feel terrific! I woke up from surgery with ZERO pain. I was absolutely surprised that I had no pain.
Dr. Poelstra has an amazing bed side manner and did an excellent job! I’m so happy and relieved that my pain is gone.
I was initially scheduled to have my surgery though another doctor, but after my 2nd visit I was told I was be seeing Dr. Polestra and he left the exam room for abou 10-Minutes. In that time I Googled Dr. Polestra and was floored by his excellent reviews. His experience in robotic surgery is unmatched. He has done robotic spine surgeries than anyone on the planet, period (It's a fact) Anyway, I had been dealing with a bad back, more specifically L3-S1 from an injury sustained in 1985, yes, 1985. Finally in 2024 It was done. It got too bad to bear, the pain was too much. I was super anxious as he told me it would be two surgeries. 1 entering through the belly and two days later through the back. Two surgeries had me second guessing the whole thing. The morning of the surgery as I laid there waiting to be wheeled in Dr. Polestra came by to talk to me. He was excellent at making me feel better about the surgeries. He explained it all again and why he chose (chooses) to do double surgery in these cases. I felt way better and he made sure of that before walking away. Dr Polestra has a very calming and uniquely cool personality. I am a bit of a personality and he stood toe to toe. Haha. The 1st and 2nd surgeries were a complete success. (Dec 11th & 13th 2024) I was up walking around after both surgeries. i was honestly worried about pain levels post-surgery. I shouldn't have been. Post Op pain was incredibly low considering. Dr. Polestra and his PA saw me 2 times in the 4 days in the hopital. Each time ensured any questions I had were answered. He made certain to let me know where he expected me to be and where I was each time. I liked that a lot.
15 Month Post Op update 3/17/2026: No back pain since surgery. Mobility is great and no issues. I feel like a truly lucky person having had Dr. Polestra for my surgeries. So many years of pain and my back going out to no pain and my back not going out. Feeling today as if I won the back surgery lotto. If you have Dr. Polestra consider yourself luckily and stick with him. Brilliant
I recently had my spine surgery with Dr. Poelstra. He did a phenomenal job. I feel so much better. He was very caring through the whole process. I would recommend him to anyone looking for spinal surgery.
I came to his office after 13 years of not being able to sit or stand up, straight or very long. Within a few months and 2 surgeries, I am better than ever and absolutely 💯 no pain and 95% movement. About 5 disc replacements and 2 rods in my back. I had to learn how to walk and sit upright again. I have and will always recommend this man and his assistant. When I talked and explained......they LISTENED. Thank you for your attention and miracles!!
I am beyond happy with this surgeon. After he gave me a spinal fusion from L5-S1, I have strength back in my legs, the pinching of my nerves are gone, I don't feel the knife/stabbing pain in my back and bottom area anymore. He treats his patients so nicely, with dignity and respect. Amazing bedside manor. He advocates for his patients and makes sure you're well taken care of. If I ever need anything in the future, I will be coming back to this doctor. He truly is amazing. I can't recommend him enough.
I came to Dr. Poelstra after going to pain management for over 2 years for him to discover that the bone of my hips had completely deteriorated and I had something called a vascular necrosis. He is absolutely amazing, and a lifesaver. Thank you Dr. Poelstra, because of you I can walk again!
After two years of consistent lower back pain, injections and RFA, I needed a second opinion.
From my first visit, I felt like his family. He took the time to explain his findings, offered conservative suggestions, but ultimately together we decided a single level fusion would offer me the best chance at becoming “mostly” pain free.
I was so impressed by Dr. Poelstra that I read any literature I could find about his surgical approaches and listened to pod casts detailing the latest in medical techniques and equipment.
I am now 3 weeks post operative and I feel better than I have in the last few years! I can stand straight, bend over, twist and simply do things I haven’t been able to do in some time. I am so thankful to have found someone who cares about his profession and his patients so much.
I had the unfortunate need for spinal fusion repair and we found Dr. Poelstra and his team. Rather than viewing my “mess” as a problem he saw it as an opportunity to give me my quality of life back. I had been suffering with chronic back pain for the past six years due to six spinal fusions and their failure to give me the desired result.
Dr Poelstra did an AMAZING job. He did a complete hardware revision which we didn’t think was possible. He is a highly skilled surgeon with the latest robotics technology. He is not only a top surgeon but also a caring and kind humanitarian.
I’m already on the road to recovery after just days with less pain and standing straighter than ever!
Thank you Dr. Poelstra! Highly recommend you!
Dr. Poelstra just did my L-4/5 and rebuilt my L-5/S1. What an amazing surgeon!!!
I feel like a new man, mobility and range of motion is better than ever. Plus his positive energy is very infectious.
A truly gifted surgeon and all around great person!!! 5 Stars forever ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
No one wants to undergo spinal back surgery, but Dr. Poelstra is an excellent surgeon with an incredible team. I felt very comfortable with his confidence and reassurance regarding my surgery.
A true lifesaver! His knowledge and precision are amazing! My husband had six spinal fusions. He was in so much pain and all they did was give him pain meds and say we can’t do anymore surgeries. Dr. Poelstra was on duty and after looking at his xrays was confident he could fix his problems. There was fluid on his back and broken rods and loose screws. Dr. Poelstra was able to remove almost all of the old hardware and replace it with new. Immediately the pre surgery pain was gone. They are so kind and genuine. And today, less than two weeks later he has minimal post surgery pain. Standing tall and not hunched over. Highly recommend him. I wouldn’t go anywhere else!
Dr Poelstra and his team are the most amazing Surgeons you will ever come across, they with out a doubt saved my husbands life, he had one of the most difficult spine issues that other Dr’s would not touch. Dr Poelstra had a plan executed and it worked beautifully.
Spine surgeon extraordinaire! Ensures that he does exactly what is needed, no more, no less. Lays out the facts, the options, and then lets you decide on how to proceed. No surgeon can foresee the end result, but his confidence and especially his bedside manner put you at ease in making the correct surgical decision.
My husband and I highly recommend Dr. Poelstra. We both had to have back surgery, one year apart. Dr. Poelstra is a brilliant surgeon who utilizes the most high tech cutting edge modalities available, individualized for each case. When I was told he would using robotics during my surgery I was scared and reluctant but the results are amazing. The screw placement is so precise, it looks fake on the x-ray. But here I am, strong and flexible. My husband is a veteran who was wounded severely but the spine issues were never addressed successfully. I took him to Dr. Poelstra who miraculously corrected the issues that plagued him for so long. Dr. Poelstra had to modify certain things due to my husband's abdominal wounds and scar tissue but my husband now stands up straight again and is OUT OF PAIN. He doesn't walk weirdly anymore and feels like a new man. We are so grateful for his expertise, care and humanity.
I am a patient of Dr. Kornelis Poelstra, who performed surgery on my lower lumbar. If you haven't already done so, I suggest first looking up his CV to understand the extent and depth of his experience and education. It's also worth noting that Dr. Poelstra holds a PhD in addition to being a MD which is not the norm. An in-person meeting will demonstrate Dr. Poelstra's expertise and yes, kindness. I thought I had lost my previous life four years ago when my back decided to stop working. Dr. Poelstra just gave it back. Further, his robotics has minimized recovery time. It's an invasive surgery but I'm only two weeks in and already I'm walking around, feeling pretty darn good. I plan on hitting the ski slopes in the near future - imagine that!
With three previous cervical fusions, my upper neck and head bent almost 30° forward. After reviewing my MRIs and x-rays, Dr. Poelstra looked at the overall issue and through surgery was able to pull my head and cervical spine back at least 20° and recenter my head over my shoulders. The surgery was a great success, and I no longer have the stress and strain on my mid and lower back. I feel great, and I am able to look up and forward instead of at the ground. Great job Dr Poelstra! 👍🏻
I have had 2 previous surgeries and needed a doctor with the expertise to help stop my shoulder and arm pain. Dr Poelstra found a more severe issue and talked to me about it and we decided surgery was needed. Dr Poelstra did an amazing job. He worked around my previous surgeries and completely fixed the problem. He is very informative and makes sure you understand and helps you make the decision. Would definitely go to him again. His staff is very professional and caring.
Unbelievable. Efficient, proficient, and effective. He carefully explained the condition of my spine and offered a conservative solution. The first surgeon to offer an explanation of the underlying cause. He did a disc replacement in the morning and I went home the same day. No pain! Slight sore throat for 48 hours until swelling went down a bit. A great experience. Great surgeon and support staff.
Thanks to this wonderful surgeon, I have my husband back. My husband started falling and was unable to control his balance. That is where we met Dr. K. Poelstra, ordering a MRI of Neck/Spine and there it was. As they talked surgery, both my husband and I cringed. But Dr. Poelstra was so knowledgeable and experienced about the ACDF (Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) procedure. Next day it got done. The next day my husband was up walking, steady on his feet, wanting to go home. I won't lie he had to wear a collar around his neck and no driving for 2 weeks and he had a little sore throat but it was a small price to pay for getting your active life back. I can't say enough about Dr. Poelstra and his amazing staff. Very professional, caring and knowledgeable, three great qualities when dealing with the spine.
I prolonged having surgery for way too long and suffered throughout that time. Dr. Poelstra was still able to increase my quality of life 100 percent. Amazing surgeon and a wonderful person! Thank you
I’ve been fighting terrible back pain for 5 years, plus things were rapidly going for the worse, not to mention I’ve had injections, nerve blocks, pain management, and on and on. I visited 3 doctors total and out of the 3 Dr Poelstra was by far the most knowledgeable, caring, understanding my whole situation. He explained with models of a spine, he showed me exactly what he was going to do right to the end of my surgery. He did an A-LIF and a P-LIF lumbar spine, which is front and back, two surgeries two days apart. I’m 7 weeks post op and my pain level is from above a 10 all day and all night to a 2-5 level and not even being 100% healed I feel like a new person. I can honestly say this man gave me a second chance at my life. I highly recommend Dr Poelstra, this man is honest. It feels good to walk with a smile.
My husband had the robotic back surgery from Doctor Poelstra. He is very knowledgeable in his field of work and very kind. He called me 2xs during the surgery to let me know how everything was going. He and his staff are A+. Highly recommendable!
Dr. P gave me my life back! Before my surgery I couldn't stand or walk for more than 5 minutes. 10 weeks out of surgery and I can stand and walk endlessly. Surgical sore at times, but I will take that over pre-surgery pain any day of the week!
I found him to be very professional, caring and knowledgeable. He showed great concern and was very sympathetic to my situation, after 3 failed surgeries from a previous doctor, I am walking better than before.
My experience with Dr. Poelstra was very pleasant. He knows his craft very well and was very informative. I highly recommend him. Plus he has a nice personality. The surgery seems to have gone well.