About
Personal Statement
My patient treatment philosophy is focused on integrative care, of which surgery is but one component. I am committed to a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach to spinal disorders that might include deformity, tumor, trauma, spinal cord injury, and degenerative disease. After diagnosing the problem, I develop treatment plans tailored to individual patients to optimize their outcome. When a patient requires surgical treatment, I employ cutting-edge technology and techniques that are research proven and outcomes driven. Among my research interests are long-term outcomes following spinal surgery, and to that end I continue to follow my patients long after they leave the OR, utilizing a team-based approach during the post-operative period.
Specialties and Expertise
Specialties
- Spine Surgery
- Surgery
- Neurological Surgery
- General Neurosurgery
Expertise
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Image Guided Neurosurgery
- Scoliosis
- Endoscopic Lumbar Microdiscectomy
- Spinal Tumors
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Radiculopathy
- Myelopathy
- Herniated Disc
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spinal Fusion
- Laminectomy
- Spinal Arthrodesis and Decompression
- Compression Fracture of Spine
- Endoscopic Discectomy of Spine
- Endoscopic Laminoforaminotomy of Lumbar Spine
- Foraminotomy
- Spinal Cord Neoplasm
- Microdiscectomy
Biography
Dr. Virk is a board-certified neurosurgeon with specialty training in minimally invasive and complex surgery for a wide variety of spine conditions. He specializes in advanced, state-of-the-art minimally invasive techniques using intraoperative, computer-assisted navigation as well as spinal endoscopy, and in open surgical strategies for patients who will benefit most from these.
Dr. Virk earned his MD and PhD degrees at Oregon Health Sciences University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Rockefeller University laboratory of Nobel laureate Dr. Paul Greengard. Dr. Virk then completed a Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Fellowship at the University of California at San Francisco.
Dr. Virk's ultimate treatment goal is to help patients regain function to the greatest extent possible, with minimal pain and short hospital stays, so that they can return to enjoying their lives.
Research
Honors and Awards
Honors and Awards
American Association of South Asian Neurosurgeons Scholar 9/16
Distinguished Housestaff Award, Weill-Cornell Medical Center 2015
NRSA – NIH / NIDA, (Kirschtein National Research Service Award) 4/07 – 4/11
N.L. Tartar Research Fellow 4/04
Credentials
Clinical and Academic Positions
- Assistant Attending Neurological Surgeon - NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
- Alvina and Willis Murphy Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
Education and Training
- M.D., Ph.D., Oregon Health Sciences University, College of Medicine, 2009
- B.A., Cornell University, 1997
Insurance
Insurance Plans Accepted
The following represents most of the managed care plans accepted by this doctor. If your insurance carrier does not appear here please contact the doctor’s office as they may have individual contracts not included on this site.
* indicates this doctor is no longer accepting new patients with this insurance plan.
- AETNA - HMO
- AETNA - Medicare
- AETNA - PPO
- Aetna Weill Cornell Employee Managed Care Plan
- Aetna Weill Cornell Employee PPO Plan
- Aetna-NYP - EPO/POS
- Affinity Access
- Affinity Health Plan
- Amida Care
- CIGNA
- Emblem Select Care
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Access
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Blue Connection
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - EPO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - HMO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Mediblue (Senior)
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield - PPO
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield HealthPlus - CHP
- Fidelis Care
- GHI - CBP
- Health First
- Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP)
- Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) - Medicaid
- Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP) - Medicare
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- Oxford Health Plans - Freedom
- Oxford Health Plans - Liberty
- Oxford Health Plans - Medicare Advantage
- Oxford Health Plans - Metro/Core/Charter
- Rockefeller University - Trustmark
- United Empire
- United Healthcare
- United Healthcare - Community Plan
- United Healthcare - Medicare
- United Healthcare Compass
- VNSNY CHOICE - HMO
- VNSNY CHOICE - Medicare
- WellCare of NY
- WorldWide Medical
Locations and Appointments
News and Media
News
External Relationships
External Relationships
Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.