Dr. Jho received his medical doctorate degree at Chonnam University Medical School in South Korea in 1971 after attending undergraduate studies at the same university. Dr. Jho graduated from Hanyang University with a M.M.Sc. degree in neurobiochemistry, and obtained a Ph.D. in neurobiochemistry at the same university. He interned at the Hanyang University Hospital, where he also did his neurosurgery residency, and was a faculty member in Neurosurgery of the Hanyang University Medical Center prior to his coming to the U.S.A. in 1982. Dr. Jho completed a fellowship in microneurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh in 1983. Then, he repeated his internship and completed another residency in neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh in 1989, as well as completed a fellowship in general surgery in 1984. He was certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons in November, 1991. Dr. Jho has published more than 110 papers in refereed journals, 140 abstracts, and more than 20 book chapters. His current main interest is in Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Brain and Spine Surgery developing new and innovative surgical techniques for better patient outcome, lesser risk, and faster recovery with cost effectiveness compared to conventional neurosurgical techniques. A few of those new techniques are endoscopic endonasal pituitary and skull base surgery (skull base surgery via a nostril without a skin incision), various simplified transcranial skull base surgeries (Band-aid skull base surgery), minimally invasive endoscopic cranial surgery, minimally invasive disc-preserving spinal disc surgery, and minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery for various spinal disorders.

Dr. Hae-Dong Jho is professor of Neurosurgery and director of JHO Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery in the Department of Neurological Surgery. He had been assistant professor, associate professor and professor of Neurosurgery at the Univesity of Pittsburgh from July 1989 till 2001. He moved his practice to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been appointed as professor of Neurosurgery at the MCP-Hahnemann Medical School since 2002.

Despite advances in the art of neurosurgery, the risk of surgery for brain and spinal diseases is still significant. It is even greater for surgery involving skull base tumors, cerebral aneurysms and complex spinal diseases. Escalating health care costs are another important concern. Ideal neurosurgical treatment should provide patients with cure of the disease along with minimally risk and rapid recovery. JHO Institute for Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery has developed numerous innovative neurosurgical techniques that have now been applied to patient care. Among these techniques are endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery through a nostril without skin incision or nasal packing, endoscopic skull base surgery through a nostril for various skull base tumors, a "Band-aid" craniotomy via a small nosebridge skin incision for midline anterior skull base tumors, a "Band-aid" craniotomy via a small lateral eyebrow incision (so called orbital roof craniotomy) for meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas and other skull base tumors, a "Band-aid" craniotomy via a small eyebrow incision (so called superolateral orbital craniotomy) for parasellar tumors and cerebral aneurysms, a subtemporal approach through a small temple incision for skull base tumors and aneurysms, and a retromastoid approach for tumors, cranial nerve diseases, and aneurysms. Postoperatively, patients wear a small "Band-aid". Most operations are performed with an endoscope through a small and precise exposure. Brain retractors are never used in order to avoid unwanted brain injury. Patients undergoing these cranial operations often stay in the hospital for a day or two. New endoscopic surgical techniques for spinal diseases have also been developed by Dr.Jho.

These innovative spine procedures include an anterior cervical microforaminotomy for cervical disk herniation, spinal cord decompression via anterior microforaminotomy for cervical stenosis, an anterolateral or posterolateral approach for cervical spinal cord tumors, endoscopic thoracic discectomy, endoscopic lumbar discectomy, endoscopic decompression for lumbar stenosis, etc. Anterior microforaminotomy for cervical disc herniation is a new surgical technique which removes only the herniated portion of the disc and preserves the remaining disc intact. Spinal bone fusion or metal implant is not necessary. Normal neck motion is well preserved with this new surgical technique. Spinal cord decompression for cervical stenosis is also performed via anterior microforaminotomy. This operation for cervical stenosis does not require bone fusion or metal implant, and does not require the use of a postoperative brace. When the spinal cord tumor is located anteriorly to the cervical spinal cord, the tumor is removed via an anterior microforaminotomy or a posterolateral approach. With these techniques, bone fusion is not necessary after tumor removal. Endoscopic transpedicular thoracic discectomy is performed via a 2-cm incision.

With these minimally invasive operations, patients usually recovers quick with minimal discomfort and short hospital stay. Thus, Dr. Jho's minimally invasive spinal surgery can be called functional spinal surgery in that the normal anatomy and functions are preserved as much as possible. However, if required with spinal instability caused by tumor invasion or trauma, spinal instrumentation and bone fusion are also performed by minimally invasive techniques.

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