Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in spine surgery, the highest level of medical education in the U.S. His spine surgery fellowship was done at the prestigious Texas Back Institute, which in 1986 was the first and largest spine specialty center in the world.

During his spine surgery fellowship, Dr. Rohan, Jr. specialized in minimally invasive spine surgery techniques that enable the surgeon to operate through a one-inch incision using tubular retractors with tiny cameras and cutting devices in the tip.

Dr. Rohan, Jr. founded Michael Rohan Spine in 2015 in the Gulf Coast region, as one of the first spine surgeons to bring these new minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement techniques to the Panama City and Florida Gulf Coast region as a long-overdue alternative to traditional 3-inch long incisions that were common among older spine surgeons in the region.

Over the next 10 years, his spine practice attracted thousands of patients and doctor referrals from across the Gulf Coast, the Florida Panhandle and Southern Georgia who were often looking for a second opinion for back surgery or neck surgery. These patients were also looking for a spine surgeon who did minimally invasive spine surgery or artificial disc replacement surgery.

In mid 2025, Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. relocated his spine surgery practice to the Jacksonville area of Northeast Florida. This practice is convenient to other cities like St. Augustine, Gainesville, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Duval County and Clay County. Other patients travel from South Georgia cities like Brunswick, GA; Waycross, GA; and resort locations like Jekyll Island and even Savannah.

Dr. Rohan, Jr., recognizes that those with back pain or neck pain often struggle to find a back doctor or spine center that can provide a second opinion for spine surgery and offer nonsurgical treatment options for back pain, neck pain, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and pain symptoms related to a herniated disc.

“We emphasize non-surgical treatment options where possible, including therapy and spinal injections,” Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. explains. “However sometimes symptoms can progress to radiating pain into an arm or leg. Other red flag symptoms include numbness or weakness in a leg or arm. If this type of neurological deficit is not treated promptly, these symptoms can become permanent.”

Dr. Michael Rohan, Jr. notes that his spine practice uses the newest minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and instrumentation. While this can involve more training to operate through a tiny half-inch incision rather than an open 3-inch long incision, the benefits are huge for the patient, Dr. Rohan explains. A tiny incision means less disruption to muscles and ligaments and a quicker, less painful recovery. Consequently, most patients can have their spine surgery in the morning and be home later the same day to recover in the comfort of their own home. Also less blood loss eliminates the risk of having to use blood from a blook bank.

“We recognized that in the Northeast Florida region, there is a need for a spine practice that uses the newest minimally invasive instrumentation and artificial disc replacement,” explains Dr. Rohan, Jr. “The smart patient should look for this expertise. In the past, they had to drive several hours to reach a regional spine center of excellence. Now it is closer to where they live.”